Editorial December 2, 1922 Issue

Readers in Christian Science Churches

Albert F. Gilmore

From the time of Moses, there have been public readers and expounders of the sacred Scriptures, selected obviously for their spiritual qualities. In the book of Deuteronomy it is written that "Moses commanded them, saying, ... When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together ... that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law." In Joshua, also, we are told that "there was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not." In Nehemiah it is related that Ezra read the law, and also "Jeshua, and Bani ... read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." In the gospel of Luke we learn that Jesus went to the synagogue and, calling for the book of Esaias, "stood up for to read." The Revelator declared him to be "blessed ... that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy."

Accordingly, when, in 1895, Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" to be the Pastor of the Christian Science church, and provided for Readers to conduct the services in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, reading from these books, she followed well-established precedent in the custom adopted in the long ago by the spiritual leaders of Israel, even by the Founder of Christianity himself.

Our Leader has left no doubt as to the importance she attached to the duties of Reader, and, consequently, she safeguarded the office by many wise provisions. Of the qualifications for positions in Churches of Christ, Scientist, she spoke with definiteness. In Science and Health, under the marginal heading, "The trust of the All-wise," she says (p. 455): "God selects for the highest service one who has grown into such a fitness for it as renders any abuse of the mission an impossibility. The All-wise does not bestow His highest trusts upon the unworthy. When He commissions a messenger, it is one who is spiritually near Himself." May we not conclude that Mrs. Eddy regarded the selection of Readers and others to fill important church offices as purely problems of demonstration on the part of church members, whereby God's bestowal would be made manifest? Obviously, into such choice, based solely upon spiritual qualities, there should enter no element of personal popularity or mere friendship. The "Rule for Motives and Acts" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 1) is a perfect guide to right action in this situation. How completely would the high standard set by Mrs. Eddy be defeated by "campaigning" for the election of Readers in branch churches! But, relying wholly upon the manifestation of divine Mind in the exemplification of God's government of His universe, Christian Scientists wisely leave this important selection with divine Principle, assured that the one spiritually best fitted—that is, nearest to Himself—will be chosen, providing the members are thinking rightly.

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