Article January 6, 1923 Issue

Believe God's Prophets!

ROBERT STANLEY ROSS

Although publishers tell us that newspapers give prominence to recitals of crime and scandal, disaster and death, because the public demands sensational news, the impartial investigator will find, among almost any group of readers, a surprisingly large percentage who will admit that they deprecate rather than demand news of this character. More likely than not, they will tell the investigator that they read what is set before them, only because the newspapers are their chief source of information, saying: "Give us better news and we shall read it. We must read something."

Realizing the important bearing that newspapers have on the health and morals of mankind, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, nearly forty years ago took her first step toward offsetting the evil influences of modern journalism. In an article entitled, "A Timely Issue," published in 1883, Mrs. Eddy wrote of The Christian Science Journal, which was about over the newspapers of the day, one naturally reflects that it is dangerous to live, so loaded with disease seems the very air. These descriptions carry fears to many minds, to be depicted in some future time upon the body. A periodical of our own will counteract to some extent this public nuisance; for through our paper, at the price at which we shall issue it, we shall be able to reach many homes with healing, purifying thought." Although Mrs. Eddy probably did not have in thought at that early date a complete daily newspaper, we all know that in God's own time she made the much-to-bedesired demonstration.

In any event, there was unquestionably great need of clean journalism in 1883; and there is even greater need of it to-day. While compulsory education and improved transportation facilities are daily causing newspaper reading to be more widespread and general, evil's ways and means of influencing public thought, the newspaper press, have become more and more persistent and subtle. Christian Science alone is capable of coping with the crisis. Our Leader has established for us a daily newspaper, second to none. The question now arises, Are we prepared loyally and unselfishly to stand by her demonstration in the warfare against this enemy of the common weal? Because Christian Science challenges materiality in all its forms and phases, even that part of the public which longs for release from slavery to sensational journalism may fail to respond immediately in sufficient numbers to meet The Christian Science Monitor's need for readers. For the present, therefore, the Monitor must, and rightfully should, look mainly to Christian Scientists for support. We need to remember one value of the Monitor as an advertising medium depends upon the number and responsiveness of its readers. The former, however, without the latter is of little value.