Article October 4, 1924 Issue

The Language of Spirit

CASSIUS M. LOOMIS

In this day of amazing activity, the gift of producing is looked upon as a profitable and praiseworthy endowment. The literary field, in particular, gives due credit to him or her who wields a ready and versatile pen. If a writer's productions are spontaneous, that is, smooth and unlabored, they generally meet with favorable acceptance by the reading public; and it has been observed that, speaking generally, the longer an author writes the simpler becomes his style of expression. How valuable is the gift of simplified expression! When the student of Truth feels called upon to voice the ethics of Christian Science, he has no need to clothe his words in hidden or obscure phrases: the thinking world best imbibes the simple language of Spirit, truthfully and briefly told.

One of the first things noticeable in our authorized literature on Christian Science is the absence of verbiage, or overphrasing, even though it bears testimony to a theology profoundly and universally exact. Moreover, and as proof of the above, is not our Christian Science literature becoming every year more easily assimilated by both the mature and the budding thought? This is progress. When one desires to help spread the gospel of Truth by the written word, he will carefully heed the promptings of the inner voice and write down Love's dictations as they are given him, yet with personal credit omitted. Thus will his messages appear in the new tongue spoken of by our Master in the closing chapter of Mark. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 263), our Leader writes: "Mortals are egotists. They believe themselves to be independent workers, personal authors, and even privileged originators of something which Deity would not or could not create." It was our Leader's painstaking revision of the textbook that added greatly to its clarity, and gave proof of her advancing thought. And it was Mrs. Eddy who saw with prophetic vision the need of periodicals of superior merit. These periodicals, along with her own exclusive publications, have proved themselves to be the fulfillment of her most cherished hopes. Hence the marvelous success of this branch of The Mother Church activities.

While so-called popular literature to-day shows improvement in some lines, yet in many instances the personal ambition to achieve a name has led talented writers to go beyond their depths; and a waning of popularity is the result. The recording of simple truths evolved from everyday experience is welcomed by all classes; and what a privilege it is to intrust one's thoughts to publications that are "kept abreast of the times" (Church Manual, p. 44). Both author and publisher are alike rewarded; and journalism free from erroneous news-gathering and from appeals to sensuous beliefs becomes the channel for Christianly endeavors, while periodicals of lesser merit cease to be, and are forgotten. Careful and repeated revision of a writer's work, the statement of a fact as if it were a fact and not a doubtful premise, along with the omission of all needless words, helps to improve any prose treatise or poem, regardless of its subject. All editors are quick to commend a brevity that does not weaken but strengthens the text.

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