Article February 14, 1925 Issue

The Reader's Joyous Privilege

JOHN RANDALL DUNN

IT would be difficult, indeed, to think of a more joyous privilege than that which comes to those appointed to serve as Readers in a Church of Christ, Scientist. And when a period of such service is over, the outgoing Reader, although naturally regretting the drawing to a close of a task singularly happy, must needs rejoice that the great privilege of giving out the Word of God at our services and meetings can be shared by others, thanks to the divine wisdom vouchsafed our dear Leader. Happy the church or society that numbers in its congregation many who have had the privilege of reading! Certain it is that such an organization has therein many who are holding up the hands of the incumbent Readers, and not only are refraining from audible and inaudible criticism, but are ever ready to offer a word of loving encouragement or commendation to their successors at the Readers' desk.

What is sweeter, in this journey up the hill of spiritual attainment, than the "Well done" of a brother-pilgrim whose footsteps have preceded ours? And yet one frequently hears that words of appreciation of the services of a Reader or other servant of our beloved Cause are withheld because they might "spoil" him! It is argued that this might be injecting too much personality into the work. On a par with this is the unfortunate criticism, voiced many times, that a Reader is interpreting; that he is bringing his personality into his reading; and so on. In this connection, it seems wise for Christian Scientists occasionally to ponder these words of our inspired Leader, as found in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 73): "He who clings to personality, or perpetually warns you of 'personality,' wrongs it, or terrifies people over it, and is the sure victim of his own corporeality."

Let us assume that a church or a society has obediently followed the Manual provision in electing to office Readers who are "well educated" and who are able to "read understandingly" (Manual, p. 32). Let us also assume that the members, before casting their ballots for the Readers, have been mindful of Mrs. Eddy's statement in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 249) that she prefers for the Readership "that student who is most spiritually-minded," and that, as she hastens to add, "what our churches need is that devout, unselfed quality of thought which spiritualizes the congregation."

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