Article October 1, 1927 Issue

The Reading Room

EDWARD CLAYTON PYNE

Provision for Christian Science Reading Rooms was made by Mary Baker Eddy to meet a special need and to fulfill divine purpose as an auxiliary of the church she established. This is clearly set forth by her in Article XXI, Section 1, of the Manual of The Mother Church, which reads (p. 63), "Each church of the Christian Science denomination shall have a Reading Room, though two or more churches may unite in having Reading Rooms, provided these rooms are well located." As a protection to the Cause of Christian Science, and to aid those seeking the truth as this Science reveals it, as well as to preserve her revelation of genuine Christian Science from personal human beliefs, it is stipulated (ibid., p. 64) that "the literature sold or exhibited in the reading rooms of Christian Science Churches shall consist only of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and other writings by this author; also the literature published or sold by The Christian Science Publishing Society." Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and the Leader of the Christian Science movement, and she is the revelator of Truth to this age. Her writings are thus of vital importance, and it is highly important that these writings shall be protected from adulteration and maintain their rightful place.

The Manual, and in fact all the writings of Mrs. Eddy, are being studied more thoroughly than formerly; but are we, as members of branch churches, awake to the importance of the Reading Room's fulfilling its divine purpose? Do we understand the underlying truth which governs this purpose? Are we individually keeping our thought free from belief in the power of false, adulterated beliefs to deprive the Reading Room of its rightful place and true expression, those false beliefs which would turn from the Reading Room those seeking the truth, turn them even from the By-laws of the Manual which are a specific protection to her writings? Mrs. Eddy saw that so-called mortal mind would try to drown her revelation in a flood of erroneous beliefs, and so adulterate Christian Science. She knew that self-seekers and those straying away from Christian Science as she taught it would seek to profit by their false methods of teaching, by their false literature; and in order that all spurious literature might be separated from the genuine, she provided for the Reading Rooms, where a firm line of demarcation could be drawn between the false and the true in this regard. She also provided a further protection in the Manual, as quoted above, where she states that only the Bible, her writings, and the authorized literature could be read, borrowed, or purchased in such rooms.

The Reading Room as Mrs. Eddy established it is a refuge for all mankind, with far-reaching motives of healing and clear spiritual vision, and its purpose is to help to regenerate not only those who enter its doors, but the entire world, helping thereby to bring about unity of spiritual thought and action. Surely the Reading Room is fulfilling in a measure the prophecy of Isaiah, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." The persistent, loving call is for all alike—the sorrowing, the sick, the sinning, and those tired of the husks of materiality—to come to this living, healing fountain, where all may feel the currents of Truth and Love, and where deep spiritual truths may be unfolded to the thought. Surely seekers after Truth can obtain, "without money and without price," in these sacred sanctuaries of Truth needed inspiration and spiritual understanding, and the unadulterated milk of the Word, which gives wisdom, power, and strength to all who partake of it.

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