Editorial January 31, 1931 Issue

New Readers

Clifford P. Smith

This editorial is prompted by the fact that many new Readers are now beginning what is for them a new work. Their office deserves to be held in great respect, for Mrs. Eddy has described it as "important," "responsible," and "sacred" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 243, 250). Having this character, a readership also has the divine protection which always accompanies a sacred service. Whoever accepts the opportunities of this office and does well therein is likely to regard this service as among the happiest and most profitable experiences of his human life.

A provision of the Church Manual (Art. III, Sect. 1), written by Mrs. Eddy, declares the "moral obligations" of all Readers to devote every week enough time for preparation and to keep themselves constantly in the appropriate mental state. These obligations are imperative; they cannot be delegated; there is no substitute for either of them. Readers should be devout, loving, persuasive, unselfed, and spiritually-minded. (See The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 247, 249.) From one of these pages, it is to be observed that Mrs. Eddy has pointed to the purpose of their work in these words: "What our churches need is that devout, unselfed quality of thought which spiritualizes the congregation."

It is also requisite that all Readers should be able to read both intelligibly and correctly. This statement is confirmed by other provisions of the Manual (Art. II, Sect. 2, and Art. III, Sect. 6). If at first a Reader cannot do this, he can learn, and he should. Even if one can read acceptably, he may be aided by competent criticism or instruction. Christian Science will help one to acquire any ability which is truly desirable, but public reading is an art, and the best reading calls for proficiency in expression and for acquaintance with good usage. In the period of Jewish history when reading became an important part of the services in synagogues, it was learned or studied. The excellent rule for expression in Nehemiah 8:8 must have been formulated at that time: "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." Certain modern versions may furnish a better translation for this passage: "Thus they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense so that they understood the reading."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

God-given Ability