Students of Christian Science are always well advised in holding to an attitude of unswerving loyalty to authorized Christian Science literature. Now and then, however, literature other than that which has been authorized by our Leader may be recommended to their notice in the belief that it may in some way prove helpful. But not infrequently it is mistakenly claimed for such literature that it is based on the teachings of Christian Science, or at any rate on something very much like it. Now young students especially may be lacking in those qualifications of a more mature understanding and experience which are essential in wisely and accurately discriminating between Christian Science and spurious metaphysics. Hence of incalculable value to them, as to all sincere students, is the safeguard and guaranty of authorized Christian Science literature, or such other publications as are specifically designated as having the approval of The Christian Science Publishing Society.

There are, to be sure, various theories as to the supposed benefits to be derived from reading articles and books appearing in the public press which deal with a so-called philosophy of life in such a way as to make these writings seem to resemble Mrs. Eddy's divinely inspired exposition of Christian Science. In the main, the special feature of merit claimed for this imitative literature is that, because of the more intimate and personal tone employed, it has the advantage of the element of human interest to dress up, as it were, and make more attractive a subject considered by some to be somewhat abstract and dry. Obviously, however, an article or a book that is but an expression of personal views and opinions, made colorful and entertaining by the expedient of dramatic and emotional appeal, cannot be regarded as imparting a message of purely spiritual significance.

What students of Christian Science are vitally concerned with must be, naturally, the study and demonstration of spiritual facts and laws pertaining to God and His government of the universe, including man. They should, therefore, be constantly on guard lest by any trick of error they become entangled in the maze of fancy and fable which corporeal sense deems life and reality.

"All is not gold that glitters;" and the golden substantiality of the healing Christ may be lost sight of temporarily when, in belief, thought is led to stray outside its native spiritual orbit in a mental pursuit after the deceptive glitter of the so-called high lights of human life and human personality. On page 20 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing." Expressing something of this thought in the form of a question we may ask, Was ever "the divine Principle and Science of all healing" found in the illusion of "material self and sense"?

How clear is the distinction between the kind of mentality which follows some new teaching, largely in quest of personal or material benefit, and that type of true thought which is ever seeking more of Christ, Truth, through the spiritual discernment of and selfless obedience to the divine law of Soul! In the light of Christian Science, of what avail are speculative hypotheses, superstitions, and personal opinions—reeds shaken in every direction with the changing winds, or moods, of supposititious mortal mind?

But in the spiritual messages of God to men are found the divine purposefulness and eternal potency of infinite and unchanging Principle. Christian Scientists must follow in the Christian Science literature the voice of true prophecy. This literature heals because it voices the prophetic truth which is forever compassing, to use Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 593), the "disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth." Literature erroneously supposed to resemble that of Christian Science obstructs true healing, because it tendency generally is to turn attention to, instead of away from, the claims of physical sense and the dream of material living. Yes, indeed, as Jesus asked the multitude concerning their interest in John, "What went ye out for to see?"

One who as a young student had foolishly yielded to the temptation to make use of what had been represented to him as "aids" to understanding Christian Science found, as time went on, that his thinking was becoming more and more confused by reason of his inability to separate the chaff of mere human intellect from the wheat of divine revelation and spiritual intelligence. So, after a while he concluded that the straight and narrow way of undeviating loyalty to our Leader's inspired plan for the dissemination of her teachings was the only surety for making real progress. The result was an immediate change for the better in his thinking and outward circumstances. As never before, this student was made to realize the extent of Mrs. Eddy's wonderful foresight in providing Christian Scientists with pure literature to supplement their study of the Bible and her writings, literature that was always to be maintained at a high standard of ethical, cultural, and metaphysical dependability.

In establishing our periodicals our revered Leader forged a link in the enduring chain of ever available protection for Christian Science and Christian Scientists. And with that beautiful sense of completeness which characterized her work in behalf of her beloved Cause, she included in the Manual of The Mother Church the provision, "It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this Church" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 14). That which our devoted Leader lovingly gave, it is "the privilege and duty" of Christian Scientists gratefully to accept. Students who are not yet members of The Mother Church are free to share with members in this blessing.