Editorial December 14, 1935 Issue

Authorized Literature

George Shaw Cook

There is need for more regular and more thorough study of Mrs. Eddy's works, and for thoughtful reading of our authorized periodicals and publications. Christian Scientists who follow this course will find little or no use for unauthorized statements of Christian Science. Reading typewritten copies of articles which are supposed to have been written by our Leader and others, but which have not been fully authenticated, may well be discontinued. Many of these copies are inaccurate and incorrect. Some of them appear unfairly to make their alleged authors responsible for statements that they themselves probably would not wish to have attributed to them, and others have been found utterly spurious. A good many of these typewritten statements purport to be copies of Association addresses, class notes, letters, and other things which were not written for circulation and should not be circulated.

It is especially undesirable to use these typewritten statements in talking with patients and with those who have a limited knowledge of Christian Science. To do so would have a tendency to confuse their thought, and a decided tendency to encourage them to depend on these copies, rather than to seek an understanding of the subject from the Bible and from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings by Mrs. Eddy.

Most students of Christian Science are familiar with the words in II Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." But sometimes the question asked, Is it helpful to use translations or arrangements of the Bible other than the King James Version, such as modern translations, analytical Bibles, cross-reference Bibles, and the like; and is it helpful to use Bible dictionaries and commentaries? It could well be answered that a moderate use of such reference works would be found helpful to the student of Christian Science. The essential need, however, is to gain the true spiritual meaning of the Scriptures, and that can best be found in Mrs. Eddy's writings.

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