Editorial October 23, 1937 Issue

Constructive Conversation

George Shaw Cook

There is a By-Law in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy which reads, in part, as follows (Art VIII, Sect. 22): "Members of this Church shall hold in sacred confidence all private communications made to them by their patients; also such information as may come to them by reason of their relation of practitioner to patient. A failure to do this shall subject the offender to Church discipline." Conscientious Christian Science practitioners are glad to comply with the requirements of this By-Law. In doing so, they not only conform to the standard upheld by ethically-minded lawyers, doctors, and ministers, but are likewise obedient to the following rule for human conduct laid down by Jesus of Nazareth in his Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."

Christian Science practitioners, in their relationship with patients whom they are helping to solve all kinds of problems—domestic, financial, social, physical—become possessed of much information of the most confidential nature. It is their privilege, as well as their duty under the provisions of the By-Law above quoted, to regard such information as being absolutely confidential and inviolable. Therefore, they do not discuss their cases with others unless it be with the consent of their patients. Neither do they unnecessarily speak to others about those who are coming to them for help. Persons who are having treatment may very properly prefer not to have that fact told, nor to have it made known from whom they are having help. Christian Science practitioners, being both ethical and Christian, are glad to observe in their practice the rules of Christian courtesy and consideration.

Another thing which Christian Scientists seek to avoid in their contact with other workers is idle gossip and needless talk on unimportant subjects. Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 339), "If people would confine their talk to subjects that are profitable, that which St. John informs us took place once in heaven, would happen very frequently on earth,—silence for the space of half an hour." And, in following this advice, Christian Scientists find that while there may not always be silence, there is a distinctly more profitable and mutually helpful tone in their conversation. Even though they may not always be discussing the things that pertain to God, they find it better to confine their talk more largely to those things that are humanly constructive and beneficial. There are many current happenings which may be helpfully discussed, especially if they are considered in the light which Christian Science throws upon them. And there is no other way in which these conditions can be so intelligently analyzed and profitably considered as from the standpoint of absolute revealed Truth.

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