Article February 12, 1938 Issue

The Christian Science Reading Room

DORA COOPER

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes on page 454: "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." It was her great love for humanity that led our beloved Leader to establish the Christian Science Reading Room as an integrant activity of The Mother Church and its branch churches. Wherever there is a branch of The Mother Church there will also be found a Reading Room. It is always a friend to the traveler, and even in foreign lands there is no need for him to feel lonely or a stranger where there is a Reading Room waiting to give him a welcome.

Anyone who has had the great privilege of taking part in this work knows what a blessing these havens are to the sick and sorrowful, the depressed and unemployed—to all, indeed, who are seeking a clearer understanding of Truth, and of their relationship to the Father-Mother God. The librarian in charge arranges the Reading Room to receive the guests. While these practical duties are being carried out, his or her thoughts are busy realizing the truth about this guest room.

Jesus' injunction to his disciples was, "And when ye come into an house, salute it." How can we best salute the Reading Room when first entering there? We can know that God's presence and power are there to bless one and all who come within its precincts; that all who come there asking God's blessing will receive it; that knocking, they will see the way opened, and seeking, they will find, for "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals" (ibid., p. 13). We can also know that a Christian Science Reading Room is as "a city that is set on an hill" and "cannot be hid," for Love guides the seeker to find it.

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