Article May 5, 1945 Issue

"Christian Science Reading Room—Open Daily"

MAY JOHNSON POORE

Through a driving rainstorm the librarian was making her way to the Reading Room of a small Christian Science church in a country where there are few Christian Scientists. Her thought was clouded by self-pity and depression, because heavy tropical storms had kept visitors away for several days. "Why should I go out into this rain?" came the argument. "Why open the Reading Room at all, since no one would use it today?" This aggressive suggestion was silenced by a definite declaration of truth, for when the librarian arrived at the church, her attention was drawn to the words on the window, "Christian Science Reading Room—Open Daily." She had seen the words many times before but had thought of them merely as an announcement to the public and not of especial import to her. Today each word stood out distinctly as though in answer to her prayer for inspiration.

"Christian Science"! What had Mary Baker Eddy said about these two words? "The two largest words in the vocabulary of thought are 'Christian' and 'Science.' The former is the highest style of man; the latter reveals and interprets God and man; it aggregates, amplifies, unfolds, and expresses the ALL-God" (No and Yes. p. 10).

Among the definitions for "to read" are "to take in the sense of; to discover the meaning of." The original derivation of the word "room" is "open space," and among the definitions are "unobstructed space ... opportunity."

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Multiplying Good
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