Article November 27, 1948 Issue

THE READER'S JOYOUS PRIVILEGE

LOUIS G. LOVEGROVE

"Friends : The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers. We shall now read Scriptural texts, and their correlative passages from our denominational textbook; these comprise our sermon." This is the opening statement of the "Explanatory Note" found in the Christian Science Quarterly and is read every Sunday in each Church of Christ, Scientist, before the reading of the Lesson-Sermon by the First and Second Readers. It prepares its hearers for the inspirational and healing message from the two impersonal pastors—the King James Version of the Holy Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.

The twenty-six Lesson-Sermons provided by our Leader as the principal part of the Sunday church services have distinct topics, yet the golden thread of healing is interwoven through each one of them. Spiritual healing was the great purpose for which Mrs. Eddy founded the Christian Science movement, and we may safely say that she intended that the Sunday service, as well as the Wednesday testimony meeting, should be a healing experience. What a joyous privilege it is. therefore, to study and read these Lessons!

Of our great Way-shower, Christ Jesus, Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." When one seeks help of a practitioner in meeting some difficulty, the practitioner welcomes such a call for assistance as a glorious opportunity to demonstrate in some degree the perfect man in God's likeness. He voices with solid conviction the healing power of the Christ, Truth, thereby giving a reason of the hope that is in him to his fellow man. Should not Readers likewise strive to see only the perfect man of God's creating?

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