Article September 29, 1951 Issue

THE CHAMBER ON THE WALL

MARIUS JOHN

In the fourth chapter of II Kings it is related that a great woman of Shunem urged her husband to "make a little chamber ... on the wall" where Elisha, the man of God, might turn in when he passed that way. Later, in this room, after shutting the door to all others, the prophet through prayer restored to life the Shunammite woman's son.

The importance of proper environment and harmonious influence in the practice of mental therapeutics was pointed out in an article in the Jackson (Michigan) Patriot reprinted in "Pulpit and Press" by Mary Baker Eddy (pp. 52–56). That their importance was recognized by Christ Jesus is indicated in the account of the raising of Jairus' daughter which is cited there (p. 54): "He [Jesus] kept the unbelievers away, 'put them all out,' and permitting only the father and mother, with his closest friends and followers, Peter, James, and John, in the chamber with him, and having thus the most perfect obtainable environment, he raised the daughter to life."

To aid in bringing about mankind's recognition of the power of divine healing, Mrs. Eddy saw the wisdom of providing places of quietude, where earnest seekers for Truth may slip away from worldly cares and interference for prayer and study. Through her vision and love for humanity she established the Christian Science Reading Rooms, each of which is a veritable "chamber ... on the wall." In the Reading Room the seeker for Truth has an environment removed from worldly influences where he may learn of the real man's oneness, or unity, with the divine Mind, God, and thus find that Christian Science is indeed the Comforter which Jesus said would remain with us forever.

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