One of the most far-reaching of the activities established by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, was that of the periodicals which are the organs of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Each was brought into being by Mrs. Eddy for a specific purpose, to meet a definite need, and was given its name by her. In the Manual of The Mother Church she provides for their publication, editing, and protection. She also provides for their acceptance and use by members of her Church when she states in Article VIII, Section 14, "It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this Church."

Knowing that these periodicals would be of tremendous value to every student of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy wisely removed all necessity for making human decisions as to whether or not one should subscribe for them. We can be unceasingly grateful to our Leader for this loving requirement, for as we progress in Science we realize that we cannot afford to be without these inspiring messengers of Truth. Workers on literature distribution committees can always rejoice, therefore, that the supply is definitely and permanently established. If at any time there seems to be an inadequate supply of periodicals to be used in the work, the truth should be affirmed and realized that man is a spiritual idea, always obedient to divine Principle, God, and always active in expressing Truth. The fact should be realized that man is not a mortal, deceived by error's arguments of lack, but an immortal, ever alert to Mind's mandates.

The loyal student of Christian Science has an abundant supply of that love which, not content with keeping the good contained in the periodicals for himself alone, wishes to share it with others through the literature distribution activity of his church. If he feels inclined to keep certain issues, this is permissible. But he can also know that just as fresh manna was supplied to the children of Israel each day in the wilderness, so the Bible, the works of our Leader, and the current periodicals will always supply the inspiration he may need in his daily experiences.

The early history of free literature distribution is most interesting. It was established "with the knowledge and approval of Mrs. Eddy," according to a report given at the General Activities Meeting of The Mother Church on June 9, 1936 The Sentinel of February 15, 1900, reported the sending out of literature by the Students' Christian Science Association No. 39 of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Evidently individuals contributed money to purchase the literature, and "two dollar packages of literature for free distribution" were obtained. The report states further, "The Journal, and the Sentinel have been sent to the county jail, the state penitentiary, an engine house of the fire department, and the post library at Fort Snelling."

The Sentinel of September 8, 1906, recounted the methods of distributing literature in our national capital and stated that a Joint Literature Distribution committee had been active for several years. It mentioned that subscriptions to the Journal and Sentinel were given to the libraries of the Federal Government departments, also that a mailing list of several hundred names was served.

From these early beginnings literature distribution committees now place periodicals in many airport waiting rooms, bus and train depots, hotels, employees' and public lounges in department stores and office buildings, recreational buildings, homes for young and older people, beauty shops, self-service laundries, and many other places. Often they are also placed in hospital waiting rooms and in dentists' and optometrists' offices. Mankind is searching for Truth as never before in human history, and if Christian Scientists are alert, they can expect to find an increasing number of new opportunities to serve.

In doing prayerful work for the placement of periodicals, the writer has found it helpful to consider Jesus' parable of the leaven as Mrs. Eddy explains it on pages 117 and 118 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." She shows that the three measures of meal are three modes of mortal thought, and the leaven is the leaven of Truth, which is always at work. She says (p. 118), "In their spiritual significance, Science, theology, and Medicine are means of divine thought, which include spiritual laws emanating from the invisible and infinite power and grace." This thought, that real science, theology, and medicine are divine, is our basis upon which to work to annul the claims of any false sense of material law, religion, or medical belief which would attempt to resist the spread of Truth. It is most instructive to search our Leader's works to learn the true meaning of each of these terms.

If a belief of reversal of good in the distribution work should be reported, it can be dealt with on the basis of the allness of God and the unreality of any claim of personal sense. Since all real being consists of God and His reflection, man, there is no mortal mind which through ignorance or false education can think of itself as opposed to Christian Science. Error has no channel through which it can act, and no one to do its bidding. Man can never be made to oppose the will of his heavenly Father; neither can he wish to do so. Love, all-powerful and ever present, is the only motivating force, and it is continually attracting mankind to seek, to gain, and to share the healing currents of Truth.

Workers on literature distribution committees must be ever alert, consecrated, and faithful. Usually the work must be completed every week, throughout the year. Knowing that it is work in God's service releases one from any personal sense of pressure or responsibility, but also reminds one of the supreme importance of it, thus removing any tendency to put one's so-called human pleasures first.

Because it is work in the Father's vineyard we can expect it to be fruitful. The people who deliver the literature often have interesting contacts with those whom they serve and report much fruitage. Often at a Wednesday testimony meeting or in a Christian Science periodical a testimony brings out the fact that the testifier first was attracted to Christian Science because of a piece of literature taken from a distribution box. There are also, no doubt, many seekers for Truth who first bought the textbook, attended a church service or lecture, visited the Reading Room, or sought a practitioner because of such an experience.

Perhaps we may not hear of such cases directly, but we must never allow ourselves to doubt the great good the work is doing. If discouragement presents itself, it is well to seek a larger concept of the vast Christian Science movement as a whole and to identify oneself and one's work with that world-wide activity which is bringing the light of Truth to mankind. Each smallest service lovingly performed is bringing closer that day of which the Bible speaks (Hab. 2:14), when "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."