The question is sometimes raised as to the propriety of placing the so-called "Christian Science novels" in the hands of inquirers, or of others unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science, in preference to our own authorized literature. This course is said to be favored by some on the assumption that Christian Science will appear more pleasing or attractive if presented in this form, but these well-meaning students overlook the fact that the truth of spiritual being, as taught in Christian Science, is never pleasing or attractive to the sensuous thought and cannot be made so in any form. On the other hand, we do well to remember that to the awakening spiritual desire, honestly reaching after Truth, the teaching of Christian Science is always welcome.

It should be unquestionable that the best literature on Christian Science to place in the hands of any one is its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and other works by the same author, since no other books are published which give the complete and correct statement of Christian Science. It should also be unquestionable that the best auxiliaries in making the public acquainted, in a measure, with the teachings of Christian Science, and with what it is accomplishing, are the publications of The Christian Science Publishing Society. No other writings than the above can rightly be considered authoritative on Christian Science, unless it be the lectures and other work rendered in an official capacity by accredited representatives of the cause.

Under apparently adverse and unfriendly conditions Mrs. Eddy established the cause on an enduring basis and brought the movement to its present efficiency and usefulness with no other literature than the Bible, her own writings, and the publications which she authorized. As stated in the Preface to Science and Health (p. x), she made no effort "to suit the general drift of thought" but "bluntly and honestly" gave to the world "the text of Truth." If, then, from the beginning of her work, and throughout her personal association with and supervision of the movement, our Leader found it unnecessary to clothe the statements of Truth in a garb thought to be particularly attractive to human taste, why should we at the present day think to make Christian Science more acceptable and inviting by departure from her methods, so abundantly proved to be safe and successful? It is the demonstrable knowledge of the truth, not entertainment, which is needed, and for which mankind are asking. Those who are willing to receive the message of Christian Science will accept it quite as readily when presented in its purity, as when it is associated with a mass of unrelated matter.

The reason for circulating the authorized literature alone in introducing Christian Science to the public should be obvious. If it were proper to use other works for this purpose the difficulty would arise, at least for the uninitiated, where and how to draw the line between the books of different authors. Without an authorized standard or a recognized imprint as a guarantee of genuineness, how is the public to discriminate between what is true and what is false? This difficulty would naturally increase with the increase of that class of literature, until the unenlightened public would be at the mercy, so to speak, of any chance writer who might be tempted to put forward his own interpretation of Christian Science. It can easily be seen that much of this literature might and probably would be misleading and therefore dangerous, since "a slight divergence is fatal in Science" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 17). Christian Scientists should see that it is but a phase of error which would suggest the inadequacy of our own literature, for the natural effect of accepting this suggestion is to send out the thought that the authorized literature on Christian Science is not the most effective upon the subject.

The safe way for those who wish to learn more of Christian Science is to confine their attention to the works which are authorized and commended by the Publishing Society. Granting that some of the books in question are not objectionable, and may in their way be both interesting and useful, what assurance have those who do not know the authors that their explanation of Christian Science is correct? Such books as have sufficient literary merit will find their way into circulation among the reading public with other works of their class, and will there find ample field for the good they may be fitted to accomplish; but when our beloved Leader has taken so much care to safeguard our literature and prevent its adulteration, it surely is not wise on the part of Christian Scientists to open a wide door to such possible adulteration by commending as helpful to the acquisition of a knowledge of Christian Science, books that do not have the endorsement of our Publishing Society. The authors of such books purporting to explain Christian Science may or may not be competent to do this, and it is in the latter case where mischief is liable to creep in, since a wrong impression is more difficult to remove than simple ignorance.

Experience disproves the belief that people find their way into Christian Science more quickly through the medium of a love story than through its regular literature. If one is not thirsty, all the stories that can possibly be written about the beneficial properties of water will not make him so; and if he is thirsty, it is pure water that he needs and not anything else. The problem is not to make the water inviting by means of decorated cups or artificial flavors, but to provide an abundance of water which is pure, and to bring it within the reach of those in need. There need be no hesitation in placing authorized literature on Christian Science in the hands of those one wishes to help, "and never fear the consequences." "Those ready for the blessing ... will give thanks" (Science and Health, p. 570); and those not ready for this blessing will not be induced to accept it by some other means.

It is not the intention here to cast reflection upon any book or to question its author's motive. A well-written story, presenting high ideals, is always helpful, but it is not necessary to go so far as to commend such a book as a medium for gaining a knowledge of Christian Science, since this can be done with more propriety through the channels provided for that purpose, in which the ideas presented have been subject to careful and competent scrutiny before publication. "Let there be milk for babes," writes Mrs. Eddy, "but let not the milk be adulterated" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 61).

Copyright, 1913, by The Christian Science Publishing Society