The country has been flooded for two or three years past with cheap issues of what is called "Christian Science Literature." The greater part of this is of little value, and much of it is misleading or pernicious. Less than a year ago Scientists were regretting the lack of cheap publications in the line of true Science, to counteract this mass of error. They felt the need, too, of condensed popular statements of points in Science, with which to help along patients, or to open the way for their work with the public.
A considerable body of literature of this sort has come into existence during the last nine months through the Christian Science Publishing Society. There is, naturally, a choice among these publications, but they are, on the whole, well adapted to meet the different conditions of thought they are addressed to. Many Scientists are using these publications freely, enclosing them in letters, handing them to patients, or carefully selecting and mailing to persons in their respective fields of work. A well-chosen Tract or Series is often more effective than any direct personal effort could be. With a trifling expense, more of a certain work can be done for the Truth in a few hours than perhaps could be otherwise accomplished in a year. Multitudes can be reached, too, in this way that would never be readied by personal effort.
Now it should be known that the Christian Science Publishing Society has not a dollar of capital, and there is no one who can derive either a cent of profit, or advantage in any form from its operations. All its issues are made with the smallest margin of profit consistent with safe business conduct; some of them—the Bible Lesson Leaflets e. g.—with no profit at all. Any profit that comes from the sale of publications is eagerly waited for to bring out some new Tract, Series or Leaflet, the call for or want of which has been felt for months before. Though the sales increase rapidly, the margin of profit is so trifling that development cannot keep pace with demand.
