Before the Christmas Bells shall ring, allow me to improvise some new notes, not specially musical, to be sure, but admirably adapted to the key of my feeling, and emphatically phrasing strict observance, or note well.
This year, my beloved Christian Scientists, you must grant me my request, namely, that I be permitted total exemption from Christmas gifts. Also I beg to send to you all a deep-drawn, heart-felt breath of thanks for those things of beauty and use forming themselves in your thoughts to send to Mother. Thus may I close the door of mind on this subject, and open the volume of Life on the pure pages of impersonal presents, pleasures, achievements, and aid.
Of the inquiry prevalent as to whether it is proper to read interesting newspaper articles at our Wednesday Evening Meetings, let me say: It is right to do this if the articles are properly selected. But to guard the possibility of unwise selection is quite as requisite as to avoid the mischances of personal sermons, which has been our endeavor. To secure perfect safety on this subject the Readers at these meetings shall examine beforehand whatever is sent to be read on this occasion, and accept only the right authors, and such articles as elucidate Truth. Since the opening of these meetings in Concord, newspaper matter, and even interesting letters from the Field, have been read at intervals, but I have selected them.
