A stranger to Christian Science talking with a Scientist asked, "Why should the publications of your church have such high prices set upon them? Even the tracts that other churches give freely, are by you given as if worththeir weight in gold!"
This objection was met with the assertion that the works of the God-inspired author of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, are worth their weight in gold to those sinners and sufferers who, by the teachings of these books, have been shown their true relationship to God; who have been taught the real meaning and value of life as the reflection of God, perfect and harmonious; to these, the Christian Science publications are gems of great price, not to be cast carelessly before the unprepared thought of sceptic or scoffer, but to be shared reverently with the earnest seeker after Truth. Then another thought presented itself to the Scientist.—she remembered how, in the churches called orthodox, tracts and religious pamphlets are given, carried into houses where they are left with a few words. She also remembered the anger and contempt with which she had heard the tracts spoken of, and the offence that the tract-distributors often give in the bestowal of their well-meaning literature. "If our precious books were given in this lavish manner," thought she, "they could not do the good they do now, when, not being able to give them to all inquirers, Scientists tell the good news of life and freedom with the warmth of love, the heartfelt gratitude that only they know who themselves have been brought up out of the pit of disease and despair—no printed words of acknowledgment sown broadcast over the earth can compare with the spoken word or quotation enforced and illustrated by personal experience, and the Scientist himself is blest in the effort he makes to be ready to impart encouragement to the sorrowful, health to the captive of sense; for the healing thoughts in their beautiful crystallized forms become his own to shine upon his daily life and radiate light upon all within reach of his influence."
The works of the consecrated servants of Love cannot be too carefully cherished; a good illustration of careless giving is furnished by the newspaper story that the Bible Society of England, being astonished at the great increase in the demand for Bibles in a certain district of China, caused inquiry to be made by a correspondent in that section. The result proved that the working population is largely engaged in the manufacture of fire-crackers, for which they furnish the paper of which the crackers are made; the ingenious Chinaman soon saw the folly of buying paper when it could be had for the asking, and hence the demand for Bibles. The Mohammedan, who will not step upon or destroy a piece of written paper because the holy name of God may be traced thereon, gives us a good example; every sentence of our teacher's works is stamped with the seal of divine Love.
