ONE sometimes wonders if Christian Scientists have any conception of what it means to have a text-book of Christian Science. As librarian in a Christian Science reading-room I have been deeply impressed with the value of this possession. A text-book must be an authority upon the subject of which it treats;it must stand as the very best statement of the subject in the light of the present knowledge of that subject. A text-book is a statement of facts regarding a given subject, and its wording must be concise, exact.
I am here reminded of my own early experiences and struggles in Christian Science, and I pause to offer a humble and heartfelt contrition for those early ignorant and presumptuous criticisms of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." When they come to my thought, tears of shame and regret fill my eyes and I can only breathe a prayer for forgiveness because of my ignorance. I now rejoice that the opportunity has come to me to atone in some measure for that ignorance and ingratitude. In these early days, a kind friend to whom I went,—mostly to argue, I fear,—would invariably say, in answer to my questions, "She [Mrs. Eddy] says" so and so; or "it says" so and so, referring to Science and Health. I took great umbrage at this use of personal pronouns, and would usually respond, "Oh, if 'she' or 'it' says so, I suppose that settles it;" though making the mental reservation that it might settle it for him, but not for me. When he saw that these terms offended,—patient man that he was,—he began to say, "The text-book" says thus and thus. This term arrested my attention and satisfied my critical attitude somewhat, since I knew that a text-book is a legitimate means for the presentation and study of any subject, and surely Christian Science might have one as well as any other science. This thought of Science and Health as a text-book has stayed with me all these years, and never have I realized the value and importance of such a book so thoroughly as in my experience in connection with a Christian Science reading-room.
To the reading-rooms come all sorts and conditions of thought, all the varying mentalities, the differing states and stages of consciousness, and no one can have a keener appreciation of what it signifies to have an authorized textbook of Christian Science than the people who have the care and responsibility of these rooms. What a relief, when asked to "explain" some teaching of Christian Science, to be able to say,—"Here is Science and Health; it is the authoritative statement of Christian Science, and it will answer your questions." Or, when a beginner asks, "What shall I read?" to reply, "Read the text-book;" knowing the while that you are offering them pure and unadulterated Science, not some one's opinions or comments upon that Science.
