What is known as Christian Science treatment is often misunderstood by those who are not students of this Science, and is imperfectly understood even by some who are, that phase of treatment commonly called "paying the practitioner" being as little understood as the rest.
A frequent misconception is that the definite provision of pay for a practitioner is solely for the benefit of the practitioner, whereas it is of at least equal benefit to the one who seeks help. A similar mistake is the assumption that the fee is the only return which is required of the seeker. The fee is only part of his debt, and leaves untouched his greater obligation to the truth, which is that he must appreciate and apply it if he would benefit by it. Allied to these two false estimates of the custom of paying for help in Christian Science are such stock objections as that a practitioner has no right to charge or receive a fee, because Jesus did nothing of the kind; that the amount ordinarily received is excessive; that the whole matter should be left to the seeker; or that the practitioner should be paid only in cases where healing is effected.
Intelligent giving and appreciation of its blessings are fundamental qualifications for the professional practice of Christian Science, and fair pay for the services of a Christian Science practitioner is a matter of greater importance to those whom he serves, to the church of which he is a member, and to the community in which he lives, than it is to him. The service he renders is greater than can be measured in money, and a reasonable return therefor, which aids the continuance and increased effectiveness of his work, is of general benefit. The scientific fact that "whatever blesses one blesses all," as Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health (p. 206), is just as true concerning the support of the practitioner by giving him a just compensation, as it is of the general benefit which accrues to a community from the work therein of an efficient Christian Scientist.
