The vocabulary of Christian Science, as Mrs. Eddy has established it, is abundantly large and adequate. Therefore, to inject into this vocabulary words which our Leader never used, or to bring into prominence and frequent use terms which she used infrequently, is unnecessary practice, and one which honest students will carefully avoid. The principal danger of this practice lies in the fact that it tends to break the seventh commandment; and, consequently, destroys the ability to demonstrate Christian Science.
The experience of the early Christian church should be an example to Christian Scientists in this respect. So long as the church held to the new tongue in thought and in practice, it prospered in its healing mission. But when it began to apply to its spiritual practice the terms of pagan ritual and ceremony, the first step towards the materialization of Christianity had been taken. The next step was easy. It was the complete loss of the spiritual signification of Jesus' teachings, and reversion to the practice of material ceremonies and rituals. Speaking of this period in the history of the Christian church, a historian declares that "religion had disappeared, and theology had come in its stead;" and, on page 4 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says, "Whatever materializes worship hinders man's spiritual growth and keeps him from demonstrating his power over error."
Careful study, with the help of a dictionary, of the words used by our Leader, in every instance when tempted to question the propriety of their use, will reveal the wonderful wisdom of Mrs. Eddy in her choice of words. One will realize more and more fully that every word used by her was chosen because it was the best one available to elucidate her meaning.
