When the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, instituted the office of Committee on Publication, she aroused the admiration even of her enemies. No one could deny its effectiveness; for the correction of printed misstatements in an orderly manner soon proved to be a wholesome deterrent to the flippancies of yellow journalism, as well as a kindly instructor to the ignorant, but perchance well-meaning commentator. While such a method for dealing with specific forms of error rejoices the hearts of those who love Truth, it confounds and disconcerts the evildoer who would broadcast mischief. The office of Committee on Publication, in accordance with the Church Manual (p. 97), acts as a great protection to the Christian Science movement by correcting "in a Christian manner impositions on the public in regard to Christian Science, injustices done Mrs. Eddy or members of this Church by the daily press, by periodicals or circulated literature of any sort."
Consider for a moment what means are now available for purposes of publicity. Besides the daily newspapers and periodicals, there are books, pamphlets, the drama, the opera, lectures, sermons, moving pictures, and now the radio, not to speak of handbills, signs, and billboards, phonographs, and sky writing! A prolific field, indeed, including every kind of vehicle for disseminating propaganda. Not until the "common carriers" have been purified will the usefulness of Christian Science Committees on Publication be at an end.
Much has been heard about a subsidized press, meaning usually that the press is controlled by and run in the interest of money-making concerns. Is it not true, however, that an even greater menace may be the press enslaved by an erroneous policy? The desire to control other people's ideas for selfish ends reaches far back. Before printing was invented, when it was, perhaps, a laborious task to reach the multitude with a message, this was the animus of many a warlike expedition, although undertaken ostensibly to increase territory. So, to-day, every printed invader of the home is governed by some policy,—sometimes altruistic, often the reverse.
