Inquiries come to the Board of Directors from time to time as to the selections from the Bible and Science and Health which should be read at the Wednesday evening meetings. Newly appointed Readers sometimes ask if the readings for Wednesday evening meetings should not always follow the subject of the Lesson-Sermon, either that of the previous Sunday or of the one to follow. To this it may be answered that the Lesson-Sermon is in a class by itself, as we learn in pondering the words of the "Explanatory Note" which is read at each Sunday service from the Christian Science Quarterly. It is therefore not necessary, or even desirable, to attempt further elucidation of the vast themes presented in the Sunday Lessons, but some topic of present interest may be selected, always keeping it in line with the thought of the overcoming of error, whether manifested as sickness, sin, or some other form of discord. Some story from the Bible can at this time be presented in its entirety, possibly with one or two corroborative passages from another part of the Bible, but the latter, as a rule, should be brief.
It is, of course, well for Readers to acquaint themselves thoroughly with the instructions found in Article VIII, Section 24, of the Manual of The Mother Church, for the Wednesday evening meetings, and also with our Leader's words on this subject which begin on page 148 of "Miscellaneous Writings."
While the Readers in branch churches should make their part of the Wednesday evening meeting a matter of prayer and demonstration, it may be helpful to many to know that in The Mother Church it has been thought best that there should not be more than three selections for the Scripture reading which are not consecutive, and from Science and Health not more than five, unless in the latter case more seem necessary. It is also considered inadvisable either to begin a reading in the middle of a verse, or to discontinue before the end of a verse, although this is sometimes necessary in the Lesson-Sermon; but the Wednesday evening readings are not a Lesson-Sermon, therefore this necessity does not exist. We should never forget that many visitors, unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science, attend these meetings, and they are apt to be disturbed if the readings are not largely consecutive and do not follow in direct line the Scriptural passages which are familiar, and often very dear, to them.
