The selection of passages from the Bible and from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, for reading at Wednesday evening meetings, is a question which engages the prayerful consideration of First Readers in Christian Science churches and societies throughout the world. It is usual for these Readers to choose passages which present a particular subject that is of interest to the average congregation attending the meetings, and the order of service specified in the Manual of The Mother Church (p. 122) implies that at each meeting the selections read from Science and Health shall correlate with those from the Bible. Earnest and consecrated study of these books is requisite for the best results in the choice of selections for reading at these midweek meetings, which our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has described as "this banquet of Christian Science, this feast and flow of Soul" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 149).
A statement, "From the Directors," which was published in these columns in the issue of August 25,1923, and reprinted in the issue of December 8,1928, states 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 may be of interest to Readers in branch churches to know that in recent months it has been decided that at the Wednesday evening meetings held in The Mother Church, the First Reader will so arrange his Bible readings as to include not more than four selections that are not consecutive, those from Science and Health to include not more than ten correlative passages, and fewer when possible. The actual reading of these selections will occupy about ten minutes.
It should be clearly understood that the Readers in Christian Science churches should confine their selections from the text proper in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mary Baker Eddy, and should never read selections from the chapter on Fruitage.
