Mary Baker Eddy's statement (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 352, 353), "My desire is that every Christian Scientist, and as many others as possible, subscribe for and read our daily newspaper," indicates that she believed such a course was for the benefit of the Scientist quite as much as for the support of the publication. Most certainly her wish was stated not primarily for commercial purposes, but to promote the progress of the individual as well as of our movement.
I think it may be said that the call to distribution, circulation, and advertising work was first given by the Master, when he said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel."
The effort of personal missionaries has been blessed; it could not be otherwise, since their motives are unselfish, but often the cost has been great in human lives. In the past, as well as today, among the first persons to feel the impact of quarrels and wars have been missionaries. There are different ways of going "into all the world," and the best way was discerned by our Leader when she advised, "Let us serve instead of rule, knock instead of push at the door of human hearts, and allow to each and every one the same rights and privileges that we claim for ourselves" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 303). Her advice was, in substance, Better wait until you are invited and are reasonably sure that you are wanted.
