ON page 113 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says, "The systematized centres of Christian Science are life-giving fountains of truth." There is no doubt that she considered the Christian Science Reading Room as a systematized center of Christian Science— such an important one that no church can become a branch of The Mother Church until it supports or participates in the support of a Reading Room (Church Manual, Art. XXI, Sect. 1). The Reading Room in its wholly spiritual aspect is inseparable from Church, and our support of the Reading Room will be more effectual as we better understand Mrs. Eddy's definition of Church (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583): "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
As we look beyond the circumscribed thought of a room or series of rooms, poorly or richly accoutered, badly or well situated, we can realize that Reading Room is in essence a spiritual idea and evidences the spiritual fact of Love's provision. As we see that it is included in "the structure of Truth and Love" and know that it "rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle," we shall help our Reading Rooms to give proof of their utility by elevating human thinking and rousing dormant understanding to the apprehension and demonstration of Christian Science.
How often we read the passage from Science and Health (p. 570): "Millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences." A Christian Science Reading Room is a marvelous place for these seekers to find spiritual rest and drink, and they are doing so daily; but in comparison with the millions spoken of, sometimes the number visiting individual Reading Rooms seems very small. Our work, then, must be to know that there is no counterattraction to the all embracing attraction of Spirit, and that the one Mind is everywhere present, constantly imparting receptivity, humility, and spiritual understanding.
