When one has been elected Reader in a Church of Christ, Scientist, prayerful thought should be given to the presentation of the message of Truth which he has been called upon to voice. It is of utmost importance that the inspired Word of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, our dual impersonal pastor, be apprehended by the listener. Our Leader presents a perfect model for the Reader to emulate on page 88 of Science and Health, where she writes: "Eloquence re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love. It is due to inspiration rather than to erudition." As the Reader "re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love" in reading our Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly through inspiration instead of erudition, the day may be hastened when the prophecy of Jeremiah (31:34), that all shall know God from the least to the greatest, will be fulfilled.
In the book of Nehemiah we have a good example of eloquent reading. It is related that after the wall and gates of Jerusalem had been successfully restored, the people gathered themselves together to hear the law of Moses. It states (8:8), "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." Here are three points that might well be imitated by any church Reader. First, "they read...distinctly"; secondly, they "gave the sense"; and thirdly, they "caused them to understand the reading."
A Reader's desire should be to prove himself such a clear and faithful mouthpiece for Truth that his reading will be distinct. When the Father is allowed to be at the helm, there will be no dramatic effect, overemphasis, strenuousness, or emotionalism; but correct pronunciation, good enunciation, simplicity, and clarity will be manifested. Mrs. Eddy wrote to an official of The Mother Church regarding the selection of someone to read one of her messages, specifying that it should be "one whose voice is ample, articulation distinct, and whose emphasis, pause, tone, is according to conversation,—to the laws of understanding his subject and making it clear to the hearer" (Christian Science Sentinel., Vol. 38, No. 16, Dec. 21, 1935).
