The first Christian Science Reading Room was opened in Boston, Massachusetts, in October, 1888, at the recommendation of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Although this Reading Room differed from and was superseded by the Christian Science Reading Room as it is today, the Christian Scientist may indeed cherish this instance of his Leader's vision of the power of Truth's communications, as represented by the Christian Science movement's authorized publications, to carry her teachings forward. This instance should also enlarge the Scientist's concept of the Reading Room's inherent capacity to prosper the movement in his own community.
Although, humanly considered, the Reading Room is a church activity, the student needs to spiritualize his concept of it by perceiving it as the expression in everyday experience of Truth's power to communicate itself to man. Such spiritualization of thought concerning what outwardly appears as a human activity spontaneously destroys negative appearances of indifference either on the church membership's part or on that of the community.
Admittedly, to the material senses, the Reading Room has a material location and structure and is staffed and financed by members of a branch church. To these same senses, persons patronize it, and the character of its environment and population seems to determine greatly its utility.
