A Stranger attending a Sunday service in a Christian Science church notices first of all, perhaps, the lack of a personal preacher and a personal sermon. Yet Christian Scientists do not lack either preacher or sermon. If the visitor listens attentively to the explanatory note from the Christian Science Quarterly, read by the First Reader, he learns that the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, are recognized as the only preachers in Churches of Christ, Scientist, and that passages from the two books, read at each Sunday service, comprise the sermon.
It was in 1895 that Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health as the pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist. At that time her students were preaching in the various churches and sending her copies of their sermons. Realizing that some of the sermons were departing from the teachings of Christian Science and that something must be done, our Leader turned to God for the answer to the problem.
After three weeks of earnest prayer she found that answer. She announced her inspiration in The Christian Science Journal, and it is recorded on pages 313 and 314 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby ordain the Bible, and 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' to be hereafter the only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands."
