Writing the hundreds of religious articles published each year in the Christian Science periodicals is one of the privileges and duties that Mrs. Eddy has assigned to students of Christian Science.See Miscellaneous Writings 271:10-11. Since the Church of Christ, Scientist, publishes these periodicals continuously, there is always a need for fresh, new articles.
At one point in the early days of Christian Science, a notice signed by Mrs. Eddy appeared in the October 1896 Journal, which then was the only magazine published by the Church. As later reprinted, this message speaks of the excellent letters being received from Christian Scientists and asks that in the future such letters be submitted to the Journal for publication. Mrs. Eddy then adds: "If my own students cannot spare time to write to God,—when they address me I shall be apt to forward their letters to Him as our common Parent, and by way of The Christian Science Journal; thus fulfilling their moral obligation to furnish some reading-matter for our denominational organ. Methinks, were they to contemplate the universal charge wherewith divine Love has entrusted us, in behalf of a suffering race, they would contribute oftener to the pages of this swift vehicle of scientific thought; for it reaches a vast number of earnest readers, and seekers after Truth."Ibid., pp. 155-156.
Some of the letters that had been pouring into Mrs. Eddy's mailbox did end up in the Journal. (Later on, such letters also appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel, which was founded in 1898.) And they are thrilling to read, for they are filled with gratitude, joy, and conviction. These were people whose lives had been saved, regenerated, and brightened by Mrs. Eddy's discovery and lifework. Through Christian Science they had come to know God more as He truly is, which had set their hearts on fire. You catch this spirit as you read what they wrote. Some of the letters show deep intellect; others are unpolished. But this unevenness is refreshing. The pioneering simplicity of thought in some of them seems in a way as profound and moving as the advanced metaphysics in the more distinguished and scholarly articles.
