When Mary Baker Eddy released the book Miscellaneous Writings for publication, she asked that current teachers of Christian Science stop teaching for one year. She said, " 'Miscellaneous Writings' is calculated to prepare the minds of all true thinkers to understand the Christian Science Text-book more correctly than a student can."The Christian Science Journal, March 1897, p. 575
That's quite a statement! Here's a book filled with some of her most profound letters, sermons, Bible lessons, questions and answers, all of which were written over a period of about fourteen years. Most of the articles had been published earlier in The Christian Science Journal. A few were new items. They were compiled into one collection by the Discoverer of Christian Science in order that "true thinkers" could be better prepared to understand Science and Health. Now, it's quite obvious that she did intend Primary class instruction in Christian Science to continue, since she asked teachers to stop teaching for only one year. And the provision for class instruction from an authorized teacher of Christian Science remains in the Manual of The Mother Church today.
With the publication of this collection, however, for the first time anyone in her day—teachers of Christian Science and new students—had the opportunity to spiritualize their thoughts in fresh ways. They could read and ponder life lessons she had gained from experience in demonstrating God's presence and power in everyday situations. And that they appreciated this privilege is shown by what one teacher wrote to her. He said: "The mental unfolding that the study of your last book has brought to me has been truly startling. It has taken me back to the spiritual import of the Text-book, and all your other writings, with wonderful force and power."Ibid, April 1897, p. 35
