This magazine’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote of its design in this way: “… our Journal is designed to bring health and happiness to all households wherein it is permitted to enter, and to confer increased power to be good and to do good” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 262).
When I came upon this statement, I’d already been reading this magazine religiously (pardon the pun!) for some years. And it gave me pause. Especially arresting to me was that first part of its design—“to bring health and happiness to all households wherein it is permitted to enter.” Not wherein it is read, not wherein it’s wanted even, just wherein it is permitted to enter. It caused me to think back to the early days of my marriage.
When I left home and married, my father continued to send me a subscription to the Journal. Even after I’d had three changes of address, it still found me. With each gift renewal notice I’d thank him.
