The Reading Room maintained by each branch Church of Christ, Scientist, can never be viewed as merely a location where Christian Science literature is dispensed. We know it is much more than that. It is one of the loving provisions for the church's outreach embraced in our Manual. It is not apart from the church, but an integral part of it; they are one in essence, as the outward manifestation of the spiritual idea of "Church." See Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, 583:12-13.
We know too that no matter how financially well-off our particular branch church is, or how fine the Reading Room location, unless we reach out and embrace our community as brothers, cherished sons, praying "now are we the sons of God," I John 3:2. the location in town is purposeless. The prayerful outreach the Reading Room symbolizes is what matters, and unless our Reading Room is thus active in us, it is dead.
A Reading Room uncherished spiritually, and thus unprepared, can be likened to a shop with a sign outside reading "Free food here"; though when the inquirer enters, he is merely given a discourse on foods. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, said, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." II Cor. 3:6. Mrs. Eddy, referring to the ancient healers, writes, "So divinely imbued were they with the spirit of Science, that the lack of the letter could not hinder their work; and that letter, without the spirit, would have made void their practice." Science and Health, p. 145. She tells us also: "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,— pulseless, cold, inanimate." Ibid., p. 113. Our Reading Room needs spiritual love, and the librarian needs it too.
