Editors
of The Christian Science Monitor are inclined to take a 'different' view
of any writing they are invited to comment on. Erwin D Canham's Foreword
to Living Christian Science - Fourteen Lives does just that.
When I
found the book on the Internet in order to get a copy I noticed that it is
described as being by Marcy Babbitt and Erwin D Canham.* Reasonable no doubt,
because Canham, long time editor (1941-1964) of the Monitor, is well known to students of
Christian Science (ed.: and many others), and at the time of the publishing of this book (1975) he had
recently retired from the position of editor-in-chief (1964-1974) of that remarkable
publication.
In the
Monitor files there is a tribute to Canham by Saville R Davis: https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/0104/010436.html.
And the
Mary Baker Eddy Library has a podcast titled 'The Papers of Erwin D. Canham, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor'.
The 'different' view I noticed was brought out in the last two paragraphs of the Foreword.
For
every Christian Scientist who became an ambassador or an opera star or a
business leader there are many, many others who are living its precepts simply,
lovingly, and in what may seem to be obscurity. Their lives are just as
significant as those recorded here. Each of them could also help enlighten the
seeker, and many do with each weekly or monthly issue of the Christian Science
periodicals.
It is
perhaps more “authentic" for the lives in this book to be recorded with names
and dates, chapters and verses. But personality is not the essence of Christian
Science. Everything in this book would have just as much meaning if the names
were left off. But here they are, people, many of whom are known and recognized
in the world of affairs, telling of the blessings they have received – perhaps
reluctantly as far as the personal identification is concerned – so that people
who need to learn of this truth may find their way more readily into the understanding
of God's love for them through the application of Christian Science.
*
Actually, I just looked it up. Canham gets first billing! Canham and Babbitt. I
think he would be shocked!
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