Read / Pause / Apply -- to meet your present need

The following came in as a comment to yesterday's post but I thought our readers might miss it unless it was a proper "post", so here it is:

Thank you, Julie, for that lovely post. Full of gratitude, sincerity and expectancy of good. 

My first impression in this month's reading was in relation to the introduction to this precious chapter of Science and Health, Fruitage. I noted that if we have doubts as to the legitimacy of what is to come we can apply to the Editor. How interesting. There is really no way we can apply to the original Editor who compiled the substance of the chapter, but we can apply to the office of Editor, which to-day would be the Christian Science Publishing Society. 

How important it is in Christian Science to honour the office rather than the person holding that office. For instance, we honour the office of First Reader when we give gratitude for the readings from the Bible and Science and Health at Wednesday evening Testimony Meetings rather than the person in that office. And we honour the office of Christian Science practitioner when we show our appreciation of a healing accomplished through that office. 

I like to remind myself of a direction from Mary Baker Eddy on the reading of Science and Health. It was directed to one student, and no doubt was of particular help to the student, Frank Walter Gale. Mrs. Eddy had sent Mr. Gale a copy of a new edition of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and Mr. Gale records that she sent this note with it: "In reading my revised edition that is, by the way, published this week, there is no special direction requisite. The general rule is to commence with the first chapter, read slowly, and pause as you read to apply certain portions which meet your present need, -- to thought that will carry them out in action. The book is complete in itself, it is a teacher and healer" (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Vol. I, expanded edition, p. 219). 

I have been reading these testimonies in Science and Health since 1961, and have at every reading been inspired by with the inspired records The number of testimonies which record healing of eyesight is remarkable. I must count them again. One of my early copies of the book was marked as I numbered them. So precious! I will not tell you the number now, but will mark the book I am reading for this blog - a tiny hardback, lovely edition. 

Joyce Voysey 

PS I had no idea I would write so much when I started this comment!