A four-page document titled "Alert", whose source was not identified but which is probably evident to many, was passed along to me. It bears the sad tidings that on September 10 Reading Rooms were notified that the "Complete Concordance to the Writings of Mary Baker Eddy" was no longer available in print and would not be reprinted. "Let them eat cake [Concord]" is their apparent--and it would seem cowardly delivered--message. The "Alert" mailing makes a very strong case for the inexcusableness of this action, as if a case needed to be made at all, though the Board is obviously deaf to concerns from a few hidebound fuddy-duddies.
The Concordance was a superhuman undertaking, a humblingly selfless labor of love by Albert Conant, for which no sincere Christian Scientist can be too grateful. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you think the Church would do everything it took to keep this indispensable work available in print even for those who feel as if they are being stigmatized as quaint Neanderthals for still studying Christian Science in books? Perhaps some helpful reader can explain to me why the BOD can easily find $750,000,000 to sqaunder on the Monitor television boondoggle and another $50,000,000 give or take (as I recall) to blow on the more recent white elephant and ongoing financial sinkhole, yet can't lay their hands on the insignificant few thousands it would take to keep the "Complete Concordance to the Writings of Mary Baker Eddy" in print. I was always under the strong impression that sedulous, prayerful study and pondering of the writings of Mrs. Eddy was of more than passing importance in gaining an increased understanding of Christian Science and that if they never did anything else the Board would want to do all they could to make this possible, but it seems that when the intoxicating vista of a real estate empire beckoned, it was even harder than usual for Mrs. Eddy to get their enraptured attention from her place in the rumble seat.
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16 comments:
Outstanding, Christian. Good for you, speaking up on this vital issue.
No one puts it like you, blogger. A stand up and take notice essay, and on a topic of immense importance to the Field many of whom I'm glad to say, still hold the Discoverer and Founder of our religion in high esteem and love.
Bravo. And again I say, bravo!
Of course, the Board could afford to keep printing the Concordance. They don't have enough respect for the Leader they should be serving, to do so.
Sharp, even stinging in places, but in my estimation, much needed. Thanks for standing up for Mrs. Eddy the way you do.
Love the way you express yourself, especially when you're tackling the wrongdoers in Boston. If I knew what you're referring to, "the Alert" I could make an informed comment. But haven't read the document.
Dear Christian,
You're certainly the man (I think you are) to go to if I want to find out the latest about issues that concern CS's.
Keep us posted, will you?
Another fine essay, Christian. Enjoy your writing a lot,
Fresh, original, creative, well-written, entertaining, inspired. Shall I go on? I do enjoy reading your blog, Christian.
I'm going to hang onto my Concordance for all I'm worth then!
Thanks for letting us know about this unfortunate decision.
If only Christian and his (or her) followers were in Boston running things!
Good essay, and I always like the fascinating titles you come up with. They do tend to draw the reader in to see what on earth you are referring to.
Why are you surprised at what the CSBD are doing? Given the Gill biography that trashed our Leader, can anything else be worse than at showing disrespect for her?
Yes it is a disgrace. I use my print Concordance a lot even though I study mostly electronic texts. It is also a disgrace that officialdom is not doing more to make Mrs. Eddy's works more widely available online. Go to any evangelist site like Blue Letter Bible to get a sense of what people who really love the Bible do to show their love and respect for the Word. C.S. officialdom should be doing no less with regard to Mary Baker Eddy's works. If you visit the MBE Libary today you can learn all about Mrs. Eddy's china cocoa pots and get staff suggestions on secular reading material. But is there a searchable Prose Works available anywhere for the public? Nope
My surmise is that discontinuing the MBE Concordance (just S&H or the Prose Works too?) was a marketing decision. They must have looked at sales figures and decided that Concord was the majority-preferred way to go. If they had surveyed the membership which is their main clientele, they would have found that a substantial number have no computer. They would also get a precise take on how many of those also own a print concordance. If the latter is high, then, given necessary triage, the discontinuance of the concordance would have some justification. It's not to say it couldn't be revived in the future if the demand is there. Meanwhile it becomes a hot collectors' item, and all the stacks of donated books in all the Reading Rooms will be ransacked for copies. The CSPS decision should not preclude a reprint publisher from picking it up.
This is not to justify their decision, only to second-guess it. I use both the print and computer concordances and value both for their respective strengths. But to force people into an either-or choice does not accord with governance of Truth and Love
Thank you for your continuing excellent essays on behalf of this wonderful religion of ours.
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