Note: The article below was written in 1890, during the first month of the publication of what is now the Christian Science Quarterly. The Bible Lesson at that time used the Bible texts from the International Sunday School Lessons together with references from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, to explain those Bible texts. It would be eight more years before Mrs. Eddy would introduce the twenty-six subjects now used for Sunday Services and Sunday School. The Bible version used for the Bible Lesson during the entire year of 1890 was the Revised Version [RV]. In 1885 the RV's Old Testament was completed and added to the RV's New Testament, which had been completed in 1881.

Enclosed within square brackets [ ] are footnote-type clarifications. In the second paragraph, last sentence, I have inserted "[Sunday School]" before "class." (Originally the Bible Lesson was used solely for Sunday School. Until 1895 both children and adults were taught in Christian Science Sunday Schools. After 1895 only those under twenty years of age could be pupils in Sunday School.) Also in the third paragraph, in order to conform the capitalization to what Mrs. Eddy and the Christian Science periodicals ultimately adopted, "All is mind" was changed to "All is [M]ind."

There was a brief announcement of this new Bible Lesson format in the December, 1889, Christian Science Journal (page 461), but the article below was the first comprehensive explanation of the then new format. Even though there have been many changes since then, the article provides insights relevant to the current role of the Bible Lesson in both the Sunday School and the Sunday service.

The first instalment of the Christian Science Bible Lessons for 1890 marks a new departure in this line of work. Just enough of the spiritual sense of the Scripture text is given to outline the thought; abundant references to the Bible and Science and Health enable every student to complete it by his own research. The lessons are like the outline map of a continent; the learner must supply the boundaries of countries, the location of rivers and mountains, towns and cities, and the descriptions that give life, color, and individuality.

Several persons have collaborated in bringing together these lessons; but the leaven of personality is wholly absent; the constant effort is to bring the thought out in relief, by indicating without expressing it. It has to be dug out by each scholar, so that the individuality of each must be manifested in the [Sunday School] class.

The amount of labor involved in the preparation of this outline will be appreciated only by those who follow out faithfully the references furnished. If in the respect just mentioned it may be called a feast of unleavened bread, it cannot be dispatched with haste. In all respects, those who are in Christian Science, are coming into a new world. "All is [M]ind;" "The old things are passed away, behold they are become new." Yet we have brought something of the old with us; conceptions of organization, of forms of worship, and of personal relations. With the destruction of the old conceptions of organization, the new is foreshadowed in all directions. The pulpit in the old thought is a contrivance for shifting the work and responsibility of religious life from the people to one man chosen to bear it for them. Before the idol thus set up -- in realization of their part in this perfunctory worship of a perfunctory god -- the people have sat dumb. Their part has been to "feel good," under the periodical stirring in an appointed way, or religious emotion; and the rest of the time to follow with full license, the life of the senses.

The old forms of worship will in due time follow the organizations; no one can prescribe the new forms. Our Leader recommends our dropping old forms as fast as we are ready to do so, but the new forms must be the growth of the new life.

May not the spiritual leader of each group of Scientists speak, standing amidst them, as one of them, instead of perched in a pulpit or even from a platform, and will not the individuals bring testimonies, and visions, and prophecies as did the early Christians? Silent uplifting of thought in prayer, the harmonious blending of voices in the Lord's prayer, and in joyous songs expressive of the new thoughts, may well hold their places; but divested of formalism, they will be spontaneous expressions of the conscious life of Spirit.

The Bible Lessons for 1890 are in this line of growth, they strike the keynote for all the work of the New Year, -- progression and individuality, -- "in the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace."