ion. I have no time for detailed report
of this matter, but simply answer the following question
sent to me; glad, indeed, that this query has finally come [10]
with the courage of conviction to the minds of many
students.

"Is it right to copy your works and read them for our
public services?"

The good which the material senses see not is the only [15]
absolute good; the evil which these senses see not is the
only absolute evil.

If I enter Mr. Smith's store and take from it his gar-
ments that are on sale, array myself in them, and put
myself and them on exhibition, can I make this right [20]
by saying, These garments are Mr. Smith's; he manu-
factured them and owns them, but you must pay me,
not him, for this exhibit?

The spectators may ask, Did he give you permission
to do this, did he sell them or loan them to you? No. [25]
Then have you asked yourself this question on the sub-
ject, namely, What right have I to do this? True, it
saves your purchasing these garments, and gives to the
public new patterns which are useful to them; but does
this silence your conscience? or, because you have con- [30]
fessed that they are the property of a noted firm, and
you wished to handle them, does it justify you in appro-

[Page 300.]

priating them, and so avoiding the cost of hiring or [1]
purchasing?

Copying my published works _verbatim_, compiling them
in connection with the Scriptures, taking this copy into
the pulpit, announcing the author's name, then reading [5]
it publicly as your own compilation, is--what?

We answer, It is a mistake; in common parlance, it
is an _ignorant_ wrong.

If you should print and publish your copy of my works,
you would be liable to arrest for infringement of copy- [10]
right, which the law defines and punishes as theft. Read-
ing in the pulpit from copies of my publications gives
you the clergyman's salary and spares you the printer's
bill, but does it spare you our Master's condemnation?
You literally publish my works through the pulpit, instead [15]
of the press, and thus evade the law, _but not the gospel_.
When I consent to this act, you will then be justified
in it.

Your manuscript copy is liable, in some way, to be
printed as your original writings, thus incurring the pen- [20]
alty of the law, and increasing the record of theft in the
United States Circuit Court.

To The Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, which I
had organized and of which I had for many