Manual of The Mother Church

The First Church of Christ

Scientist

In Boston, Massachusetts

By

Mary Baker Eddy

Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and Author

of the Christian Science Text Book "Science and

Health With Key to the Scriptures"

Eighty-ninth Edition

BOSTON, U.S.A.

Published by Allison V. Stewart

FOR THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE WILL OF MARY BAKER G. EDDY

FALMOUTH AND ST. PAUL STREETS

1917

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER IN "MISCEL-

LANEOUS WRITINGS" By Mary Baker Eddy

THE Rules and By-Laws in the Manual of The

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, origi-

nated not in solemn conclave as in ancient

Sanhedrim. They were not arbitrary opinions

nor dictatorial demands, such as one person

might impose on another. They were impelled

by a power not one's own, were written at different dates, and

as the occasion required. They sprang from necessity, the

logic of events, — from the immediate demand for them as a

help that must be supplied to maintain the dignity and defense

of our Cause; hence their simple, scientific basis, and detail so

requisite to demonstrate genuine Christian Science, and which

will do for the race what absolute doctrines destined for future

generations might not accomplish.

Table of Contents
TENETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	15
HISTORICAL SKETCH . . . . . . . . . .	17
LIST OF CHURCH OFFICERS . . . . . . .	21
Church By-Laws
CHURCH OFFICERS
Names, Election, and Duties. Art. I.
Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	25
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	25
Clerk and Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . .	25
Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	26
Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	26
Church Business . . . . . . . . . . . .	27
Publishing Buildings . . . . . . . . . .	27
Trusteeships and Syndicates . . . . . . .	27
Duties of Church Officers . . . . . . . . .	28
Readers of The Mother Church. Art. II.
Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	30
Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	30
First Reader's Residence . . . . . . . . .	30

6 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Duties of Readers of The Mother Church and of its Branch Churches. Art. III.
Moral Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . .	31
First Readers' Duties . . . . . . . . . .	31
Suitable Selections . . . . . . . . . . .	31
Order of Reading . . . . . . . . . . . .	32
Naming Book and Author . . . . . . . . .	32
Readers in Branch Churches . . . . . . . .	32
Enforcement of By-Laws . . . . . . . . .	32
A Reader not a Leader . . . . . . . . . .	33
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Qualifications for Membership. Art. IV.
Believe in Christian Science . . . . . . . .	34
Free from Other Denominations . . . . . .	34
Children when Twelve Years Old . . . . . .	35
Applications for Membership. Art. V.
Students of the College . . . . . . . . . .	35
Other Students . . . . . . . . . . . . .	35
Students' Pupils . . . . . . . . . . . .	36
Exceptional Cases . . . . . . . . . . . .	36
Addressed to Clerk . . . . . . . . . . .	36
Endorsing Applications . . . . . . . . . .	37
Notice of Rejection . . . . . . . . . . .	37
Recommendation And Election. Art. VI.
Pupils of Normal Students . . . . . . . . .	37
Members of The Mother Church . . . . . .	37
Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	38
Probationary Membership. Art. VII.
Members who once Withdrew . . . . . . .	38
Members once Dismissed . . . . . . . . .	39
Ineligible for Probation . . . . . . . . . .	39

7 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DISCIPLINE
Guidance of Members. Art. VIII.
A Rule for Motives and Acts . . . . . . . .	40
To be Read in Church . . . . . . . . . .	40
Christ Jesus the Ensample . . . . . . . . .	41
Daily Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	41
Prayer in Church . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
Alertness to Duty . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
One Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
No Malpractice . . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
Formulas Forbidden . . . . . . . . . . .	43
No Adulterating Christian Science . . . . . .	43
No Incorrect Literature . . . . . . . . . .	43
Obnoxious Books . . . . . . . . . . . .	44
Per Capita Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . .	44
Church Periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . .	44
Church Organizations Ample . . . . . . . .	44
Joining Another Society . . . . . . . . . .	45
Forbidden Membership . . . . . . . . . .	45
Officious Members . . . . . . . . . . . .	45
Legal Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	45
Illegal Adoption . . . . . . . . . . . .	46
Use of Initials "C. S." . . . . . . . . . .	46
Practitioners and Patients . . . . . . . . .	46
Duty to Patients . . . . . . . . . . . . .	47
Testimonials . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	47
Charity to All . . . . . . . . . . . . .	47
Uncharitable Publications . . . . . . . . .	48
The Golden Rule . . . . . . . . . . . .	48
Numbering the People . . . . . . . . . .	48
Our Church Edifices . . . . . . . . . . .	48

8 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

No Monopoly . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	49
Christian Science Nurse . . . . . . . . . .	49
Marriage and Decease. Art. IX.
A Legal Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . .	49
Sudden Decease . . . . . . . . . . . .	49
Debating in Public. Art. X.
No Unauthorized Debating . . . . . . . .	50
Complaints. Art. XI.
Departure from Tenets . . . . . . . . . .	50
Violation of By-Laws . . . . . . . . . . .	50
Violation of Christian Fellowship . . . . . .	51
Preliminary Requirement . . . . . . . . .	51
Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	51
Members in Mother Church Only . . . . . .	52
Working Against the Cause . . . . . . . .	52
No Unchristian Conduct . . . . . . . . .	53
Not to Learn Hypnotism . . . . . . . . .	53
Publications Unjust . . . . . . . . . . .	53
The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, Tenets .	54
Special Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . .	54
Members of Branch Churches . . . . . . . .	54
Teachers. Art. XII.
Probation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	55
Misteaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	55
MEETINGS
Regular and Special Meetings. Art. XIII.
Annual Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . .	56
Meetings of Board of Directors . . . . . . .	56
Called only by the Clerk . . . . . . . . . .	57

9 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHURCH SERVICES
The Christian Science Pastor. Art. XIV.
Ordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	58
The Lesson-Sermon . . . . . . . . . . .	58
Reading in Public. Art. XV.
Announcing Author's Name . . . . . . . .	58
Welcoming Strangers. Art. XVI.
The Leader's Welcome . . . . . . . . .	59
The Local Members' Welcome . . . . . . .	59
Services Uninterrupted. Art. XVII.
Continued Throughout the Year . . . . . . .	60
Easter Observances . . . . . . . . . . .	60
Laying a Corner-Stone . . . . . . . . . .	60
Overflow Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . .	61
Communion. Art. XVIII.
No More Communion . . . . . . . . . .	61
Communion of Branch Churches . . . . . . .	61
Music in the Church. Art. XIX.
Soloist and Organist . . . . . . . . . . .	61
Sunday School. Art. XX.
The Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . .	62
Teaching the Children . . . . . . . . . .	62
Subject for Lessons . . . . . . . . . . .	62
READING ROOMS. Art. XXI.
Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . .	63
Librarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	63
Literature in Reading Rooms . . . . . . . .	64

10 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RELATION AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS. Art. XXII.
The Title of Mother Changed . . . . . . .	64
A Member not a Leader . . . . . . . . . .	65
Obedience Required . . . . . . . . . . .	65
Understanding Communications . . . . . . .	65
Interpreting Communications . . . . . . . .	66
Reading and Attesting Letters . . . . . . . .	66
Unauthorized Reports . . . . . . . . . .	66
Private Communications . . . . . . . . . .	67
Unauthorized Legal Action . . . . . . . . .	67
Duty to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	67
Opportunity for Serving the Leader . . . . . .	67
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	68
Agreement Required . . . . . . . . . . .	68
Incomplete Term of Service . . . . . . . .	69
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	69
Students with Mrs. Eddy . . . . . . . . .	69
Mrs. Eddy's Room . . . . . . . . . . . .	69
Pastor Emeritus to be Consulted . . . . . . .	70
THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES. Art. XXIII.
Local Self-government . . . . . . . . . .	70
Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	70
Mother Church Unique . . . . . . . . . .	71
Tenets Copyrighted . . . . . . . . . . .	71
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	72
Organizing Churches . . . . . . . . . . .	72
Requirements for Organizing Branch Churches . .	72
Privilege of Members . . . . . . . . . . .	73
No Close Communion . . . . . . . . . .	73

11 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

No Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . .	73
Teachers' and Practitioners' Offices . . . . . .	74
Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	74
GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS. Art. XXIV.
Church Edifice a Testimonial . . . . . . . .	75
Financial Situation . . . . . . . . . . . .	75
Report of Directors . . . . . . . . . . .	76
Finance Committee . . . . . . . . . . .	76
God's Requirement . . . . . . . . . . .	77
Provision for the Future . . . . . . . . .	77
Debt and Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . .	78
Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	78
Committee on Business . . . . . . . . . .	79
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY. Art. XXV.
Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . .	79
Disposal of Funds . . . . . . . . . . . .	80
Vacancies in Trusteeship . . . . . . . . .	80
Editors and Manager . . . . . . . . . . .	80
Suitable Employees . . . . . . . . . . . .	81
Periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	81
Rule of Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . .	81
Books to be Published . . . . . . . . . .	81
Removal of Cards . . . . . . . . . . . .	82
TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Teachers. Art. XXVI.
Motive in Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . .	83
Care of Pupils . . . . . . . . . . . . .	83
Defence against Malpractice . . . . . . . .	84

12 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Number of Pupils . . . . . . . . . . . .	84
Pupils' Tuition . . . . . . . . . . . . .	84
Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	84
A Single Field of Labor . . . . . . . . .	84
Caring for Pupils of Strayed Members . . . . .	85
Teachers must have Certificates . . . . . . .	85
Pupils. Art. XXVII.
Authorized to Teach . . . . . . . . . . .	86
Without Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . .	86
Basis for Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . .	86
Church Membership . . . . . . . . . . .	87
Class Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . .	87
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Organization. Art. XXVIII.
Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	88
Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	88
President not to be Consulted . . . . . . . .	88
Presidency of College . . . . . . . . . . .	89
Applicants and Graduates. Art. XXIX.
Normal Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . .	89
Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	89
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	90
Action of the Board. Art. XXX.
Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	90
Special Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . .	90
Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	91
Remuneration and Free Scholarship . . . . . .	91
Surplus Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . .	91
Primary Students . . . . . . . . . . . .	91

13 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Healing Better than Teaching . . . . . . . .	92
Not Members of The Mother Church . . . . .	92
BOARD OF LECTURESHIP
Organization and Duties. Art. XXXI.
Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	93
Duty of Lecturers . . . . . . . . . . . .	93
No Disruption of Branch Churches . . . . . .	93
Receptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	94
Circuit Lecturer . . . . . . . . . . . . .	94
Calls for Lectures. Art. XXXII.
From the Directors . . . . . . . . . . . .	95
From Branch Churches . . . . . . . . . .	95
From Societies . . . . . . . . . . . . .	95
Annual Lectures . . . . . . . . . . . . .	95
No Lectures by Readers . . . . . . . . . .	95
No Wednesday Evening Lectures . . . . . .	96
Lecture Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	96
Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	96
Exceptional Cases . . . . . . . . . . . .	96
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. Art. XXXIII.
In The Mother Church . . . . . . . . . .	97
Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	97
In Branch Churches . . . . . . . . . . .	98
Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	99
Removal from Office . . . . . . . . . . .	100
Case of Necessity . . . . . . . . . . . .	100
CHURCH-BUILDING. Art. XXXIV.
Building Committee . . . . . . . . . . .	102
Designation of Deeds . . . . . . . . . . .	102
The Mother Church Building . . . . . . . .	103

14 CHURCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHURCH MANUAL. Art. XXXV.
For The Mother Church Only . . . . . . . .	104
Seventy-third Edition the Authority . . . . . .	104
Amendment of By-Laws . . . . . . . . . .	105
Appendix
Special Instructions Regarding Applications for Church Membership . . . . . . . . . . .	109
Present Order of Services in The Mother Church And Branch Churches . . . . . . . . . .	120
Present Order of Communion Services in Branch Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	125
Order of Exercises for the Sunday School of The Mother Church and Branch Churches .	127
Deed of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	128
Deed Conveying Land for Church Purposes . .	136

Tenets

of The Mother Church

The First Church of Christ, Scientist

To be signed by those uniting with The First

Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.

1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired

Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal

Life.

2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and

infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ;

the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in

God's image and likeness.

3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in

the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding

that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is

punished so long as the belief lasts.

4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evi-

dence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's

unity with God through Christ Jesus the Wayshower;

15

16 CHURCH MANUAL

TENETS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH

and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ,

through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the

Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming

sin and death.

5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus

and his resurrection served to uplift faith to under-

stand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and

the nothingness of matter.

6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray

for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ

Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do

unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

MARY BAKER EDDY.

Historical Sketch.

IN the spring of 1879, a little band of earnest

seekers after Truth went into deliberations over

forming a church without creeds, to be called the

"Church of Christ, Scientist." They were mem-

bers of evangelical churches, and students of Mrs.

Mary Baker Eddy in Christian Science, and were

known as "Christian Scientists."

At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association,

April 19, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was

voted, To organize a church designed to com-

memorate the word and works of our Master, which

should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost

element of healing.

Mrs. Eddy was appointed on the committee to

draft the Tenets of The Mother Church the chief

corner-stone whereof is, that Christian Science, as

taught and demonstrated by our Master, casts out

error, heals the sick, and restores the lost Israel:

17

18 CHURCH MANUAL

HISTORICAL SKETCH

for "the stone which the builders rejected, the same

is become the head of the corner."

The charter for the Church was obtained June,

1879, and the same month the members, twenty-six

in number, extended a call to Mary Baker Eddy

to become their pastor. She accepted the call,

and was ordained A.D. 1881. Although walking

through deep waters, the little Church went steadily

on, increasing in numbers, and at every epoch

saying,

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."

On the twenty-third day of September, 1892, at

the request of Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, twelve

of her students and Church members met and re-

organized, under her jurisdiction, the Christian

Science Church and named it, The First Church

of Christ, Scientist.

At this meeting twenty others of Mrs. Eddy's

students and members of her former Church were

elected members of this Church, those with others

that have since been elected were known as "First

Members." The Church Tenets, Rules, and By-

Laws, as prepared by Mrs. Eddy, were adopted. A

By- Law adopted March 17, 1903, changed the

title of "First Members " to "Executive Members."

(On July 8, 1908, the By- Laws pertaining to "Ex-

ecutive Members" were repealed.)

CHURCH MANUAL

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Bos-

ton, Mass., is designed to be built on the Rock,

Christ; even the understanding and demonstration

of divine Truth, Life, and Love, healing and saving

the world from sin and death; thus to reflect in some

degree the Church Universal and Triumphant.

Church Officers.

Christian Science Board of Directors

ALLISON V. STEWART ADAM H. DICKEY

JOHN V. DITTEMORE JAMES A. NEAL

EDWARD A. MERRITT

WILLIAM D. McCRACKAN

President

BICKNELL YOUNG

First Reader

Conducts services and reads from the Christian Science textbook,

"SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE

SCRIPTURES"

By Mary Baker Eddy

Mrs. MARY BAYRD COLBY

Second Reader

Reads from the SCRIPTURES

JOHN V. DITTEMORE

Clerk, Suite 550, 236 Huntington Avenue,

Boston, Mass.

ADAM H. DICKEY

Treasurer, Suite 500, 236 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass,

21

Church By-laws.

CHURCH OFFICERS

Article I.

NAMES, ELECTION, AND DUTIES.

Names. Section 1. The Church officers shall

consist of the Pastor Emeritus, a Board of Direc-

tors, a President, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and two

Readers.

President. Sect. 2. The President shall be

elected, subject to the approval of the Pastor

Emeritus, by the Board of Directors [1] on Mon-

day preceding the annual meeting of the

Church. The President shall hold office for one

year, and the same person is eligible for elec-

tion but once in three years.

Clerk and Treasurer. Sect. 3. The term of

office for the Clerk and the Treasurer of this

___________

[l] See under "Deed of Trust" for incorporation of the "Christian

Science Board of Directors."

25

26 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

Church (also for the editors and the manager

of The Christian Science Publishing Society,

and the manager of the general Committee on

Publication in Boston) is one year each, dating

from the time of election to office. Incumbents

who have served one year or more, may be re-

elected, or new officers elected, at the annual

meeting held for this purpose, by a unanimous

vote of the Christian Science Board of Direc-

tors and the consent of the Pastor Emeritus

given in her own handwriting.

Readers. Sect. 4. Every third year Read-

ers shall be elected in The Mother Church by

the Board of Directors, which shall inform the

Pastor Emeritus of the names of its candidates

before they are elected; and if she objects, said

candidates shall not be chosen. The Directors

shall fix the salaries of the Readers.

Directors. Sect. 5. The Christian Science

Board of Directors shall consist of five members.

They shall fill a vacancy occurring on that Board

after the candidate is approved by the Pastor

Emeritus. A majority vote or the request of

Mrs. Eddy shall dismiss a member. Members

shall neither report the discussions of this Board,

nor those with Mrs. Eddy.

27 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

Church Business. Sect. 6. The business

of The Mother Church shall be transacted by

its Christian Science Board of Directors. The

manager of the general Committee on Publi-

cation in the United States shall order no spe-

cial action to be taken by said Committee that

is not named in the Manual of this Church

without consulting with the full Board of Di-

rectors of The Mother Church and receiving

the written consent of said Board.

Publishing Buildings. Sect. 7. It shall be

the duty of the Christian Science Board of Di-

rectors to provide a suitable building for the

publication of The Christian Science Journal,

Christian Science Sentinel, Der Herold der

Christian Science, and all other Christian Sci-

ence literature published by The Christian Science

Publishing Society. It shall also be the duty

of the Christian Science Board of Directors to

provide suitable rooms, conveniently and pleas-

antly located in the same building, for the pub-

lication and sale of the books of which Mary

Baker Eddy is, or may be, the author, and of

other literature connected therewith.

Trusteeships and Syndicates. Sect. 8.

Boards of Trustees and Syndicates may be

28 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

formed by The Mother Church, subject to the

approval of the Pastor Emeritus.

Duties of Church Officers. Sect. 9. Law

constitutes government, and disobedience to the

laws of The Mother Church must ultimate in

annulling its Tenets and By-Laws. Without a

proper system of government and form of ac-

tion, nations, individuals, and religion are un-

protected; hence the necessity of this By-Law

and the warning of Holy Writ: "That servant,

which knew his lord's will, and prepared not

himself, neither did according to his will, shall

be beaten with many stripes."

It is the duty of the Christian Science Board of

Directors to watch and make sure that the offi-

cers of this Church perform the functions of

their several offices promptly and well. If an

officer fails to fulfil all the obligations of his

office, the Board of Directors shall immediately

call a meeting and notify this officer either to

resign his place or to perform his office faith-

fully; then failing to do either, said officer shall

be dismissed from this Church, and his dismis-

sal shall be written on the Church records.

It is the duty of any member of this Church,

and especially of one who has been or who is

29 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

the First Reader of a church, to inform the

Board of Directors of the failure of the Com-

mittee on Publication or of any other officer in

this Church to perform his official duties. A

Director shall not make known the name of the

complainant.

If the Christian Science Board of Directors fails

to fulfil the requirements of this By-Law, and a

member of this Church or the Pastor Emeritus

shall complain thereof to the Clerk and the com-

plaint be found valid, the Directors shall resign

their office or perform their functions faithfully.

Failing to do thus, the Pastor Emeritus shall ap-

point five suitable members of this Church to fill

the vacancy. The salary of the members of the

Board of Directors shall be at present two thou-

sand five hundred dollars each annually.

ARTICLE II.

READERS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH.

Election. Section I. The Readers for The

Mother Church shall be a man and a woman,

one to read the Bible, and one to read Science

and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

30 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

Eligibility. Sect. 2. The Directors shall

select intelligible Readers who are exemplary

Christians and good English scholars. They

must be members of The Mother Church.

Removal. Sect. 3. If a Reader in The

Mother Church be found at any time inadequate

or unworthy, he or she shall be removed from

office by a majority vote of the Board of Di-

rectors and the consent of the Pastor Emeritus,

and the vacancy supplied.

First Reader's Residence. Sect. 4. Unless

Mrs. Eddy requests otherwise, the First Reader

of The Mother Church shall occupy, during his

term of Readership, the house of the Pastor

Emeritus, No. 385 Commonwealth Avenue, Bos-

ton. The Board of Directors shall pay from

the Church funds the taxes and rent on this

property; the Board shall attend to the insur-

ance before it expires, suitably furnish the

house, and keep the property in good repair, so

long as Mrs. Eddy does not occupy the house

herself and the occupants are satisfactory to

her.

31 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

Article III.

DUTIES OF READERS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH

AND OF ITS BRANCH CHURCHES.

Moral Obligations. Section I. The Readers

of The Mother Church and of all its branch

churches must devote a suitable portion of their

time to preparation for the reading of the Sunday

lesson, — a lesson on which the prosperity of

Christian Science largely depends. They must

keep themselves unspotted from the world, —

uncontaminated with evil, — that the mental at-

mosphere they exhale shall promote health and

holiness, even that spiritual animus so universally

needed.

First Readers' Duties. Sect. 2. It shall be

the duty of the First Readers to conduct the

principal part of the Sunday services, and the

Wednesday evening meetings.

Suitable Selections. Sect. 3. The First

Readers shall read, as a part of the Wednesday

evening services, selections from the Scriptures,

and from Science And Health With Key To

The Scriptures.

32 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

Order of Reading. Sect. 4. The First Read-

ers in the Christian Science churches shall read

the correlative texts in Science and Health

with Key to the Scriptures; and the Second

Readers shall read the Bible texts. The readings

from the Scriptures shall precede the readings

from Science and Health. The Readers shall

not read from copies or manuscripts, but from

the books.

Naming Book and Author. Sect. 5. The

Readers of Science and Health with Key to

the Scriptures, before commencing to read

from this book, shall distinctly announce the full

title of the book and give the author's name.

Such announcement shall be made but once

during the lesson.

Readers in Branch Churches. Sect. 6.

These Readers shall be members of The Mother

Church. They shall read understandingly and

be well educated. They shall make no remarks

explanatory of the Lesson-Sermon at any time,

but they shall read all notices and remarks that

may be printed in the Christian Science Quar-

terly. This By-Law applies to Readers in all

the branch churches.

Enforcement of By-Laws. Sect. 7. It shall

33 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

be the duty of every member of The Mother

Church, who is a First Reader in a Church of

Christ, Scientist, to enforce the discipline and

by-laws of the church in which he is Reader.

A Reader not a Leader. Sect. 8. The Church

Reader shall not be a Leader, but he shall main-

tain the Tenets, Rules, and discipline of the

Church. A Reader shall not be a President of

a church.

34 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

ARTICLE IV.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP.

Believe in Christian Science. Section 1.

To become a member of The Mother Church,

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Bos-

ton, Mass., the applicant must be a believer in

the doctrines of Christian Science, according to

the platform and teaching contained in the Chris-

tian Science textbook, Science and Health

with Key to the Scriptures, by Rev. Mary

Baker Eddy. The Bible, together with Science

and Health and other works by Mrs. Eddy,

shall be his only textbooks for self-instruction

in Christian Science, and for teaching and prac-

tising metaphysical healing.

Free from Other Denominations. Sect. 2.

This Church will receive a member of another

Church of Christ, Scientist, but not a church-

member from a different denomination until that

membership is dissolved.

35 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Children when Twelve Years Old. Sect. 3.

Children who have arrived at the age of twelve

years, who are approved, and whose applications

are countersigned by one of Mrs. Eddy's loyal stu-

dents, by a Director, or by a student of the Board

of Education, may be admitted to membership

with The Mother Church.

ARTICLE V.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP.

Students of the College. Section 1. Appli-

cations for membership with The Mother Church

from students of the Massachusetts Metaphysical

College who studied with Rev. Mary Baker Eddy,

shall be signed by the Christian Science Board

of Directors as evidence of the loyalty of the

applicants.

Other Students. Sect. 2. Applicants for

membership who have not studied Christian Sci-

ence with Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, can unite

with this Church only by approval from students

of Mrs. Eddy, loyal to the teachings of the text-

book, Science and Health with Key to the

36 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Scriptures, or from members of The Mother

Church, as provided in Article VI, Sect. 2, of

these By-Laws.

Students' Pupils. Sect. 3. Applications for

membership with The Mother Church, coming

from pupils of loyal students who have taken

the Primary or Normal Course at the Massa-

chusetts Metaphysical College or in the Board

of Education, or from pupils of those who have

passed an examination by the Board of Educa-

tion, shall have the approval and signature of

their teachers, except in such cases as are pro-

vided for in Sect. 4 of this Article.

Exceptional Cases. Sect. 4. Loyal Chris-

tian Scientists whose teachers are deceased, ab-

sent, or disloyal, or those whose teachers, for

insufficient cause, refuse to endorse their appli-

cations for membership with The Mother Church,

can apply to the Clerk of this Church, and

present to him a recommendation signed by three

members thereof in good standing, after which,

the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors

may admit said applicant to membership.

Addressed to Clerk. Sect. 5. All applica-

tions for membership must be addressed to the

Clerk of the Church.

37 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Endorsing Applications. Sect. 6. A mem-

ber of The Mother Church shall not endorse nor

countersign an application for membership there-

with until after the blank has been properly filled

out by an applicant. A member who violates

this By-Law shall be disciplined.

Notice of Rejection. Sect. 7. If an applica-

tion for membership with The First Church of

Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., is rejected, the

Clerk of the Church shall send to the applicant a

notice of such rejection; but neither the Clerk

nor the Church shall be obliged to report the

cause for rejection.

Article VI.

RECOMMENDATION AND ELECTION.

Pupils of Normal Students. Section 1.

One Normal student cannot recommend the pupil

of another Normal student, so long as both are

loyal to their Leader and to the Christian Science

textbook, except as provided for in Article V,

Sect. 4.

Members of The Mother Church. Sect. 2.

Only members of The Mother Church are quali-

38 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

fied to approve for membership individuals who

are known to them to be Christians, and faith-

ful, loyal students of the textbook, Science and

Health with Key to the Scriptures. If the

approver is not a loyal student of Mrs. Eddy, a

Director of this Church, or a student of the Board

of Education who holds a degree, the application

must be countersigned by one of these.

Election. Sect. 3. Applicants for member-

ship in this Church, whose applications are

correctly prepared, may be elected by majority

vote of the Christian Science Board of Direc-

tors at the semi-annual meetings held for' this

purpose.

ARTICLE VII.

PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP.

Members who once Withdrew. Section I.

Individuals who have heretofore been members

of this Church, or were members of the Church

of Christ, Scientist, organized in 1879 by Mary

Baker Eddy, but who have voluntarily with-

drawn, may be received into this Church on one

year's probation, provided they are willing and

39 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

anxious to live according to its requirements and

make application for membership according to

its By-Laws. If, at the expiration of said one

year, they are found worthy, they shall be re-

ceived into full membership, but if not found

worthy their applications shall be void.

Members once Dismissed. Sect. 2. A full

member or a probationary member, who has

been excommunicated once, and who afterward,

when sufficient time has elapsed thoroughly to

test his sincerity, gives due evidence of having

genuinely repented and of being radically re-

formed, shall be eligible to probationary mem-

bership upon a unanimous vote of the Christian

Science Board of Directors.

Ineligible for Probation. Sect. 3. If a

member has been twice notified of his excom-

munication, he shall not again be received into

this Church.

40 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

DISCIPLINE.

ARTICLE VIII.

GUIDANCE OF MEMBERS.

A Rule for Motives and Acts. Section 1.

Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment

should impel the motives or acts of the members

of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love

alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist

reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuk-

ing sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and

forgiveness. The members of this Church should

daily watch and pray to be delivered from

all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemn-

ing, counseling, influencing or being influenced

erroneously.

To be Read in Church. Sect. 2. The

above Church Rule shall be read in The Mother

Church and in the branch churches by the First

Reader on the first Sunday of each month.

On Communion day the Church Tenets are to

be read.

41 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

Christ Jesus the Ensample. Sect. 3. He

who dated the Christian era is the Ensample in

Christian Science. Careless comparison or irrev-

erent reference to Christ Jesus is abnormal in a

Christian Scientist, and is prohibited. When it is

necessary to show the great gulf between Chris-

tian Science and theosophy, hypnotism, or spirit-

ualism, do it, but without hard words. The wise

man saith, "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

However despitefully used and misrepresented

by the churches or the press, in return employ

no violent invective, and do good unto your

enemies when the opportunity occurs. A de-

parture from this rule disqualifies a member for

office in the Church or on the Board of Lec-

tureship, and renders this member liable to dis-

cipline and, possibly, dismissal from The Mother

Church.

Daily Prayer. Sect. 4. It shall be the duty

of every member of this Church to pray each

day: "Thy kingdom come;" let the reign of

divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in

me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy

Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and

govern them!

42 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

Prayer in Church. Sect. 5. The prayers in

Christian Science churches shall be offered for

the congregations collectively and exclusively.

Alertness to Duty. Sect. 6. It shall be the

duty of every member of this Church to defend

himself daily against aggressive mental sugges-

tion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect

his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind.

By his works he shall be judged, and justified

or condemned.

One Christ. Sect. 7. In accordance with

the Christian Science textbooks, the Bible,

and Science and Health with Key to the

Scriptures, and in accord with all of Mrs.

Eddy's teachings, members of this Church shall

neither entertain a belief nor signify a belief in

more than one Christ, even that Christ whereof

the Scripture beareth testimony.

No Malpractice. Sect. 8. Members will not

intentionally or knowingly mentally malpractise,

inasmuch as Christian Science can only be prac-

tised according to the Golden Rule: "All things

whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,

do ye even so to them." (Matt. 7:12.)

A member of The Mother Church who men-

tally malpractises upon or treats our Leader or

43 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

her staff without her or their consent shall be dis-

ciplined, and a second offense as aforesaid shall

cause the name of said member to be dropped

forever from The Mother Church.

Formulas Forbidden. Sect. 9. No member

shall use written formulas, nor permit his patients

or pupils to use them, as auxiliaries to teach-

ing Christian Science or for healing the sick.

Whatever is requisite for either is contained in

the books of the Discoverer and Founder of

Christian Science. Sometimes she may strengthen

the faith by a written text as no one else can.

No Adulterating Christian Science. Sect. 10.

A member of this Church shall not publish

profuse quotations from Mary Baker Eddy's

copyrighted works without her permission, and

shall not plagiarize her writings. This By-Law

not only calls more serious attention to the com-

mandment of the Decalogue, but tends to pre-

vent Christian Science from being adulterated.

No Incorrect Literature. Sect. 11. A mem-

ber of this Church shall neither buy, sell, nor cir-

culate Christian Science literature which is not

correct in its statement of the divine Principle

and rules and the demonstration of Christian

Science. Also the spirit in which the writer

44 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

has written his literature shall be definitely con-

sidered. His writings must show strict adher-

ence to the Golden Rule, or his literature shall

not be adjudged Christian Science. A departure

from the spirit or letter of this By-Law involves

schisms in our Church and the possible loss, for

a time, of Christian Science.

Obnoxious Books. Sect. 12. A member of

this Church .shall not patronize a publishing

house or bookstore that has for sale obnoxious

books.

Per Capita Tax. Sect. 13. Every member

of The Mother Church shall pay annually a per

capita tax of not less than one dollar, which shall

be forwarded each year to the Church Treasurer.

Church Periodicals. Sect. 14. It shall be the

privilege and duty of every member, who can

afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which

are the organs of this Church; and it shall be

the duty of the Directors to see that these period-

icals are ably edited and kept abreast of the

times.

Church Organizations Ample. Sect. 15.

Members of this Church shall not unite with

organizations which impede their progress in

Christian Science, God requires our whole heart,

45 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

and He supplies within the wide channels of The

Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation

for all its members.

Joining Another Society. Sect. 16. It shall

be the duty of the members of The Mother

Church and of its branches to promote peace on

earth and good will toward men; but members

of The Mother Church shall not hereafter be-

come members of other societies except those

specified in the Mother Church Manual, and

they shall strive to promote the welfare of all

mankind by demonstrating the rules of divine

Love.

Forbidden Membership. Sect. 17. A mem-

ber of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in

Boston, Mass., shall not be a member of any

church whose Readers are not Christian Scientists

and members of The Mother Church.

Officious Members. Sect. 18. A member of

The Mother Church is not entitled to hold office

or read in branch churches of this denomination

except by invitation.

Legal Titles. Sect. 19. Students of Chris-

tian Science must drop the titles of Reverend and

Doctor, except those who have received these

titles under the laws of the State.

46 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

Illegal Adoption. Sect. 20. No person shall

be a member of this Church who claims a spirit-

ually adopted child or a spiritually adopted hus-

band or wife. There must be legal adoption and

legal marriage, which can be verified according

to the laws of our land.

Use of Initials "C. S." Sect. 21. A member

of The Mother Church shall not place the initials

"C. S." after his name on circulars, cards, or

leaflets, which advertise his business or profes-

sion, except as a Christian Science practitioner.

Practitioners and Patients. Sect. 22. Mem-

bers of this Church shall hold in sacred confi-

dence all private communications made to them

by their patients; also such information as may

come to them by reason of their relation of prac-

titioner to patient. A failure to do this shall sub-

ject the offender to Church discipline.

A member of The Mother Church shall not,

under pardonable circumstances, sue his patient

for recovery of payment for said member's

practice, on penalty of discipline and liability

to have his name removed from membership.

Also he shall reasonably reduce his price in

chronic cases of recovery, and in cases where

he has not effected a cure. A Christian Scientist

47 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

is a humanitarian; he is benevolent, forgiving,

long-suffering, and seeks to overcome evil with

good.

Duty to Patients. Sect. 23. If a member of

this Church has a patient whom he does not heal,

and whose case he cannot fully diagnose, he

may consult with an M.D. on the anatomy in-

volved. And it shall be the privilege of a Chris-

tian Scientist to confer with an M.D. on Ontol-

ogy, or the Science of being.

Testimonials. Sect. 24. "Glorify God in

your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"

(St. Paul). Testimony in regard to the healing

of the sick is highly important. More than a mere

rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of

praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ,

"who healeth all thy diseases" (Psalm 103: 3).

This testimony, however, shall not include a de-

scription of symptoms or of suffering, though the

generic name of the disease may be indicated.

This By-Law applies to testimonials which appear

in the periodicals and to those which are given

at the Wednesday evening meeting.

Charity to All. Sect. 25. While members

of this Church do not believe in the doctrines

of theosophy, hypnotism, or spiritualism, they

48 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

cherish no enmity toward those who do believe

in such doctrines, and will not harm them. But

whenever God calls a member to bear testimony

to Truth and to defend the Cause of Christ, he

shall do it with love and without fear.

Uncharitable Publications. Sect. 26. A

member of this Church shall not publish, nor

cause to be published, an article that is unchari-

table or impertinent towards religion, medicine,

the courts, or the laws of our land.

The Golden Rule. Sect. 27. A member of

The Mother Church shall not haunt Mrs. Eddy's

drive when she goes out, continually stroll by

her house, or make a summer resort near her

for such a purpose.

Numbering the People. Sect. 28. Christian

Scientists shall not report for publication the

number of the members of The Mother Church,

nor that of the branch churches. According to

the Scripture they shall turn away from person-

ality and numbering the people.

Our Church Edifices. Sect. 29. The period-

icals of our denomination do not publish de-

scriptions of our church edifices, but they may

quote from other periodicals or give incidental

narratives.

49 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

No Monopoly. Sect. 30. A Scientist shall

not endeavor to monopolize the healing work in

any church or locality, to the exclusion of others,

but all who understand the teachings of Christian

Science are privileged to enter into this holy work,

and "by their fruits ye shall know them."

Christian Science Nurse. Sect. 31. A mem-

ber of The Mother Church who represents him-

self or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall

be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of

Christian Science practice, who thoroughly under-

stands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick

room, and who can take proper care of the sick.

The cards of such persons may be inserted in

The Christian Science Journal under rules estab-

lished by the publishers.

ARTICLE IX.

MARRIAGE AND DECEASE.

A Legal Ceremony. Section 1. If a Chris-

tian Scientist is to be married, the ceremony

shall be performed by a clergyman who is legally

authorized.

Sudden Decease. Sect. 2. If a member of

The Mother Church shall decease suddenly, with-

out previous injury or illness, and the cause

50 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

thereof be unknown, an autopsy shall be made

by qualified experts. When it is possible the

body of a female shall be prepared for burial by

one of her own sex.

ARTICLE X.

DEBATING IN PUBLIC.

No Unauthorized Debating. Section 1. A

member of this Church shall not debate on Chris-

tian Science in public debating assemblies, with-

out the consent of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XL

COMPLAINTS.

Departure from Tenets. Section 1. If a

member of this Church shall depart from the

Tenets and be found having the name without

the life of a Christian Scientist, and another

member in good standing shall from Christian

motives make this evident, a meeting of the Board

of Directors shall be called, and the offender's

case shall be tried and said member exonerated,

put on probation, or excommunicated.

Violation of By-Laws. Sect. 2. A member

who is found violating any of the By-Laws

51 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

or Rules herein set forth, shall be admonished

in consonance with the Scriptural demand in

Matthew, 18:15-17; and if he neglect to accept

such admonition, he shall be placed on probation,

or if he repeat the offense, his name shall be

dropped from the roll of Church membership.

Violation of Christian Fellowship. Sect. 3.

Any member who shall unjustly aggrieve or

vilify the Pastor Emeritus or another member,

or who does not live in Christian fellowship with

members who are in good and regular standing

with this Church, shall either withdraw from the

Church or be excommunicated.

Preliminary Requirement. Sect. 4. No

church discipline shall ensue until the require-

ments according to the Scriptures, in Matthew,

18:15-17, have been strictly obeyed, unless a

By-Law governing the case provides for imme-

diate action.

Authority. Sect. 5. The Christian Science

Board of Directors has power to discipline, place

on probation, remove from membership, or to

excommunicate members of The Mother Church.

Only the members of this Board shall be pres-

ent at meetings for the examination of com-

plaints against church members; and they alone

52 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

shall vote on cases involving The Mother Church

discipline.

Members in Mother Church Only. Sect. 6.

A complaint against a member of The Mother

Church, if said member belongs to no branch

church and if this complaint is not for mental

malpractice, shall be laid before this Board, and

within ten days thereafter, the Clerk of the

Church shall address a letter of inquiry to the

member complained of as to the validity of

the charge. If a member is found guilty of that

whereof he is accused and his previous character

has been good, his confession of his error and

evidence of his compliance with our Church

Rules shall be deemed sufficient by the Board

for forgiveness for once, and the Clerk of the

Church shall immediately so inform him. But

a second offense shall dismiss a member from

the Church.

Working Against the Cause. Sect. 7. If a

member of this Church shall, mentally or other-

wise, persist in working against the interests of

another member, or the interests of our Pastor

Emeritus and the accomplishment of what she

understands is advantageous to this Church and

to the Cause of Christian Science, or shall influ-

53 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

ence others thus to act, upon her complaint or

the complaint of a member for her or for himself,

it shall be the duty of the Board of Directors

immediately to call a meeting, and drop forever

the name of the member guilty of this offense

from the roll of Church membership.

No Unchristian Conduct. Sect. 8. If a

member of this Church were to treat the author

of our textbook disrespectfully and cruelly, upon

her complaint that member should be excommu-

nicated. If a member, without her having re-

quested the information, shall trouble her on

subjects unnecessarily and without her consent,

it shall be considered an offense.

Not to Learn Hypnotism. Sect. 9. Mem-

bers of this Church shall not learn hypnotism

on penalty of being excommunicated from this

Church. No member shall enter a complaint of

mental malpractice for a sinister purpose. If

the author of Science and Health shall bear

witness to the offense of mental malpractice, it

shall be considered a sufficient evidence thereof.

Publications Unjust. Sect. 10. If a mem-

ber of The Mother Church publishes, or causes

to be published, an article that is false or unjust,

hence injurious, to Christian Science or to its

54 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

Leader, and if, upon complaint by another mem-

ber, the Board of Directors finds that the offense

has been committed, the offender shall be sus-

pended for not less than three years from his

or her office in this Church and from Church

membership.

The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist,

Tenets. Sect. 11. If a member of The Mother

Church of Christ, Scientist, or a member of a

branch of this Church break the rules of its

Tenets as to unjust and unmerciful conduct

on complaint of Mrs. Eddy our Pastor Emeritus

and this complaint being found valid, his or

her name shall be erased from The Mother

Church and the branch church's list of mem-

bership and the offender shall not be received

into The Mother Church or a branch church

for twelve years.

Special Offense. Sect. 12. If a member of

this Church, either by word or work, represents

falsely to or of the Leader and Pastor Emeritus,

said member shall immediately be disciplined, and

a second similar offense shall remove his or her

name from membership in The Mother Church.

Members of Branch Churches. Sect. 13. A

member of both The Mother Church and a branch

55 CHURCH BY-LAWS

DISCIPLINE

Church of Christ, Scientist, or a Reader, shall not

report nor send notices to The Mother Church,

or to the Pastor Emeritus, of errors of the mem-

bers of their local church; but they shall strive

to overcome these errors. Each church shall

separately and independently discipline its own

members, if this sad necessity occurs.

ARTICLE XII.

TEACHERS.

Probation. Section 1. For sufficient rea-

sons it may be decided that a teacher has so

strayed as not to be fit for the work of a Reader

in church or a teacher of Christian Science.

Although repentant and forgiven by the Church

and retaining his membership, this weak member

shall not be counted loyal till after three years

of exemplary character. Then the Board of

Directors may decide if his loyalty has been

proved by uniform maintenance of the life of

a consistent, consecrated Christian Scientist.

Misteaching. Sect. 2. If a member of this

Church is found trying to practise or to teach

Christian Science contrary to the statement

thereof in its textbook, Science and Health

56 CHURCH BY-LAWS

MEETINGS

with Key to the Scriptures, it shall be the

duty of the Board of Directors to admonish

that member according to Article XI, Sect. 4.

Then, if said member persists in this offense,

his or her name shall be dropped from the roll

of this Church.

MEETINGS.

ARTICLE XIII.

REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS.

Annual Meetings. Section 1. The regular

meetings of The Mother Church shall be held

annually, on Monday following the first Sunday

in June. No other than its officers are required

to be present. These assemblies shall be for

listening to the reports of Treasurer, Clerk, and

Committees, and general reports from the Field.

Meetings of Board of Directors. Sect. 2.

The annual meeting of the Christian Science

Board of Directors, for electing officers and

other business, shall be held on Monday preced-

ing the annual meeting of the Church. Regular

meetings for electing candidates to membership

57 CHURCH BY-LAWS

MEETINGS

with The Mother Church, and for the transac-

tion of such other business as may properly come

before these meetings, shall be held on the Fri-

day preceding the first Sunday in June, and on

the first Friday in November of each year. Spe-

cial meetings may be held at any time upon the

call of the Clerk.

Called only by the Clerk. Sect. 3. Before

calling a meeting of the members of this Church

(excepting its regular sessions) it shall be the

duty of the Clerk to inform the Board of Di-

rectors and the Pastor Emeritus of his intention,

and to state definitely the purpose for which the

members are to convene. The Clerk must have

the consent of this Board and the Pastor Emer-

itus, before he can call said meeting.

58 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH SERVICES

CHURCH

ARTICLE XIV.

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PASTOR.

Ordination. Section 1. I, Mary Baker

Eddy, ordain the Bible, and Science and

Health with Key to the Scriptures, Pastor

over The Mother Church, The First Church

of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., and

they will continue to preach for this Church

and the world.

The Lesson-Sermon. Sect. 2. The subject

of the Lesson-Sermon in the morning service of

The Mother Church, and of the branch Churches

of Christ, Scientist, shall be repeated at the other

services on Sunday. The correlative Biblical

texts in the Lesson-Sermon shall extend from

Genesis to Revelation.

ARTICLE XV.

READING IN PUBLIC.

Announcing Author's Name. Section I.

To pour into the ears of listeners the sacred

59 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH SERVICES

revelations of Christian Science indiscriminately,

or without characterizing their origin and thus

distinguishing them from the writings of authors

who think at random on this subject, is to

lose some weight in the scale of right think-

ing. Therefore it is the duty of every member

of this Church, when publicly reading or quot-

ing from the books or poems of our Pastor

Emeritus, first to announce the name of the

author. Members shall also instruct their pupils

to adopt the aforenamed method for the benefit

of our Cause.

ARTICLE XVI.

WELCOMING STRANGERS.

The Leader's Welcome. Section 1. Mrs.

Eddy welcomes to her seats in the church,

persons of all sects and denominations who

come to listen to the Sunday sermon and are

not otherwise provided with seats.

The Local Members' Welcome. Sect. 2. It

shall be the duty and privilege of the local mem-

bers of The Mother Church to give their seats, if

necessary, to strangers who may come to attend

the morning services.

60 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH SERVICES

ARTICLE XVII.

SERVICES UNINTERRUPTED.

Continued Throughout the Year. Section 1.

The services of The Mother Church shall be

continued twelve months each year. One meet-

ing on Sunday during the months of July and

August is sufficient. A Christian Scientist is

not fatigued by prayer, by reading the Scriptures

or the Christian Science textbook. Amusement

or idleness is weariness. Truth and Love rest

the weary and heavy laden.

Easter Observances. Sect. 2. In the United

States there shall be no special observances,

festivities, nor gifts at the Easter season by

members of The Mother Church. Gratitude

and love should abide in every heart each day

of all the years. Those sacred words of our

beloved Master, "Let the dead bury their dead,"

and "Follow thou me," appeal to daily Christian

endeavors for the living whereby to exemplify

our risen Lord.

Laying a Corner Stone. Sect. 3. No large

gathering of people nor display shall be allowed

when laying the Corner Stone of a Church of

Christ, Scientist. Let the ceremony be devout.

61 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH SERVICES

No special trowel should be used. (See Science

and Health, page 140.)

Overflow Meetings. Sect. 4. A Church of

Christ, Scientist, shall not hold two or more

Sunday services at the same hour.

ARTICLE XVIII.

COMMUNION.

No more Communion. Section 1. The

Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, shall observe

no more Communion seasons.

Communion of Branch Churches. Sect. 2.

The Communion shall be observed in the branch

churches on the second Sunday in January and

July of each year, and at this service the Tenets

of The Mother Church are to be read.

ARTICLE XIX.

MUSIC IN THE CHURCH.

Soloist and Organist. Section 1. The music

in The Mother Church shall not be operatic, but

of an appropriate religious character, and of a

recognized standard of musical excellence; it

shall be played in a dignified and suitable man-

ner. Music from the organ alone should con-

tinue about eight or nine minutes for the

62 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH SERVICES

voluntary and six or seven minutes for the post-

lude, the offertory conforming to the time re-

quired to take the collection. The solo singer

shall not neglect to sing any special hymn selected

by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XX.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The Sunday School. Section 1. Pupils may

be received in the Sunday School classes of any

Church of Christ, Scientist, up to the age of

twenty years, and by transfer from another

Church of Christ, Scientist, up to that age, but

no pupil shall remain in the Sunday School of

any Church of Christ, Scientist, after reaching

the age of twenty. None except the officers,

teachers, and pupils should attend the Sunday

School exercises.

Teaching the Children. Sect. 2. The

Sabbath School children shall be taught the

Scriptures, and they shall be instructed ac-

cording to their understanding or ability to grasp

the simpler meanings of the divine Principle that

they are taught.

Subject for Lessons. Sect. 3. The first

lessons of the children should be the Ten Com-

63 CHURCH BY-LAWS

READING ROOMS

mandments (Exodus, 20:3-17), the Lord's

Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), and its Spiritual In-

terpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, Sermon on

the Mount (Matt. 5:3-12). The next les-

sons consist of such questions and answers as

are adapted to a juvenile class, and may be

found in the Christian Science Quarterly Lessons,

read in Church services. The instruction given

by the children's teachers must not deviate from

the absolute Christian Science contained in their

textbook.

READING ROOMS.

ARTICLE XXI.

Establishment. Section 1. Each church of

the Christian Science denomination shall have

a Reading Room, though two or more churches

may unite in having Reading Rooms, provided

these rooms are well located.

Librarian. Sect. 2. The individuals who

take charge of the Reading Rooms of The

Mother Church shall be elected by the Christian

Science Board of Directors, subject to the ap-

proval of Mary Baker Eddy. He or she shall

have no bad habits, shall have had experience in

64 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

the Field, shall be well educated, and a devout

Christian Scientist. [1]

Literature in Reading Rooms. Sect. 3. The

literature sold or exhibited in the reading rooms

of Christian Science Churches shall consist only

of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,

by Mary Baker Eddy, and other writings by this

author; also the literature published or sold by

The Christian Science Publishing Society.

RELATION AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS

TO PASTOR EMERITUS.

ARTICLE XXII.

The Title of Mother Changed. Section 1.

In the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five,

loyal Christian Scientists had given to the author

of their textbook, the Founder of Christian Sci-

ence, the individual, endearing term of Mother.

At first Mrs. Eddy objected to being called thus,

but afterward consented on the ground that this

appellative in the Church meant nothing more

than a tender term such as sister or brother. In

the year nineteen hundred and three and after,

owing to the public misunderstanding of this

name, it is the duty of Christian Scientists to

__________

[1] See also Article XXV, Sect. 7.

65 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

drop the word mother and to substitute Leader,

already used in our periodicals.

A Member not a Leader. Sect. 2. A

member of The First Church of Christ, Sci-

entist, in Boston, Mass., shall not be called

Leader by members of this Church, when this

term is used in connection with Christian

Science.

Obedience Required. Sect. 3. It shall be

the duty of the officers of this Church, of the

editors of the Christian Science Journal, Sen-

tinel, and Der Herold, of the members of the

Committees on Publication, of the Trustees of

The Christian Science Publishing Society, and

of the Board of Education promptly to comply

with any written order, signed by Mary Baker

Eddy, which applies to their official functions.

Disobedience to this By-Law shall be sufficient

cause for the removal of the offending member

from office.

The vacancy shall be supplied by a majority

vote of the Christian Science Board of Direct-

ors, and the candidate shall be subject to the

approval of Mary Baker Eddy.

Understanding Communications. Sect. 4.

If the Clerk of this Church shall receive a com-

66 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

munication from the Pastor Emeritus which he

does not fully understand, he shall inform her

of this fact before presenting it to the Church

and obtain a clear understanding of the matter,

then act in accordance therewith.

Interpreting Communications. Sect. 5. If

at a meeting of this Church a doubt or dis-

agreement shall arise among the members as to

the signification of the communications of the

Pastor Emeritus to them, before action is taken

it shall be the duty of the Clerk to report to her

the vexed question and to await her explanation

thereof.

Reading and Attesting Letters. Sect. 6.

When a letter or a message from the Pastor

Emeritus is brought before a meeting of this

Church, or she is referred to as authority for

business, it shall be the duty of the Church to

inquire if all of the letter has been read, and to

require all of it to be read; also to have any

authority supposed to come from her satisfac-

torily attested.

Unauthorized Reports. Sect. 7. Members

of this Church shall not report on authority an

order from Mrs. Eddy that she has not sent,

either to the Boards or to the executive bodies

67 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

of this Church. The Pastor Emeritus is not to

be consulted on cases of discipline, on the cases

of candidates for admission to this Church, or

on the cases of those on trial for dismissal from

the Church.

Private Communications. Sect. 8. A strictly

private communication from the Pastor Emeritus

to a member of her Church shall not be made

public without her written consent.

Unauthorized Legal Action. Sect. 9. A

member of this Church shall not employ an at-

torney, nor take legal action on a case not pro-

vided for in its By- Laws if said case relates

to the person or to the property of Mary Baker

Eddy without having personally conferred with

her on said subject.

Duty to God. Sect. 10. Members of this

Church who turn their attention from the divine

Principle of being to personality, sending gifts,

congratulatory despatches or letters to the Pastor

Emeritus on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year,

or Easter, break a rule of this Church and are

amenable therefor.

Opportunity for Serving the Leader. Sect.

11. At the written request of the Pastor Emeri-

tus, Mrs. Eddy, the Board of Directors shall

68 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

immediately notify a person who has been a

member of this Church at least three years to

go in ten days to her, and it shall be the duty

of the member thus notified to remain with Mrs.

Eddy three years consecutively. A member who

leaves her in less time without the Directors'

consent or who declines to obey this call to

duty, upon Mrs. Eddy's complaint thereof shall

be excommunicated from The Mother Church.

Members thus serving the Leader shall be paid

semi-annually at the rate of one thousand dol-

lars yearly in addition to rent and board. Those

members whom she teaches the course in Divin-

ity, and who remain with her three consecutive

years, receive the degree of the Massachusetts

Metaphysical College.

Location. Sect. 12. Rev. Mary Baker Eddy

calls to her home or allows to visit or to locate

therein only those individuals whom she engages

through the Christian Science Board of Direct-

ors of the Mother Church. This By-Law takes

effect on Dec. 15, 1908.

Agreement Required. Sect. 13. When the

Christian Science Board of Directors calls a stu-

dent in accordance with Article XXII, Sect. 11

of our Church Manual to the home of their

69 CHURCH BY-LAWS

RELATION OF MEMBERS TO PASTOR EMERITUS

Leader, Mrs. Eddy, said student shall come under

a signed agreement to remain with Mrs. Eddy

if she so desires, during the time specified in the

Church Manual.

Incomplete Term of Service. Sect. 14. If a

student who has been called to serve our Leader

in accordance with Article XXII, Sect. 11 of

the Church Manual leaves her before the expira-

tion of the time therein mentioned such student

shall pay to Mrs. Eddy whatsoever she may

charge for what she has taught him or her dur-

ing the time of such service.

Help. Sect. 15. If the author of the Chris-

tian Science textbook call on this Board for

household help or a handmaid, the Board shall

immediately appoint a proper member of this

Church therefor, and the appointee shall go im-

mediately in obedience to the call. "He that lov-

eth father or mother more than me is not worthy

of me." (Matt. 10:37.)

Students with Mrs. Eddy. Sect. 16. Stu-

dents employed by Mrs. Eddy at her home shall

not take care of their churches or attend to other

affairs outside of her house.

Mrs. Eddy's Room. Sect. 17. The room in

The Mother Church formerly known as "Mother's

Room" shall hereafter be closed to visitors.

70 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES

Pastor Emeritus to be Consulted. Sect. 18.

The Mother Church shall not make a church By-

law, nor enter into a business transaction with a

Christian Scientist in the employ of Rev. Mary

Baker Eddy, without first consulting her on said

subject and adhering strictly to her advice thereon.

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH

CHURCHES.

ARTICLE XXIII.

Local Self-government. Section 1. The

Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, shall assume

no general official control of other churches, and

it shall be controlled by none other.

Each Church of Christ, Scientist, shall have its

own form of government. No conference of

churches shall be held, unless it be when our

churches, located in the same State, convene to

confer on a statute of said State, or to confer

harmoniously on individual unity and action of

the churches in said State.

Titles. Sect. 2. "The First Church of

Christ, Scientist," is the legal title of The Mother

71 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES

Church. Branch churches of The Mother Church

may take the title of First Church of Christ,

Scientist; Second Church of Christ, Scientist;

and so on, where more than one church is es-

tablished in the same place; but the article

"The" must not be used before titles of branch

churches, nor written on applications for mem-

bership in naming such churches.

Mother Church Unique. Sect. 3. In its

relation to other Christian Science churches, in

its By-Laws and self-government, The Mother

Church stands alone; it occupies a position that

no other church can fill. Then for a branch

church to assume such position would be disas-

trous to Christian Science. Therefore, no Church

of Christ, Scientist, shall be considered loyal

that has branch churches or adopts The Mother

Church's form of government, except in such cases

as are specially allowed and named in this Manual.

Tenets Copyrighted. Sect. 4. Branch

churches shall not write the Tenets of The

Mother Church in their church books, except

they give the name of their author and her

permission to publish them as Tenets of The

Mother Church, copyrighted in Science and

Health with Key to the Scriptures.

72 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES

Manual. Sect. 5. Branch churches shall

not adopt, print, nor publish the Manual of The

Mother Church. See Article XXXV, Sect. I.

Organizing Churches. Sect. 6. A member

of this Church who obeys its By-Laws and is a

loyal exemplary Christian Scientist working in

the Field, is eligible to form a church in con-

formity with Sect. 7 of this Article, and to

have church services conducted by reading the

Scriptures and the Christian Science textbook.

This church shall be acknowledged publicly as a

Church of Christ, Scientist. Upon proper appli-

cation, made in accordance with the rules of The

Christian Science Publishing Society, the ser-

vices of such a church may be advertised in The

Christian Science Journal. The branch churches

shall be individual, and not more than two small

churches shall consolidate under one church gov-

ernment. If the Pastor Emeritus, Mrs. Eddy,

should relinquish her place as the head or Leader

of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, each

branch church shall continue its present form of

government in consonance with The Mother

Church Manual.

Requirements for Organizing Branch

Churches. Sect. 7. A branch church of The

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass.,

73 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES

shall not be organized with less than sixteen loyal

Christian Scientists, four of whom are members

of The Mother Church. This membership shall

include at least one active practitioner whose card

is published in the list of practitioners in The

Christian Science Journal.

Privilege of Members. Sect. 8. Members

in good standing with The Mother Church, who

are members of the faculty, instructors, or stu-

dents in any university or college, can form and

conduct a Christian Science organization at such

university or college, provided its rules so permit.

Also members in good standing with The Mother

Church, who are graduates of said university

or college, may become members of the organ-

ization by application to, and by the unanimous

vote of, the active members present, if the rules

of the university or college so permit. When

called for, a member of the Board of Lecture-

ship may lecture for said university or college

organization.

No Close Communion. Sect. 9. The

Mother Church and the branch churches shall

not confine their membership to the pupils of

one teacher.

No Interference. Sect. 10. A member of The

Mother Church may be a member of one branch

74 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE MOTHER CHURCH AND BRANCH CHURCHES

Church of Christ, Scientist, or of one Christian

Science society holding public services, but he

shall not be a member of both a branch church

and a society; neither shall he exercise super-

vision or control over any other church. In

Christian Science each branch church shall be

distinctly democratic in its government, and no

individual, and no other church shall interfere

with its affairs.

Teachers' and Practitioners' offices. Sect. 11.

Teachers and practitioners of Christian Science

shall not have their offices or rooms in the branch

churches, in the reading-rooms, nor in rooms

connected therewith.

Recognition. Sect. 12. In order to be eli-

gible to a card in The Christian Science Journal,

churches and societies are required to acknowl-

edge as such all other Christian Science churches

and societies advertised in said Journal, and to

maintain toward them an attitude of Christian

fellowship.

75 CHURCH BY-LAWS

GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS

GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS.

ARTICLE XXIV.

Church Edifice a Testimonial. Section 1.

Whereas, on March 20, 1895, the Christian Sci-

ence Board of Directors, in behalf of The

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass.,

presented to Rev. Mary Baker Eddy their

church edifice as a Testimonial of this Church's

love and gratitude, and she, with grateful ac-

knowledgments thereof, declined to receive this

munificent gift, she now understands the finan-

cial situation between the Christian Science

Board of Directors and said Church to be as

follows:

Financial Situation. Sect. 2. The Christian

Science Board of Directors owns the church edi-

fices, with the land whereon they stand, legally;

and the Church members own the aforesaid

premises and buildings, beneficially. After the

first church was built, the balance of the build-

ing funds, which remained in the hands of the

Directors, belonged to the Church, and not solely

to the Directors. The balance of the church

76 CHURCH BY-LAWS

GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS

building funds, which can be spared after the

debts are paid, should remain on safe deposit,

to be hereafter used for the benefit of this

Church, as the right occasion may call for it.

The following indicates the proper management

of the Church funds:

Report of Directors. Sect. 3. It shall be,

the duty of the Christian Science Board of Di-

rectors to have the books of the Church Treas-

urer audited semi-annually, and to report at the

annual Church meeting the amount of funds

which the Church has on hand, the amount of

its indebtedness and of its expenditures for the

last year.

Finance Committee. Sect. 4. There shall

be a Committee on Finance, which shall consist of

three members of this Church in good standing.

Its members shall be appointed annually by the

Christian Science Board of Directors and with

the consent of the Pastor Emeritus. They shall

hold quarterly meetings and keep themselves thor-

oughly informed as to the real estate owned by

this Church and the amount of funds received

by the Treasurer of The Mother Church, who is

individually responsible for said funds. They

shall have the books of the Christian Science

77 CHURCH BY-LAWS

GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS

Board of Directors and the books of the Church

Treasurer audited annually by an honest, com-

petent accountant. The books are to be audited

on May first.

Prior to paying bills against the Church, the

Treasurer of this Church shall submit them all

to said committee for examination. This com-

mittee shall decide thereupon by a unanimous

vote, and its endorsement of the bills shall render

them payable.

If it be found that the Church funds have not

been properly managed, it shall be the duty of

the Board of Directors and the Treasurer to be

individually responsible for the performance of

their several offices satisfactorily, and for the

proper distribution of the funds of which they

are the custodians.

God's Requirement. Sect. 5. God requires

wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to char-

acterize all the proceedings of the members of

The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ,

Scientist.

Provision for the Future. Sect. 6. In case

of any possible future deviation from duty, the

Committee on Finance shall visit the Board of

Directors, and, in a Christian spirit and manner,

78 CHURCH BY-LAWS

GUARDIANSHIP OF CHURCH FUNDS

demand that each member thereof comply with

the By-Laws of the Church. If any Director

fails to heed this admonition, he may be dis-

missed from office and the vacancy supplied by

the Board.

Debt and Duty. Sect. 7. The Mother Church

shall not be made legally responsible for the debts

of individuals except such debts as are specified

in its By-Laws. Donations from this Church

shall not be made without the written consent

of the Pastor Emeritus. Also important move-

ments of the manager of the Committee on Pub-

lication shall be sanctioned by the Board of

Directors and be subject to the approval of Mary

Baker Eddy. (See Article I, Sect. 6.)

Emergencies. Sect. 8. The Treasurer, per-

sonally, or through the Clerk of the Church,

may pay from the funds of the Church bills of

immediate necessity not exceeding $200 for any

one transaction, and he may keep on deposit the

sum of $500 with the Clerk, as a petty cash

fund, to be used by him for the payment of

such bills. Such payments shall be reported, on

the first of the following month, to the Board

of Directors and the Committee on Finance, for

their approval.

79 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY

Committee on Business. Sect. 9. The Chris-

tian Science Board of Directors shall elect

annually a Committee on Business, which shall

consist of not less than three loyal members

of The Mother Church, who shall transact

promptly and efficiently such business as Mrs.

Eddy, the Directors, or the Committee on Pub-

lication shall commit to it. While the mem-

bers of this Committee are engaged in the

transaction of the business assigned to them

they shall be paid from the Church funds.

Before being eligible for office the names of the

persons nominated for said office shall be pre-

sented to Mrs. Eddy for her written approval.

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING

SOCIETY.

ARTICLE XXV.

Board of Trustees. Section 1. The Board

of Trustees, constituted by a Deed of Trust

given by Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, the Pastor

Emeritus of this Church, on January twenty-

fifth, 1898, shall hold and manage the property

therein conveyed, and conduct the business of

80 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY

"The Christian Science Publishing Society" on

a strictly Christian basis, for the promotion of

the interests of Christian Science.

Disposal of Funds. Sect. 2. The net profits

of the business shall be paid over semi-annually

to the Treasurer of The Mother Church. He

shall hold this money subject to the order of

the Christian Science Board of Directors, which

is authorized to order its disposition only in

accordance with the By-Laws contained in this

Manual.

Vacancies in Trusteeship. Sect. 3. The

Christian Science Board of Directors shall have

the power to declare vacancies in said trusteeship,

for such reasons as to the Board may seem ex-

pedient.

Whenever a vacancy shall occur, the Pastor

Emeritus reserves the right to fill the same by

appointment; but if she does not elect to exer-

cise this right, the remaining trustees shall fill

the vacancy, subject to her approval.

Editors and Manager. Sect. 4. The term

of office for the editors and the manager of The

Christian Science Publishing Society is one year

each, dating from the time of election to the

office. Incumbents who have served one year or

81 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY

more can be re-elected, or new officers elected,

by a unanimous vote of the Christian Science

Board of Directors, and the consent of the Pastor

Emeritus given in her own handwriting.

Suitable Employees. Sect. 5. A person

who is not accepted by the Pastor Emeritus and

the Christian Science Board of Directors as

suitable, shall in no manner be connected with

publishing her books, nor with editing or pub-

lishing The Christian Science Journal, Christian

Science Sentinel, Der Herold der Christian Sci-

ence, nor with The Christian Science Publishing

Society.

Periodicals. Sect. 6. Periodicals which

shall at any time be published by The Christian

Science Publishing Society, shall be copyrighted

and conducted according to the provisions in the

Deed of Trust relating to The Christian Science

Journal.

Rule of Conduct. Sect. 7. No objectionable

pictures shall be exhibited in the rooms where the

Christian Science textbook is published or sold.

No idle gossip, no slander, no mischief-making,

no evil speaking shall be allowed.

Books to be Published. Sect. 8. Only the

Publishing Society of The Mother Church selects,

82 CHURCH BY-LAWS

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY

approves, and publishes the books and litera-

ture it sends forth. If Mary Baker Eddy disap-

proves of certain books or literature, the Society

will not publish them. The Committees on Publi-

cation are in no manner connected with these

functions. A book or an article of which Mrs.

Eddy is the author shall not be published nor

republished by this Society without her knowl-

edge or written consent.

Removal of Cards. Sect. 9. No cards shall

be removed from our periodicals without the re-

quest of the advertiser, except by a majority vote

of the Christian Science Board of Directors at

a meeting held for this purpose or for the exam-

ination of complaints.

Members of this Church who practise other

professions or pursue other vocations, shall not

advertise as healers, excepting those members

who are officially engaged in the work of Chris-

tian Science, and they must devote ample time

for faithful practice.

83 CHURCH BY-LAWS

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

ARTICLE XXVI.

TEACHERS.

Motive in Teaching. Section 1. Teaching

Christian Science shall not be a question of

money, but of morals and religion, healing and

uplifting the race.

Care of Pupils. Sect. 2. Christian Scientists

who are teachers shall carefully select for pupils

such only as have good past records and promis-

ing proclivities toward Christian Science. A

teacher shall not assume personal control of, or

attempt to dominate his pupils, but he shall hold

himself morally obligated to promote their prog-

ress in the understanding of divine Principle, not

only during the class term but after it, and to

watch well that they prove sound in sentiment

and practical in Christian Science. He shall per-

sistently and patiently counsel his pupils in con-

formity with the unerring laws of God, and shall

enjoin them habitually to study the Scriptures

and Science and Health with Key to the

Scriptures as a help thereto.

84 CHURCH BY-LAWS

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Defense against Malpractice. Sect. 3.

Teachers shall instruct their pupils how to de-

fend themselves against mental malpractice,

never to return evil for evil, but to know the

truth that makes free, and thus to be a law, not

unto others, but to themselves.

Number of Pupils. Sect. 4. The teachers of

Christian Science shall teach but one class yearly,

which class shall consist of not more than thirty

pupils. After 1907, the Board of Education shall

have one class triennially, a Normal class not

exceeding thirty pupils.

Pupil's Tuition. Sect. 5. A student's price

for teaching Christian Science shall not exceed

$100.00 per pupil.

Associations. Sect. 6. The associations of

the pupils of loyal teachers shall convene annually.

The pupils shall be guided by the Bible, and

Science and Health, not by their teachers'

personal views. Teachers shall not call their

pupils together, or assemble a selected number of

them, for more frequent meetings.

A Single Field of Labor. Sect. 7. A loyal

teacher of Christian Science shall not teach an-

other loyal teacher's pupil, except it be in the

Board of Education. Outside of this Board each

85 CHURCH BY-LAWS

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

student occupies only his own field of labor.

Pupils may visit each other's churches, and by

invitation attend each other's associations.

Caring for Pupils of Strayed Members.

Sect. 8. A loyal teacher of Christian Science

may teach and receive into his association the

pupils of another member of this Church who

has so strayed as justly to be deemed, under the

provisions of Article XII, Sect, 1, not ready to

lead his pupils.

Teachers must have Certificates. Sect. 9.

A member of this Church shall not teach pupils

Christian Science unless he has a certificate to

show that he has been taught by Mrs. Eddy or

has taken a Normal Course at the Massachu-

setts Metaphysical College or in the Board of

Education.

Such members who have not been continu-

ously active and loyal Christian Scientists since

receiving instruction as above, shall not teach

Christian Science without the approval of The

Christian Science Board of Directors.

86 CHURCH BY-LAWS

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

ARTICLE XXVII.

PUPILS.

Authorized to Teach. Section 1. After a

student's pupil has been duly authorized to be

a teacher of Christian Science, or has been under

the personal instruction of Mrs. Eddy, he is no

longer under the jurisdiction of his former

teacher.

Without Teachers. Sect. 2. Those be-

loved brethren whose teacher has left them,

can elect an experienced Christian Scientist,

who is not in charge of an association of

students and who is ready for this high call-

ing, to conduct the meetings of their asso-

ciation.

Basis for Teaching. Sect. 3. The teachers

of the Normal class shall teach from the chapter

"Recapitulation" in Science and Health with

Key to the Scriptures, and from the Chris-

tian Science Platform, beginning on page 330 of

the revised editions since 1902, and they shall

teach nothing contrary thereto. The teachers

of the Primary class shall instruct their pupils

from the said chapter on "Recapitulation" only.

87 CHURCH BY-LAWS

TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Church Membership. Sect. 4. Neither the

Pastor Emeritus nor a member of this Church

shall teach Roman Catholics Christian Science,

except it be with the written consent of the

authority of their Church. Choice of patients is

left to the wisdom of the practitioner, and Mrs.

Eddy is not to be consulted on this subject.

Class Teaching. Sect. 5. Members of The

Mother Church who are authorized by its By-

Laws to teach Christian Science, shall not solicit,

or cause or permit others to solicit, pupils for their

classes. No member of this Church shall advise

against class instruction.

Teachers of Christian Science must have the

necessary moral and spiritual qualifications to

elucidate the Principle and rule of Christian Sci-

ence, through the higher meaning of the Scrip-

tures. "The less the teacher personally controls

other minds, and the more he trusts them to the

divine Truth and Love, the better it will be for

both teacher and student." (Retrospection and

Introspection, page 84.)

88 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ARTICLE XXVIII.

ORGANIZATION.

Officers. Section 1. There shall be a Board

of Education, under the auspices of Mary Baker

Eddy, President of the Massachusetts Metaphysi-

cal College, consisting of three members, a presi-

dent, vice-president, and teacher of Christian

Science. Obstetrics will not be taught.

Election. Sect. 2. The vice-president shall

be elected annually by the Christian Science

Board of Directors. Beginning with 1907, the

teacher shall be elected every third year by said

Board, and the candidate shall be subject to the

approval of the Pastor Emeritus.

President not to be Consulted. Sect. 3. The

President is not to be consulted by students

on the question of applying for admission to this

Board nor on their course or conduct. The stu-

dents can confer with their teachers on subjects

essential to their progress.

89 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Presidency of College. Sect. 4. Should the

President resign over her own signature or va-

cate her office of President of the Massachusetts

Metaphysical College, a meeting of the Christian

Science Board of Directors shall immediately be

called, and the vice-president of the Board of

Education being found worthy, on receiving her

approval shall be elected to fill the vacancy.

ARTICLE XXIX.

APPLICANTS AND GRADUATES.

Normal Teachers. Section 1. Loyal stu-

dents who have been taught in a Primary class

by Mrs. Eddy and have practised Christian Sci-

ence healing acceptably three years, and who pre-

sent such credentials as are required to verify

this fact, are eligible to receive the degree of

C.S.D.

Qualifications. Sect. 2. Loyal Christian

Scientists' pupils who so desire may apply to the

Board of Education for instruction; and if they

have practised Christian Science healing success-

fully three years and will furnish evidence of

their eligibility therefor, they are eligible to enter

90 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

the Normal class. All members of this class must

be thorough English scholars.

Certificates. Sect. 3. Students are examined

and given certificates by this Board if found

qualified to receive them.

Article XXX.

ACTION OF THE BOARD.

Sessions. Section 1. The term of the

Massachusetts Metaphysical College will open

with the Board of Education on the first

Wednesday of December. The sessions will

continue not over one week. None but the

teacher and members of the College class shall

be present at the sessions, and no Primary

classes shall be taught under the auspices of

this Board.

Special Instruction. Sect. 2. Not less than

two thorough lessons by a well qualified teacher

shall be given to each Normal class on the

subject of mental practice and malpractice. One

student in the class shall prepare a paper on

said subject that shall be read to the class,

thoroughly discussed, and understood; this paper

91 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

shall be given to the teacher, and he shall not

allow it or a copy of it to remain, but shall

destroy this paper.

Signatures. Sect. 3. The signature of the

teacher and of the President of the College

shall be on all certificates issued.

Remuneration and Free Scholarship. Sect. 4.

Tuition of class instruction in the Board of

Education shall be $100.00. The bearer of a

card of free scholarship from the President,

Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, shall be entitled to

a free course in this department on presenta-

tion of the card to the teacher. Only the

President gives free admission to classes.

Surplus Funds. Sect. 5. Any surplus funds

left in the hands of the Board of Education

shall be paid over annually to the Treasurer of

The Mother Church.

Primary Students. Sect. 6. Students of

Christian Science, duly instructed therein and

with good moral records, not having the certifi-

cate of C.S.D. may enter the Normal class in

the Board of Education, which will be held once

in three years beginning A.D. 1907; provided

their diplomas are for three consecutive years

under Mrs. Eddy's daily conversation on Chris-

92 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

tian Science, or from the Massachusetts Meta-

physical College Board of Education.

Healing Better than Teaching. Sect. 7.

Healing the sick and the sinner with Truth dem-

onstrates what we affirm of Christian Science,

and nothing can substitute this demonstration.

I recommend that each member of this Church

shall strive to demonstrate by his or her practice,

that Christian Science heals the sick quickly and

wholly, thus proving this Science to be all that

we claim for it.

If both husband and wife are found duly quali-

fied to teach Christian Science, either one, not

both, should teach yearly one class.

Not Members of The Mother Church. Sect. 8.

No person shall receive instructions in Chris-

tian Science in any class in the Massachusetts

Metaphysical College, nor receive the degree of

C.S.B. or C.S.D., who is not a member of The

First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston.

Mass.

Only those persons who are members of this

Church and possessed of the qualifications named

in Sect. 9 of Article XXVI of these By-Laws

shall be deemed loyal teachers of Christian

Science.

93 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF LECTURESHIP

BOARD OF LECTURESHIP.

ARTICLE XXXI.

ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES.

Election. Section 1. This Church shall

maintain a Board of Lectureship, the members of

which shall be elected annually on Monday pre-

ceding the Annual Meeting, subject to the ap-

proval of the Pastor Emeritus. The lecture year

shall begin July 1 of each year.

Duty of Lecturers. Sect. 2. It is the duty

of the Board of Lectureship to include in each

lecture a true and just reply to public topics

condemning Christian Science, and to bear testi-

mony to the facts pertaining to the life of the

Pastor Emeritus. Each member shall mail to

the Clerk of this Church copies of his lectures

before delivering them.

No Disruption of Branch Churches. Sect. 3.

The Board of Lectureship is not allowed in any-

wise to meddle with nor disrupt the organiz-

94 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF LECTURESHIP

tion of branch churches. The lecturer can invite

churches within the city whither he is called to

unite in their attendance on his lecture, and so

make for their churches a less lecture fee; but

the churches shall decide their action.

Receptions. Sect. 4. As a rule there should

be no receptions nor festivities after a lecture on

Christian Science, but there may occur excep-

tions. If there be an individual who goes to hear

and deride truth, he should go away contemplat-

ing truth; and he who goes to seek truth should

have the opportunity to depart in quiet thought

on that subject.

Circuit Lecturer. Sect. 5. Upon the written

request of Mrs. Eddy, The Mother Church shall

appoint a Circuit Lecturer. His term of office, if

approved, shall not be less than three years. He

shall lecture in the United States, in Canada, in

Great Britain and Ireland.

A member shall neither resign nor transfer

this sacred office.

95 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF LECTURESHIP

ARTICLE XXXII.

CALLS FOR LECTURES.

From the Directors. Section 1. When the

need is apparent, the Christian Science Board of

Directors of The Mother Church may call on

any member of this Board of Lectureship to

lecture at such places and at such times as the

cause of Christian Science demands.

From Branch Churches. Sect. 2. The

branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, may apply

through their clerks to a member of this Board

of Lectureship for a speaker, and one shall be

assigned them by the Board.

From Societies. Sect. 3. If called for, a

member of the Board may lecture for a Society.

Annual Lectures. Sect. 4. The Mother

Church and the branch churches shall call on

the Board of Lectureship annually for one or

more lectures.

No Lectures by Readers. Sect. 5. No lec-

ture shall be given by a Reader during his term

of Readership. The duties alone of a Reader are

ample.

96 CHURCH BY-LAWS

BOARD OF LECTURESHIP

No Wednesday Evening Lectures. Sect. 6.

The Board of Lectureship shall not appoint a

lecture for Wednesday evening.

Lecture Fee. Sect. 7. The lecture fee shall

be left to the discretion of the lecturer.

Expenses. Sect. 8. The lecturer's traveling

expenses and the cost of hall shall be paid by

the church that employs him.

Exceptional Cases. Sect. 9. If a lecturer

receive a call to lecture in a place where he sees

there is special need, and the local church is un-

able to meet the expense, he is at liberty to supply

that need and trust to contributions for his fee.

97 CHURCH BY-LAWS

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION.

ARTICLE XXXIII.

In The Mother Church. Section 1. There

shall be appointed by The Mother Church a Com-

mittee on Publication, which shall consist of one

loyal Christian Scientist who lives in Boston, and

he shall be manager of the Committees on Pub-

lication throughout the United States, Canada,

Great Britain and Ireland. He shall be elected

annually by a unanimous vote of the Christian

Science Board of Directors and the consent of

the Pastor Emeritus given in her own handwrit-

ing, and shall receive an annual salary, paid quar-

terly, of not less than four thousand dollars.

Duties. Sect. 2. It shall be the duty of the

Committee on Publication to correct in a Chris-

tian manner impositions on the public in regard

to Christian Science, injustices done Mrs. Eddy

or members of this Church by the daily press,

by periodicals or circulated literature of any sort.

98 CHURCH BY-LAWS

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION

This Committee on Publication shall be respon-

sible for correcting or having corrected a false

newspaper article which has not been replied to

by other Scientists, or which has been forwarded

to this Committee for the purpose of having him

reply to it. If the correction by the Committee

on Publication is not promptly published by the

periodical in which it is desirable that this cor-

rection shall appear, this Committee shall im-

mediately apply for aid to the Committee on

Business. Furthermore, the Committee on Pub-

lication shall read the last proof sheet of such

an article and see that it is published according

to copy; he shall circulate in large quantities

the papers containing such an article, sending a

copy to the Clerk of the Church. It shall also

be the duty of the Committee on Publication to

have published each year in a leading Boston

newspaper the letter sent to the Pastor Emeritus

by the Church members in annual meeting as-

sembled. The State Committees on Publication

act under the direction of this Committee on

Publication.

In Branch Churches. Sect. 3. The Readers

of the three largest branch churches in each State

of the United States and in Canada shall annually

99 CHURCH BY-LAWS

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION

and alternately appoint a Committee on Publi-

cation to serve in their localities. For the pur-

poses of this By-Law, the State of California shall

be considered as though it were two States, the

dividing line being the 36th parallel of latitude.

Each county of Great Britain and Ireland, except

as hereinafter specified, through the Readers of

its three largest branch churches, shall annually

and alternately appoint a Committee on Publica-

tion to serve in its locality. Each church is not

necessarily confined to its own members in select-

ing this Committee, but if preferred, can appoint

a Committee on Publication who is in good fel-

lowship with another Church of Christ, Scientist.

This By-Law applies to all States except Mas-

sachusetts, in which the Committee on Publica-

tion is elected only by the Christian Science Board

of Directors. The Committee for the counties

in which London, England, is situated shall be

appointed by the Christian Science Board of

Directors, and he shall, in addition to his other

duties, act as District Manager of the Committees

on Publication for Great Britain and Ireland.

Appointment. Sect. 4. The Committees on

Publication shall consist of men generally. Each

State Committee shall be appointed by the First

and Second Readers of the church employing

100 CHURCH BY-LAWS

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION

said Committee. If prior to the meeting of the

church for the election of officers, Mrs. Eddy

shall send to the First Reader of the church the

name of a candidate for its Committee on Publi-

cation, the Readers shall appoint said candidate.

Or if she shall send a special request to any

Committee on Publication, the request shall be

carried out according to her directions.

Removal from Office. Sect. 5. If the Com-

mittee on Publication neglects to fulfil the obli-

gations of his office according to these By-Laws,

and this becomes apparent to the Christian Sci-

ence Board of Directors, it shall be the duty of

the Directors immediately to act upon this im-

portant matter in accordance with said By-Laws.

The Christian Science Board of Directors may

notify any Church of Christ, Scientist, to remove

its Committee on Publication and to appoint an-

other Committee to fill the vacancy; and it shall

be the duty of that church to comply with this

request. In such cases it shall be the privilege

of this Board to name the Committee if it so

desires, and any Committee so named by the

Board shall be elected by the branch church.

Case of Necessity. Sect. 6. If a suitable

man is not obtainable for Committee on Publica-

tion, a suitable woman shall be elected. If at

101 CHURCH BY-LAWS

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION

any time the Christian Science Board of Direc-

tors shall determine that the manager of the

general Committee on Publication needs an as-

sistant, the Board shall, with the approval of the

Pastor Emeritus, appoint an assistant manager

who shall receive an adequate salary from The

Mother Church.

102 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH-BUILDING

CHURCH-BUILDING.

ARTICLE XXXIV.

Building Committee. Section 1. There

shall be a Building Committee consisting of

not less than three members, and this committee

shall not be dissolved until the new church

edifice is completed. This committee shall elect,

dismiss, or supply a vacancy of its members by

a majority vote.

Designation of Deeds. Sect. 2. All deeds

of further purchases of land for The First

Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,

shall have named in them all the trusts mentioned

in the deeds given by Albert Metcalf and E.

Noyes Whitcomb in March, 1903; but this rule

shall not apply to land purchased for any purpose

other than the erection of a church edifice. Also

there shall be incorporated in all such deeds

the phrase, "Mary Baker Eddy's Church, The

103 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH-BUILDING

Mother Church or The First Church of Christ,

Scientist, in Boston, Mass."

The Mother Church Building. Sect. 3. The

edifice erected in 1894 for The First Church of

Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., shall neither

be demolished, nor removed from the site where

it was built, without the written consent of the

Pastor Emeritus, Mary Baker Eddy.

104 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MANUAL

CHURCH MANUAL.

ARTICLE XXXV.

For The Mother Church Only. Section 1.

The Church Manual of The First Church of

Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., written by

Mary Baker Eddy and copyrighted, is adapted

to The Mother Church only. It stands alone,

uniquely adapted to form the budding thought

and hedge it about with divine Love. This

Manual shall not be revised without the written

consent of its author.

Seventy-third Edition the Authority. Sect. 2.

The Board of Directors, the Committee on Bible

Lessons, and the Board of Trustees shall each

keep a copy of the Seventy-third Edition and of

subsequent editions of the Church Manual; and

if a discrepancy appears in any revised edition,

these editions shall be cited as authority.

105 CHURCH BY-LAWS

CHURCH MANUAL

Amendment of By-Laws. Sect. 3. No new

Tenet or By-Law shall be adopted, nor any

Tenet or By-Law amended or annulled, with-

out the written consent of Mary Baker Eddy, the

author of our textbook, Science and Health.

Appendix

Appendix.

Special Instructions.

Regarding Applications for Church Membership.

1. Loyal members of The Mother Church are

eligible to approve candidates to unite with this

Church.

2. No persons are eligible to countersign ap-

plications except loyal students of Mrs. Eddy,

Directors, and students of the Board of Educa-

tion who have been given a degree, and are mem-

bers of The Mother Church.

3. Those who approve applicants should have

applications returned to them after being filled

out by the applicants, as required by Article

V, Sect. 6, and should compare them with

the forms here given, and see that names are

legibly written, before sending them to the

Clerk of the Church. If not correct, the appli-

cant will be notified, and new applications will

109

110 APPENDIX

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

be required, as none will be returned that are

not correctly made out. This requirement is to

prevent applications being duplicated and the

confusion that might result therefrom. It is

important that these seemingly strict conditions

be exactly complied with, as the names of the

members of The Mother Church will be recorded

in the history of the Church and become a part

thereof.

4. All names, whether of applicants, ap-

provers, or countersigners, must be plainly

written, and one, at least, of the given names of

each, written in full. Initials only of first names

will not be received. Women must sign Miss or

Mrs. before their names as the case may be.

All names must be written the same in all

places where they are required.

111 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

TO APPLICANTS.

1. In filling out the application blank, one

of the Christian names must be written in full.

Initials alone will not be received.

2. If the applicant is a married woman she

must sign her own Christian name, not her hus-

band's, and prefix her signature with "Mrs;"

unmarried women must sign "Miss."

3. There are two regular forms of applica-

tion. 1. For those who have studied Christian

Science with an authorized teacher; 2. For those

who have not studied Christian Science with a

teacher.

Applicants will find the chief points of these

instructions illustrated in Form 1 and Form 2,

on pages 114 and 118.

4. Those whose teachers are deceased, absent,

or disloyal, or those whose teachers refuse, with-

out sufficient cause, to sign applications (see

Art. V, Sect. 4), will be furnished special forms

on application to the Clerk.

Application forms

114 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

1.

PROPERLY SIGNED AND ENDORSED, ACCORDING TO

ARTICLE V, Sect. 2.

If you have been taught by a loyal student who has taken a degree at the Massachu-

setts Metaphysical College, or by one who has passed an examination by the

Board of Education, fill this blank.

FORM 1

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,

Mass., is designed to be built on the rock of Christ —

Truth and Life — and to reflect the Church Trium-

phant.

One who is not a member of any church, excepting

a branch church of Christ, Scientist, who loves Christian

Science, and reads understandingly the Bible, and Sci-

ence and Health with Key to the Scriptures,

by Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, and other works by

this author, and who is Christianly qualified and can

enter into full fellowship with the Tenets and Rules of

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,

is eligible to membership.

To The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,

Mass.

John V. Dittemore, Clerk.

I hereby make application for membership, and sub-

scribe to the Tenets and the By-Laws of the Church.

My teacher in Christian Science is

................... James B. Brown, C.S.D. ...................

I am not a member of any church.

115 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

I. — (Continued.)

PROPERLY SIGNED AND ENDORSED, ACCORDING TO

ARTICLE V, SECT. 2.

FORM l, — (Continued.)

I was formerly a member of the ………………………..

………………………… ……………………….. denomination,

but have definitely severed my connection therewith.

Name ………….. Mrs. Jennie W. Field, C.S. ………….

Street and Number …….. 18 Forest St., ……………….

Town or City …………………………… Chicago, ……………

State …………………………………………………….. Ill. …………

Date ................ Jan. 2nd, 1901. .....................................

I cordially approve the applicant.

(a) ................... James B. Brown, C.S.D. ................

Countersigned by ...............................................................

To the Applicant: Please fill out the following for the use of the Treasurer of the Church:

DO NOT DETACH. Name …… Mrs. Jennie W. Field, C.S. ……… Street and Number …. 18 Forest St., ……….. Town or City ………………… Chicago, ……… State …………………………………………. Ill.

116 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

I.

PROPERLY SIGNED AND ENDORSED, ACCORDING TO

ARTICLE V, SECT. 2.

If you have been taught by a loyal student who has taken a degree at the Massachu-

setts Metaphysical College, or by one who has passed an examination by the

Board of Education, fill this blank.

FORM 1.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,

Mass., is designed to be built on the rock of Christ —

Truth and Life — and to reflect the Church Trium-

phant.

One who is not a member of any church, excepting

a branch church of Christ, Scientist, who loves Christian

Science, and reads understandingly the Bible, and Sci-

ence and Health with Key to the Scriptures,

by Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, and other works by

this author, and who is Christianly qualified and can

enter into full fellowship with the Tenets and Rules of

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,

is eligible to membership.

To The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,

Mass.

John V. Dittemore, Clerk.

I hereby make application for membership, and sub-

scribe to the Tenets and the By-Laws of the Church.

My teacher in Christian Science is

……………… James B. Brown, C.S.D. ………………..

I am not a member of any church, excepting ………….

Church of Christ, Scientist, at ………………………………….

117 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

I. — (Continued.)

PROPERLY SIGNED AND ENDORSED, ACCORDING TO

ARTICLE V. SECT. 2.

FORM I , — (Continued.)

I was formerly a member of the ………………………

……………………… ………………………. denomination,

but have definitely severed my connection therewith.

Name ………….. Mrs. Jennie W. Field, C.S. ………….

Street and Number ………….. Forest St., ……………….

Town or City. …………………………… Chicago, ……………

State …………………………………………………….. Ill. …………

Date ……………. Jan. 2nd, 1901. .................................

I cordially approve this applicant.

(a) ………………. James B. Brown, C.S.D. …………….

Countersigned by …………………………………………………..

To the Applicant: Please fill out the following for the use of the Treasurer of the Church:

DO NOT DETACH. Name …… Mrs. Jennie W. Field, C.S. …….. Street and Number …….. Forest St., ……….. Town or City ………………… Chicago, …….. State …………………………………………. Ill.

118 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

II.

SIGNED, ENDORSED, AND COUNTERSIGNED, ACCORDING

TO ARTICLE VI, SECT. 2.

FORM 2.

If you have not been taught by a loyal student who has taken a degree at the Massachu-

setts Metaphysical College, or by one who has passed an examination by the

Board of Education, fill this blank.

One who is not a member of any church, excepting

a branch church of Christ, Scientist, who loves Christian

Science, and reads understandingly the Bible, and Sci-

ence and Health with Key to the Scriptures,

by Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, and other works by

this author, and who is Christianly qualified and can

enter into full fellowship with the Tenets and Rules of

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,

is eligible to membership.

To The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,

Mass.

John V. Dittemore, Clerk.

I hereby make application for membership, and sub-

scribe to the Tenets and the By-Laws of the Church.

I have not studied Christian Science with a teacher,

and am not a member of any church excepting Second

Church of Christ, Scientist, at New York, N. Y.

I was formerly a member of the ………………………..

……………………….. ………………………. denomination,

but have definitely severed my connection therewith.

119 APPENDIX

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

APPLICATION.

II. — (Continued.)

SIGNED, ENDORSED, AND COUNTERSIGNED, ACCORDING

TO ARTICLE VI, SECT. 2.

FORM 2, — (Continued.)

Name ………….. Miss Emma L. French ………………..

Street and Number …….. 293 Emerson St., …………

Town or City …………………………. New York ……….

State …………………………………………………. N. Y. ……..

Date ……………. Jan. 2nd, 1901. …………………………….

I cordially approve this applicant.

(a) …………… Miss Mary E. Grant, C.S. ……………

Countersigned by …….. James B. Brown, C.S.D. …..

To the Applicant: Please fill out the following for the use of the Treasurer of the Church:

DO NOT DETACH. Name ……. Miss Emma L. French …………. Street and Number …… 293 Emerson St. …… Town or City ……………….. New York …….. State ……………………………….. N. Y.

120 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

Present Order of Services in The

Mother Church and Branch Churches.

Republished from the Sentinel.

SUNDAY SERVICES.

1. Hymn.

2. Reading a Scriptural Selection.

3. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible

repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its spirit-

ual interpretation.

4. Hymn.

5. Announcing necessary notices.

6. Solo.

7. Reading the explanatory note on first leaf

of Quarterly.

8. Announcing the subject of the Lesson-

Sermon, and reading the Golden Text.

9. Reading the Scriptural selection, entitled

"Responsive Reading," alternately by the First

Reader and the congregation.

10. Reading the Lesson-Sermon. (After the

Second Reader reads the Bible references of

121 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

the first Section of the Lesson, the First Reader

makes the following announcement: "As an-

nounced in the explanatory note, I shall now

read correlative passages from the Christian

Science textbook, Science and Health with

Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy.")

11. Collection.

12. Hymn.

13. Reading "The scientific statement of

being," and the correlative Scripture accord-

ing to I John, 3:1-3.

14. Pronouncing Benediction.

The services should be preceded and followed

by organ or piano music of an appropriate char-

acter in all cases where this is possible.

On the first Sunday of each month Article VIII,

Sect. 1, A Rule for Motives and Acts, is to be

read.

122 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

WEDNESDAY MEETINGS.

1. Hymn.

2. Reading from the Bible and correlative

passages from Science and Health with Key

to the Scriptures.

3. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible repe-

tition of the Lord's Prayer, its spiritual interpre-

tation being omitted.

4. Hymn.

5. Announcing necessary notices.

6. Experiences, testimonies, and remarks on

Christian Science.

7. Closing Hymn.

The services should be preceded and followed

by organ or piano music of an appropriate char-

acter in all cases where this is possible.

123 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

Thanksgiving Day.

Order of Service for The Mother Church and

Branch. Churches.

1. Hymn.

2. Reading the Thanksgiving Proclamation

of the President of the United States, or the

Governor of the state, or both.

3. Reading a Scriptural Selection.

4. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible

repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its spirit-

ual interpretation.

5. Hymn.

6. Reading the Explanatory Note on the

first leaf of the Quarterly.

7. Announcing the subject of the Lesson-

Sermon, and reading the Golden Text.

8. Responsive Reading by the First Reader

and the congregation.

124 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

9. Reading the Lesson-Sermon prepared by

the Bible Lesson Committee.

10. Solo.

11. Testimonies by Christian Scientists,

appropriate for the occasion.

12. Hymn.

13. Reading the Scientific Statement of

Being, and the correlative Scripture according

to I John, 3:1-3.

14. Pronouncing Benediction.

_____________

No collection is to be taken at this service.

The services should be preceded and followed

by organ or piano music of an appropriate char-

acter in all cases where this is possible.

125 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

Present Order of Communion Services

in Branch Churches.

1. Hymn.

2. Reading a Scriptural Selection.

3. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible

repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its spiritual

interpretation.

4. Hymn.

5. Announcing necessary notices.

6. Reading Tenets of The Mother Church.

7. Collection and Solo.

8. Reading the explanatory note on first leaf

of Quarterly.

9. Announcing the subject of the Lesson-

Sermon, and reading the Golden Text.

10. Reading the Scriptural selection entitled

"Responsive Reading" alternately by the First

Reader and the congregation.

11. Reading the Lesson-Sermon. (After the

Second Reader reads the Bible references of the

first Section of the Lesson, the First Reader

126 APPENDIX

ORDER OF SERVICES

makes the following announcement: "As an-

nounced in the explanatory note, I shall now read

correlative passages from the Christian Science

textbook, Science and Health with Key to

the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy.")

12. The First Reader briefly invites the con-

gregation to kneel in silent Communion. This is

concluded by the audible repetition of the Lord's

Prayer (spiritual interpretation omitted).

13. Singing the Doxology:

Be Thou, O God, exalted high;

And as Thy glory fills the sky,

So let it be on earth displayed,

Till Thou art here and now obeyed."

14. Reading "The scientific statement of

being" and the correlative Scripture accord-

ing to I John, 3:1-3.

15. Pronouncing Benediction.

The Church Tenets shall be read at this service.

The services should be preceded and followed

by organ or piano music of an appropriate char-

acter in all cases where this is possible.

127 APPENDIX

ORDER OF EXERCISES

Order of exercises for the Sunday

School of The Mother Church and

Branch Churches. [1]

1. Call to order by the Superintendent.

2. Hymn.

3. Subject of the lesson announced; Golden

Text repeated by the children; Responsive

Reading.

4. Silent prayer, followed by the audible

repetition of the Lord's Prayer in unison.

5. Instruction in classes, in accordance with

Sections 2 and 3 of Article XX of the Manual

of The Mother Church.

6. Entire school reassembles.

7. Hymn.

8. Scientific Statement of Being read by the

Superintendent.

9. School dismissed.

_____________

[1] If a collection is taken, it should be taken in the classes before they

reassemble.

128 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

Deed of Trust

The following is a Copy of the Deed of Trust

Conveying Land for Church Edifice.

Know all Men by these Presents,

That I Mary Baker G. Eddy of Concord in

the County of Merrimack and State of New

Hampshire in consideration of one dollar to

me paid by Ira O. Knapp of Boston, Mas-

sachusetts, William B. Johnson of Boston,

Massachusetts, Joseph S. Eastaman of Chel-

sea, Massachusetts, and Stephen A. Chase of

Fall River, Massachusetts, the receipt whereof

is hereby acknowledged, and, also in consider-

ation of the trusts and uses hereinafter men-

tioned and established, do hereby give, bargain,

sell, and convey to the said Ira O. Knapp, Wil-

liam B. Johnson, Joseph S. Eastaman, and

Stephen A. Chase as trustees as hereinafter

provided and to their legitimate successors in

129 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

office forever, a certain parcel of land situate

on Falmouth street in said Boston, bounded and

described as follows: Beginning at the junction

of Falmouth street, and a forty-foot street now

called Caledonia street; thence running South-

west on said Falmouth street one hundred and

sixteen and eighty-eight hundredths feet; thence

Northwest at a right angle to a point where a

line drawn at right angles to said forty-foot

street at a point thereon one hundred and six-

teen and fifty-five hundredths feet Northwest

from the point of beginning meets the said

boundary at right angles to Falmouth street,

sixty-six and seventy-eight hundredths feet;

thence at an obtuse angle on said line at right

angles to said forty-foot street sixty-seven and

thirty-five hundredths feet to said forty-foot

street; thence Southeasterly on said forty-foot

street one hundred and sixteen and fifty-five

hundredths feet to the point of beginning;

containing seven thousand eight hundred and

twenty-eight square feet more or less, and sub-

ject to the agreements and restrictions men-

tioned in a deed recorded in Suffolk Registry

of Deeds Lib. 1719, Fol. 83 so far as the same

are now legally operative.

130 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

This deed of conveyance is made upon the

following express trusts and conditions which

the said grantees by accepting this deed agree

and covenant for themselves and their succes-

sors in office to fully perform and fulfil.

1. Said grantees shall be known as the "Chris-

tian Science Board of Directors," and shall con-

stitute a perpetual body or corporation under and

in accordance with section one, Chapter 39 of the

Public Statutes of Massachusetts. [1] Whenever a

vacancy occurs in said Board the remaining mem-

bers shall within thirty days fill the same by elec-

tion; but no one shall be eligible to that office

who is not in the opinion of the remaining mem-

bers of the Board a firm and consistent believer

in the doctrines of Christian Science as taught in

a book entitled "Science and Health" by Mary

Baker G. Eddy beginning with the seventy-first

edition thereof.

____________

[1] The deacons, church wardens, or other similar officers of churches

or other religious societies, and the trustees of the Methodist Episco-

pal churches appointed according to the discipline and usages thereof,

shall, if citizens of this commonwealth, be deemed bodies corporate for

the purpose of taking and holding in succession all the grants and

donations, whether of real or personal estate, made either to them and

their successors, or to their respective churches, or to the poor of the

churches.

131 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

2. Said Board shall within five years from the

date hereof build or cause to be built upon said

lot of land a suitable and convenient church edi-

fice, the cost of which shall not be less than fifty

thousand dollars.

3. When said church building is completed

said Board shall elect a pastor, reader or speaker

to fill the pulpit who shall be a genuine Christian

Scientist; they shall maintain public worship in

accordance with the doctrines of Christian Sci-

ence in said church, and for this purpose they

are fully empowered to make any and all neces-

sary rules and regulations.

4. Said Board of Directors shall not suffer

or allow any building to be erected upon said

lot except a church building or edifice, nor shall

they allow said church building or any part

thereof to be used for any other purpose than

for the ordinary and usual uses of a church.

5. Said Board of Directors shall not allow or

permit in said church building any preaching or

other religious services which shall not be con-

sonant and in strict harmony with the doctrines

and practice of Christian Science as taught and

explained by Mary Baker G. Eddy in the seventy-

132 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

first edition of her book entitled "Science and

Health" which is soon to be issued, and in any

subsequent edition thereof.

6. The congregation which shall worship in

said church shall be styled "The First Church

of Christ, Scientist."

7. Said Directors shall not sell or mortgage

the land hereby conveyed; but they shall see

that all taxes and legal assessments on said

property are promptly paid.

8. Said church building shall not be removed

from said lot except for the purpose of rebuild-

ing thereon a more expensive or a more conven-

ient structure in which said doctrines of Christian

Science only shall be preached and practised. If

said church building is removed for either of

the purposes above set forth, any and all tablets

and inscriptions which are or shall be upon said

church building at the time of removal shall be

removed therefrom and placed upon the walls

of the new edifice. If said building is burned,

the Directors shall forthwith proceed to rebuild

the church.

9. Said Directors shall maintain regular

preaching, reading or speaking in said church

133 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

on each Sabbath, and an omission to have and

maintain such preaching, reading or speaking

for one year in succession shall be deemed a

breach of this condition.

10. Whenever said Directors shall determine

that it is inexpedient to maintain preaching,

reading or speaking in said church in accord-

ance with the terms of this deed, they are

authorized and required to reconvey forthwith

said lot of land with the building thereon to

Mary Baker G. Eddy, her heirs and assigns

forever by a proper deed of conveyance.

11. The omission or neglect on the part of

said Directors to strictly comply with any of

the conditions herein contained shall constitute

a breach thereof, and the title hereby conveyed

shall revert to the grantor Mary Baker G. Eddy,

her heirs and assigns forever, upon her entry

upon said land and taking possession thereof

for such breach.

To Have and to Hold the above granted

premises with all the privileges and appurte-

nances thereon belonging to said grantees and

their successors in office to the uses and trusts

above described forever.

134 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

And the said grantor for herself and her heirs,

executors and administrators covenants with the

said grantees and their successors in office that

she is lawfully seized in fee simple of the afore-

said premises, that they are free from all incum-

brances not herein mentioned or referred to, that

she has good right to sell and convey the same

to the said grantees and their successors in office

as aforesaid, and that she will and her heirs,

executors, and administrators shall, warrant and

defend the same to the said grantees and their

successors in office forever against the lawful

claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof I the said Mary Baker G.

Eddy have hereto set my hand and seal this ist

day of September, 1892.

MARY BAKER G. EDDY

Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of

Laura E. Sargent.

R. E. Walker.

September 1st, 1892.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, } ss.

MERRIMACK. }

Then personally appeared the above named

Mary Baker G. Eddy and acknowledged the

135 APPENDIX

DEED OF TRUST

foregoing instrument to be her free act and

deed,

Before me

R. E. WALKER.

Notary Public.

September 2, 1892.

Suffolk Registry of Deeds, Lib. 2081, Fol. 257.

136 APPENDIX

DEED CONVEYING LAND FOR CHURCH PURPOSES

Deed Conveying Land for

Church Purposes.

METCALF to KNAPP et al Trs,

Libro 2886, Fol. 521.

Know all Men,

That I, Albert Metcalf, the grantor in a cer-

tain deed given to Ira O. Knapp and others

dated October 23, 1896, and recorded with Suf-

folk Deeds, Book 2591, page 398, do hereby de-

clare that the land conveyed by said deed was

conveyed to the grantees therein, as they are the

Christian Science Board of Directors, upon the

trusts, but not subject to the conditions men-

tioned in the deed creating said Board given by

Mary Baker G. Eddy to Ira O. Knapp and

others, dated September 1st, 1892, and recorded

with Suffolk Deeds, Book 2081, page 257. In

addition to the trusts contained in said deed of

September 1, 1892, from Mary Baker G. Eddy,

137 APPENDIX

DEED CONVEYING LAND FOR CHURCH PURPOSES

this property is conveyed on the further trusts

that no new Tenet or By-Law shall be adopted,

nor any Tenet or By-Law amended or annulled

by the grantees unless the written consent of said

Mary Baker G. Eddy, the author of the textbook

"Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-

tures," be given therefor, or unless at the writ-

ten request of Mrs. Eddy the Executive Members

of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, (for-

merly called the "First Members,") by a two-

thirds vote of all their number, decide so to do.

And that the same inscription which is on the

outside of the present church edifice shall be

placed on any new church erected on said lot.

And in consideration of one dollar to me paid

by said Ira O. Knapp, William B. Johnson,

Joseph Armstrong and Stephen A. Chase, the

receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, I do

hereby confirm the deed as above mentioned, and

do grant and release unto them, their heirs, suc-

cessors and assigns in trust as aforesaid, the

premises therein described.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my

hand and seal this nineteenth day of March, A.D.

nineteen hundred and three.

Albert Metcalf. [Seal]

138 APPENDIX

DEED CONVEYING LAND FOR CHURCH PURPOSES

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, } MARCH 20th, 1903

Suffolk}

Then said Albert Metcalf acknowledged the

foregoing instrument to be his free act and

deed.

Before me

Malcolm McLoud.

Justice of the Peace.

March 20, 1903, at twelve o'clock and sixteen minutes P. M.

Received, Entered and Examined.

Attest: Thos. F. Temple, Reg.

A true copy from the Records of Deeds for the County

of Suffolk, Lib. 2886, Fol. 521.

Attest: Chas. W. Kimball, Asst. Reg.

The University Press, Cambridge, U. S. A.

HOME PAGE INDEX OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS, AND ARTICLES