THE Rules and By-Laws in the Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, originated 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.
Tenets
of The Mother Church
The First Church of Christ, Scientist
1 To be signed by those uniting with The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.
3 1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
6 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
9 God's image and likeness.
3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding
12 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-
15 dence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower;
From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
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1 and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the
3 Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus
6 and his resurrection served to uplift faith to under- stand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.
9 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
12 unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.
MARY BAKER EDDY
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Historical Sketch
1 In the spring of 1879, a little band of earnest seekers after Truth went into deliberations over
3 forming a church without creeds, to be called the CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST. They were mem- bers of evangelical churches, and students of Mrs.
6 Mary Baker Eddy in Christian Science, and were known as "Christian Scientists."
At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association,
9 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
12 should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.
Mrs. Eddy was appointed on the committee to
15 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
18 error, heals the sick, and restores the lost Israel:
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1 for "the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner."
3 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
6 to become their pastor. She accepted the call, and was ordained A. D. 1881. Although walking through deep waters, the little Church went steadily
9 on, increasing in numbers, and at every epoch saying,
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
12 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-
15 organized, under her jurisdiction, the Christian Science Church and named it, THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.
18 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
21 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
24 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-
27 ecutive Members" were repealed.)
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1 THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, IN BOS- TON, MASS., is designed to be built on the Rock,
3 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
6 degree the Church Universal and Triumphant.
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CHURCH OFFICERS
Rev. MARY BAKER EDDY
Pastor Emeritus
Christian Science Board of Directors
IRA O. KNAPP
STEPHEN A. CHASE
ARCHIBALD McCLELLAN
ALLISON V. STEWART
JOHN V. DITTEMORE
WILLIAM D. BALDWIN
President
Judge CLIFFORD P. SMITH
First Reader
Conducts services and reads from
the Christian Science textbook,
"SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE
SCRIPTURES" by Mary Baker Eddy
Mrs. CAROL HOYT POWERS
Second Reader
Reads from the SCRIPTURES
JOHN V. DITTEMORE
Clerk
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Falmouth, Norway,
and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Mass.
STEPHEN A. CHASE
Treasurer
Box 56, Fall River, Mass.
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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-
6 tors, a President, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and two Readers.
President. SECT. 2. The President shall be
9 elected, subject to the approval of the Pastor Emeritus, by the Board of Directors(1) on Mon- day preceding the annual meeting of the
12 Church. The President shall hold office for one year, and the same person is eligible for elec- tion but once in three years.
15 Clerk and Treasurer. SECT. 3. The term of office for the Clerk and the Treasurer of this
(1) See under "Deed of Trust" for incorporation of the "Christian
Science Board of Directors."
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1 Church (also for the editors and the manager of The Christian Science Publishing Society,
3 and the manager of the general Committee on Publication in Boston) is one year each, dating from the time of election to office. Incumbents
6 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
9 vote of the Christian Science Board of Direc- tors and the consent of the Pastor Emeritus given in her own handwriting.
12 Readers. SECT. 4. Every third year Read- ers shall be elected in The Mother Church by the Board of Directors, which shall inform the
15 Pastor Emeritus of the names of its candidates before they are elected; and if she objects, said candidates shall not be chosen. The Directors
18 shall fix the salaries of the Readers.
Directors. SECT. 5. The Christian Science Board of Directors shall consist of five members.
21 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
24 Mrs. Eddy shall dismiss a member. Members shall neither report the discussions of this Board, nor those with Mrs. Eddy.
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1 Church Business. SECT. 6. The business of The Mother Church shall be transacted by
3 its Christian Science Board of Directors. The manager of the general Committee on Publi- cation in the United States shall order no spe-
6 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-
9 rectors of The Mother Church and receiving the written consent of said Board.
Publishing Buildings. SECT. 7. It shall be
12 the duty of the Christian Science Board of Di- rectors to provide a suitable building for the publication of The Christian Science Journal,
15 Christian Science Sentinel, Der Herold der Christian Science, and all other Christian Sci- ence literature published by The Christian Science
18 Publishing Society. It shall also be the duty of the Christian Science Board of Directors to provide suitable rooms, conveniently and pleas-
21 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
24 other literature connected therewith.
Trusteeships and Syndicates. SECT. 8. Boards of Trustees and Syndicates may be
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1 formed by The Mother Church, subject to the approval of the Pastor Emeritus.
3 Duties of Church Officers. SECT. 9. Law constitutes government, and disobedience to the laws of The Mother Church must ultimate in
6 annulling its Tenets and By-Laws. Without a proper system of government and form of ac- tion, nations, individuals, and religion are un-
9 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
12 himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
It is the duty of the Christian Science Board of
15 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
18 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
21 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-
24 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
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1 the First Reader of a church, to inform the Board of Directors of the failure of the Com-
3 mittee on Publication or of any other officer in this Church to perform his of official duties. A Director shall not make known the name of the
6 complainant.
If the Christian Science Board of Directors fails to fulfil the requirements of this By-Law, and a
9 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
12 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
15 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 1. The Readers for The
21 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.
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1 Eligibility. SECT. 2. The Directors shall select intelligible Readers who are exemplary
3 Christians and good English scholars. They must be members of The Mother Church.
Removal. SECT. 3. If a Reader in The
6 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-
9 rectors and the consent of the Pastor Emeritus, and the vacancy supplied.
First Reader's Residence. SECT. 4. Unless
12 Mrs. Eddy requests otherwise, the First Reader of The Mother Church shall occupy, during his term of Readership, the house of the Pastor
15 Emeritus, No. 385 Commonwealth Avenue, Bos- ton. The Board of Directors shall pay from the Church funds the taxes and rent on this
18 property; the Board shall attend to the insur- ance before it expires, suitably furnish the house, and keep the property in good repair, so
21 long as Mrs. Eddy does not occupy the house herself and the occupants are satisfactory to her.
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Article III — DUTIES OF READERS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH AND OF ITS BRANCH CHURCHES
Moral Obligations. SECTION l. The Readers of The Mother Church and of all its branch
6 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
9 Christian Science largely depends. They must keep themselves unspotted from the world, — uncontaminated with evil, — that the mental at-
12 mosphere they exhale shall promote health and holiness, even that spiritual animus so universally needed.
15 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
18 Wednesday evening meetings.
Suitable Selections. SECT. 3. The First Readers shall read, as a part of the Wednesday
21 evening services, selections from the SCRIPTURES, and from SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES.
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1 Order of Reading. SECT. 4. The First Read- ers in the Christian Science churches shall read
3 the correlative texts in SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES; and the Second Readers shall read the BIBLE texts. The readings
6 from the SCRIPTURES shall precede the readings from SCIENCE AND HEALTH. The Readers shall not read from copies or manuscripts, but from
9 the books.
Naming Book and Author. SECT. 5. The Readers of SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO
12 THE SCRIPTURES, before commencing to read from this book, shall distinctly announce the full title of the book and give the author's name.
15 Such announcement shall be made but once during the lesson.
Readers in Branch Churches. SECT. 6.
18 These Readers shall be members of The Mother Church. They shall read understandingly and be well educated. They shall make no remarks
21 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-
24 TERLY. This By-Law applies to Readers in all the branch churches.
Enforcement of By-Laws. SECT. 7. It shall
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1 be the duty of every member of The Mother Church, who is a First Reader in a Church of
3 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
6 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
9 a church.
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CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Article IV — QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Believe in Christian Science. SECTION l. To become a member of The Mother Church,
6 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Bos- ton, Mass., the applicant must be a believer in the doctrines of Christian Science, according to
9 the platform and teaching contained in the Chris- tian Science textbook, SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, by Rev. Mary
12 Baker Eddy. The BIBLE, together with SCIENCE AND HEALTH and other works by Mrs. Eddy, shall be his only textbooks for self-instruction
15 in Christian Science, and for teaching and prac- tising metaphysical healing.
Free from Other Denominations. SECT. 2.
13 This Church will receive a member of another Church of Christ, Scientist, but not a church member from a different denomination until that
21 membership is dissolved.
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1 Children when Twelve Years Old. SECT. 3. Children who have arrived at the age of twelve
3 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
6 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
12 from students of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College who studied with Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, shall be signed by the Christian Science Board
15 of Directors as evidence of the loyalty of the applicants .
Other Students. SECT. 2. Applicants for
18 membership who have not studied Christian Sci- ence with Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, can unite with this Church only by approval from students
21 of Mrs. Eddy, loyal to the teachings of the text- book, SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE
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1 SCRIPTURES, or from members of The Mother Church, as provided in Article VI, Sect. 2, of
3 these By-Laws.
Students' Pupils. SECT. 3. Applications for membership with The Mother Church, coming
6 from pupils of loyal students who have taken the Primary or Normal Course at the Massa- chusetts Metaphysical College or in the Board
9 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
12 their teachers, except in such cases as are pro- vided for in Sect. 4 of this Article.
Exceptional Cases. SECT. 4. Loyal Chris-
15 tian Scientists whose teachers are deceased, ab- sent, or disloyal, — or those whose teachers, for insufficient cause, refuse to endorse their appli-
18 cations for membership with The Mother Church, — can apply to the Clerk of this Church, and present to him a recommendation signed by three
21 members thereof in good standing, after which, the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors may admit said applicant to membership.
21 Addressed to Clerk. SECT. 5. All applica- tions for membership must be addressed to the Clerk of the Church.
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1 Endorsing Applications. SECT. 6. A mem- ber of The Mother Church shall not endorse nor
3 countersign an application for membership there- with until after the blank has been properly filled out by an applicant. A member who violates
6 this By-Law shall be disciplined.
Notice of Rejection. SECT. 7. If an applica- tion for membership with The First Church of
9 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
12 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
18 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,
21 Sect. 4.
Members of The Mother Church. SECT. 2. Only members of The Mother Church are quali-
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1 fied to approve for membership individuals who are known to them to be Christians, and faith-
3 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
6 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.
9 Election. SECT. 3. Applicants for member- ship in this Church, whose applications are correctly prepared, may be elected by majority
12 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 1.
18 Individuals who have heretofore been members of this Church, or were members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, organized in 1879 by Mary
21 Baker Eddy, but who have voluntarily with- drawn, may be received into this Church on one year's probation, provided they are willing and
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1 anxious to live according to its requirements and make application for membership according to
3 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
6 worthy their applications shall be void.
Members once Dismissed. SECT. 2. A full member or a probationary member, who has
9 been excommunicated once, and who afterward, when sufficient time has elapsed thoroughly to test his sincerity, gives due evidence of having
12 genuinely repented and of being radically re- formed, shall be eligible to probationary mem- bership upon a unanimous vote of the Christian
15 Science Board of Directors.
Ineligible for Probation. SECT. 3. If a member has been twice notified of his excom-
18 munication, he shall not again be received into this Church.
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DISCIPLINE
Article VIII —GUIDANCE OF MEMBERS
A Rule for Motives and Acts. SECTION 1. Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment
6 should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist
9 reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuk- ing sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. The members of this Church should
12 daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemn- ing, counseling, influencing or being influenced
15 erroneously.
To be Read in Church. SECT. 2. The above Church Rule shall be read in The Mother
18 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
21 be read.
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1 Christ Jesus the Ensample. SECT. 3. He who dated the Christian era is the Ensample in
3 Christian Science. Careless comparison or irrev- erent reference to Christ Jesus is abnormal in a Christian Scientist, and is prohibited. When it is
6 necessary to show the great gulf between Chris- tian Science and theosophy, hypnotism, or spirit- ualism, do it, but without hard words. The wise
9 man saith, "A soft answer turneth away wrath." However despitefully used and misrepresented by the churches or the press, in return employ
12 no violent invective, and do good unto your enemies when the opportunity occurs. A de- parture from this rule disqualifies a member for
15 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
18 Church.
Daily Prayer. SECT. 4. It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each
21 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
24 Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!
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Prayer in Church. SECT. 5. The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for
3 the congregations collectively and exclusively.
Alertness to Duty. SECT. 6. It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend
6 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.
9 BY his works he shall be judged, — and justified or condemned.
One Christ. SECT. 7. In accordance with
12 the Christian Science textbooks, — the BIBLE, and SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, — and in accord with all of Mrs.
15 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
18 the Scripture beareth testimony.
No Malpractice. SECT. 8. Members will not intentionally or knowingly mentally malpractise,
21 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,
24 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
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1 her staff without her or their consent shall be dis- ciplined, and a second offense as aforesaid shall
3 cause the name of said member to be dropped forever from The Mother Church.
Formulas Forbidden. SECT. 9. No member
6 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.
9 Whatever is requisite for either is contained in the books of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Sometimes she may strengthen
12 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
15 profuse quotations from Mary Baker Eddy's copyrighted works without her permission, and shall not plagiarize her writings. This By-Law
18 not only calls more serious attention to the com- mandment of the Decalogue, but tends to pre- vent Christian Science from being adulterated.
21 No Incorrect Literature. SECT. 11. A mem- ber of this Church shall neither buy, sell, nor cir- culate Christian Science literature which is not
