24 correct in its statement of the divine Principle and rules and the demonstration of Christian Science. Also the spirit in which the writer
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1 has written his literature shall be definitely con- sidered. His writings must show strict adher-
3 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
6 schisms in our Church and the possible loss, for a time, of Christian Science.
Obnoxious Books. SECT. 12. A member of
9 this Church shall not patronize a publishing house or bookstore that has for sale obnoxious books.
12 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
15 be forwarded each year to the Church Treasurer.
Church Periodicals. SECT. 14. It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can
18 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-
21 icals are ably edited and kept abreast of the times.
Church Organizations Ample. SECT. 15.
24 Members of this Church shall not unite with organizations which impede their progress in Christian Science. God requires our whole heart,
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1 and he supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation
3 for all its members.
Joining Another Society. SECT. 16. It shall be the duty of the members of The Mother
6 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-
9 come members of other societies except those specified in the Mother Church Manual, and they shall strive to promote the welfare of all
12 mankind by demonstrating the rules of divine Love.
Forbidden Membership. SECT. 17. A mem-
15 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
18 and members of The Mother Church.
Officious Members. SECT. 18. A member of The Mother Church is not entitled to hold office
21 or read in branch churches of this denomination
except by invitation.
Legal Titles. SECT. 19. Students of Chris-
24 tian Science must drop the titles of Reverend and Doctor, except those who have received these titles under the laws of the State.
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1 Illegal Adoption. SECT. 20. No person shall be a member of this Church who claims a spirit-
3 ually adopted child or a spiritually adopted hus- band or wife. There must be legal adoption and legal marriage, which can be verified according
6 to the laws of our land.
Use of Initials "C.S." SECT. 21. A member of The Mother Church shall not place the initials
9 "C.S." after his name on circulars, cards, or leaflets, which advertise his business or profes- sion, except as a Christian Science practitioner.
12 Practitioners and Patients. SECT. 22. Mem- bers of this Church shall hold in sacred confi- dence all private communications made to them
15 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-
18 ject the offender to Church discipline.
A member of The Mother Church shall not, under pardonable circumstances, sue his patient
21 for recovery of payment for said member's practice, on penalty of discipline and liability to have his name removed from membership.
24 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
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1 is a humanitarian; he is benevolent, forgiving, long-suffering, and seeks to overcome evil with
3 good.
Duty to Patients. SECT. 23. If a member of this Church has a patient whom he does not heal,
6 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-
9 tian Scientist to confer with an M. D. on Ontol- ogy, or the Science of being.
Testimonials. SECT. 24. "Glorify God in
12 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
15 rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, "who healeth all thy diseases" (Psalm 103:3).
18 This testimony, however, shall not include a de- scription of symptoms or of suffering, though the generic name of the disease may be indicated.
21 This By-Law applies to testimonials which appear in the periodicals and to those which are given at the Wednesday evening meeting.
24 Charity to All. SECT. 25. While members of this Church do not believe in the doctrines of theosophy, hypnotism, or spiritualism, they
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1 cherish no enmity toward those who do believe in such doctrines, and will not harm them. But
3 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.
6 Uncharitable Publications. SECT. 26. A member of this Church shall not publish, nor cause to be published, an article that is unchari-
9 table or impertinent towards religion, medicine, the courts, or the laws of our land.
The Golden Rule. SECT. 27. A member of
12 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
15 for such a purpose.
Numbering the People. SECT. 28. Christian Scientists shall not report for publication the
18 number of the members of The Mother Church, nor that of the branch churches. According to the Scripture they shall turn away from person-
21 ality and numbering the people.
Our Church Edifices. SECT. 29. The period- icals of our denomination do not publish de-
24 scriptions of our church edifices, but they may quote from other periodicals or give incidental narratives.
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1 No Monopoly. SECT. 30. A Scientist shall not endeavor to monopolize the healing work in
3 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,
6 and "by their fruits ye shall know them."
Christian Science Nurse. SECT. 31. A mem- ber of The Mother Church who represents him-
9 self or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly under-
12 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
13 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
21 shall be performed by a clergyman who is legally authorized.
Sudden Decease. SECT. 2. If a member of
24 The Mother Church shall decease suddenly, with- out previous injury or illness, and the cause
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thereof be unknown, an autopsy shall be made by qualified experts. When it is possible the
3 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-
9 tian Science in public debating assemblies, with- out the consent of the Board of Directors.
Article XI —COMPLAINTS
Departure from Tenets. SECTION 1. If a member of this Church shall depart from the
15 Tenets and be found having the name without the life of a Christian Scientist, and another member in good standing shall from Christian
18 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,
21 put on probation, or excommunicated.
Violation of By-Laws. SECT. 2. A member who is found violating any of the By-Laws
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1 or Rules herein set forth, shall be admonished in consonance with the Scriptural demand in
3 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
6 dropped from the roll of Church membership.
Violation of Christian Fellowship. SECT. 3. Any member who shall unjustly aggrieve or
9 vilify the Pastor Emeritus or another member, or who does not live in Christian fellowship with members who are in good and regular standing
12 with this Church, shall either withdraw from the Church or be excommunicated.
Preliminary Requirement. SECT. 4. No
15 church discipline shall ensue until the require- ments according to the Scriptures, in Matthew 18:15-17, have been strictly obeyed, unless a
18 By-Law governing the case provides for imme- diate action.
Authority. SECT. 5. The Christian Science
21 Board of Directors has power to discipline, place on probation, remove from membership, or to excommunicate members of The Mother Church.
24 Only the members of this Board shall be pres- ent at meetings for the examination of com- plaints against church members; and they alone
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1 shall vote on cases involving The Mother Church discipline.
3 Members in Mother Church Only. SECT. 6. A complaint against a member of The Mother Church, if said member belongs to no branch
6 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
9 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
12 whereof he is accused and his previous character has been good, his confession of his error and evidence of his compliance with our Church
15 Rules shall be deemed sufficient by the Board for forgiveness for once, and the Clerk of the Church shall immediately so inform him. But
18 a second offense shall dismiss a member from the Church.
Working Against the Cause. SECT. 7 . If a
21 member of this Church shall, mentally or other- wise, persist in working against the interests of another member, or the interests of our Pastor
24 Emeritus and the accomplishment of what she understands is advantageous to this Church and to the Cause of Christian Science, or shall influ-
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1 ence others thus to act, upon her complaint or the complaint of a member for her or for himself,
3 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
6 from the roll of Church membership.
No Unchristian Conduct. SECT. 8 . If a member of this Church were to treat the author
9 of our textbook disrespectfully and cruelly, upon her complaint that member should be excommu- nicated. If a member, without her having re-
12 quested the information, shall trouble her on subjects unnecessarily and without her consent, it shall be considered an offense.
15 Not to Learn Hypnotism. SECT. 9. Mem- bers of this Church shall not learn hypnotism on penalty of being excommunicated from this
18 Church. No member shall enter a complaint of mental malpractice for a sinister purpose. If the author of SCIENCE AND HEALTH shall bear
21 witness to the offense of mental malpractice, it shall be considered a sufficient evidence thereof.
Publications Unjust. SECT. 10. If a mem-
24 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
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1 Leader, and if, upon complaint by another mem- ber, the Board of Directors finds that the offense
3 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
6 membership.
The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, Tenets. SECT. 11. If a member of The Mother
9 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 —
12 on complaint of Mrs. Eddy our Pastor Emeritus -- and this complaint being found valid, his or her name shall be erased from The Mother
15 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
18 for twelve years.
Special Offense. SECT. 12. If a member of this Church, either by word or work, represents
21 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
24 name from membership in The Mother Church.
Members of Branch Churches. SECT. 13. A member of both The Mother Church and a branch
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1 Church of Christ, Scientist, or a Reader, shall not report nor send notices to The Mother Church,
3 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
6 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
12 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
15 and retaining his membership, this weak member shall not be counted loyal till after three years of exemplary character. Then the Board of
18 Directors may decide if his loyalty has been proved by uniform maintenance of the life of a consistent, consecrated Christian Scientist.
21 Misteaching. SECT. 2. If a member of this Church is found trying to practise or to teach Christian Science contrary to the statement
24 thereof in its textbook, SCIENCE AND HEALTH
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1 WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, it shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to admonish
3 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
6 of this Church.
MEETINGS
Article XIII — REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
Annual Meetings. SECTION 1. The regular meetings of The Mother Church shall be held
12 annually, on Monday following the first Sunday in June. No other than its of officers are required to be present. These assemblies shall be for
15 listening to the reports of Treasurer, Clerk, and Committees, and general reports from the Field.
Meetings of Board of Directors. SECT. 2.
18 The annual meeting of the Christian Science Board of Directors, for electing officers and other business, shall be held on Monday preced-
21 ing the annual meeting of the Church. Regular meetings for electing candidates to membership
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1 with The Mother Church, and for the transac- tion of such other business as may properly come
3 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-
6 cial meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Clerk.
Called only by the Clerk. SECT. 3. Before
9 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-
12 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
15 the consent of this Board and the Pastor Emer- itus, before he can call said meeting.
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CHURCH SERVICES
Article XIV — THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PASTOR
Ordination. SECTION 1. I, Mary Baker Eddy, ordain the BIBLE, and SCIENCE AND
6 HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, Pastor over The Mother Church, — The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., — and
9 they will continue to preach for this Church and the world.
The Lesson-Sermon. SECT. 2. The subject
12 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
15 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 1.
21 To pour into the ears of listeners the sacred
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1 revelations of Christian Science indiscriminately, or without characterizing their origin and thus
3 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-
6 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
9 Emeritus, first to announce the name of the author. Members shall also instruct their pupils to adopt the aforenamed method for the benefit
12 of our Cause.
Article XVI —WELCOMING STRANGERS
15 The Leader's Welcome. SECTION 1. Mrs. Eddy welcomes to her seats in the church, persons of all sects and denominations who
18 come to listen to the Sunday sermon and are not otherwise provided with seats.
The Local Members' Welcome. SECT. 2. It
21 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
24 the morning services.
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Article XVII —SERVICES UNINTERRUPTED
3 Continued Throughout the Year. SECTION 1. The services of The Mother Church shall be continued twelve months each year. One meet-
6 ing on Sunday during the months of July and August is sufficient. A Christian Scientist is not fatigued by prayer, by reading the Scriptures
9 or the Christian Science textbook. Amusement or idleness is weariness. Truth and Love rest the weary and heavy laden.
12 Easter Observances. SECT. 2. In the United States there shall be no special observances, festivities, nor gifts at the Easter season by
15 members of The Mother Church. Gratitude and love should abide in every heart each day of all the years. Those sacred words of our
18 beloved Master, "Let the dead bury their dead," and "Follow thou me," appeal to daily Christian endeavors for the living whereby to exemplify
21 our risen Lord.
Laying a Corner Stone. SECT. 3. No large gathering of people nor display shall be allowed
24 when laying the Corner Stone of a Church of Christ, Scientist. Let the ceremony be devout.
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1 No special trowel should be used. (See SCIENCE AND HEALTH, page 140.)
3 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
9 Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, shall observe no more Communion seasons.
Communion of Branch Churches. SECT. 2.
12 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
15 of The Mother Church are to be read.
Article XIX — MUSIC IN THE CHURCH
18 Soloist and Organist. SECTION 1. The music in The Mother Church shall not be operatic, but of an appropriate religious character and of a
21 recognized standard of musical excellence; it shall be played in a dignified and suitable man- ner. Music from the organ alone should con-
24 tinue about eight or nine minutes for the
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1 voluntary and six or seven minutes for the post- lude, the offertory conforming to the time re-
3 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
9 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
12 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
15 the age of twenty. None except the officers, teachers, and pupils should attend the Sunday School exercises.
18 Teaching the Children. SECT. 2. The Sabbath School children shall be taught the Scriptures, and they shall be instructed ac-
21 cording to their understanding or ability to grasp the simpler meanings of the divine Principle that they are taught.
24 Subject for Lessons. SECT. 3. The first lessons of the children should be the Ten Com-
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1 mandments (Exodus 20: 3-17), the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6: 9-13), and its Spiritual In-
3 terpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5: 3-12). The next les- sons consist of such questions and answers as
6 are adapted to a juvenile class, and may be found in the Christian Science Quarterly Lessons, read in Church services. The instruction given
9 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
15 the Christian Science denomination shall have a Reading Room, though two or more churches may unite in having Reading Rooms, provided
18 these rooms are well located.
Librarian. SECT. 2. The individuals who take charge of the Reading Rooms of The
21 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
24 have no bad habits, shall have had experience in
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1 the Field, shall be well educated, and a devout Christian Scientist.(1)
3 Literature in Reading Rooms. SECT. 3. The literature sold or exhibited in the reading rooms of Christian Science Churches shall consist only
6 of Science and Health with Key to the Scrip- tures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and other writings by this author; also the literature published or
9 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,
15 loyal Christian Scientists had given to the author of their textbook, the Founder of Christian Sci- ence, the individual, endearing term of Mother.
18 At first Mrs. Eddy objected to being called thus, but afterward consented on the ground that this appellative in the Church meant nothing more
21 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
24 name, it is the duty of Christian Scientists to
(1)See also Article XXV, Sect. 7.
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1 drop the word mother and to substitute Leader, already used in our periodicals.
3 A Member not a Leader. SECT. 2. A member of The First Church of Christ, Sci- entist, in Boston, Mass., shall not be called
6 Leader by members of this Church, when this term is used in connection with Christian Science .
9 Obedience Required. SECT. 3. It shall be the duty of the officers of this Church, of the editors of the Christian Science Journal, Sen-
12 tinel, and Der Herold, of the members of the Committees on Publication, of the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society, and
15 of the Board of Education promptly to comply with any written order, signed by Mary Baker Eddy, which applies to their official functions.
18 Disobedience to this By-Law shall be sufficient cause for the removal of the offending member from office.
21 The vacancy shall be supplied by a majority vote of the Christian Science Board of Direc- tors, and the candidate shall be subject to the
24 approval of Mary Baker Eddy.
Understanding Communications. SECT. 4. If the Clerk of this Church shall receive a com-
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1 munication from the Pastor Emeritus which he does not fully understand, he shall inform her
3 of this fact before presenting it to the Church and obtain a clear understanding of the matter, — then act in accordance therewith.
6 Interpreting Communications. SECT. 5. If at a meeting of this Church a doubt or dis- agreement shall arise among the members as to
9 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
12 the vexed question and to await her explanation thereof.
Reading and Attesting Letters. SECT. 6.
15 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
18 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
21 authority supposed to come from her satisfac- torily attested.
Unauthorized Reports. SECT. 7. Members
24 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
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1 of this Church. The Pastor Emeritus is not to be consulted on cases of discipline, on the cases
3 of candidates for admission to this Church, or on the cases of those on trial for dismissal from the Church.
6 Private Communications. SECT. 8. A strictly private communication from the Pastor Emeritus to a member of her Church shall not be made
