# Manual of The Mother Church

(Eighty-sixth edition) According to Stephen Gottschalk (The Emergence of Christian Science in American Religious Life, 1973, p. 184), the Manual of The Mother Church reached its final form in the 89th edition, on Mary Baker Eddy's passing. The edition here (86th) was presented in conjunction with a German language translation.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
CHURCH MANUAL
OF
THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST
SCIENTIST, IN BOSTON, MASS.
MANUAL OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
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