Manual of the Mother Church | Page 2

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
reorganized, 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By-Laws pertaining to "Executive Members" were repealed.)
THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, IN BOSTON,
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.
[1] Steps were taken to promote the Church of Christ, Scientist, in
April, May and June; formal organization was accomplished and the
charter obtained in August, 1879.

CHURCH OFFICERS
Rev. MARY BAKER EDDY Pastor Emeritus
GEORGE WENDELL ADAMS Christian Science Board of Directors
CHARLES E. HEITMAN Mrs. NELVIA E. RITCHIE FRANCIS
LYSTER JANDRON ALFRED PITTMAN
Mrs. HELEN CHAFFEE ELWELL President
THOMAS E. HURLEY First Reader Conducts services and reads from
the Christian Science textbook, "SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH
KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES" by Mary Baker Eddy
Mrs. GEORGINA TENNANT Second Reader Reads from the
SCRIPTURES
GORDON V. COMER Clerk, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Mass.

ROY GARRETT WATSON Treasurer, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston,
Mass.
1947-1948

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 Directors, a President, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and
two Readers.
President. SECTION 2. The President shall be elected, subject to the
approval of the Pastor Emeritus, by the Board of Directors[2] on
Monday preceding the annual meeting of the Church. The President
shall hold office for one year, and the same person is eligible for
election but once in three years.
[2] See under "Deed of Trust" for incorporation of the "Christian
Science Board of Directors."
Clerk and Treasurer. SECTION 3. The term of office for the Clerk and
the Treasurer of this 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 Directors and the consent of the Pastor Emeritus
given in her own handwriting.
Readers. SECTION 4. Every third year Readers 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. SECTION 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.
Church Business. SECTION 6. The business of The Mother Church
shall be transacted by its Christian Science Board of Directors. The
manager of the general Committee on Publication in the United States
shall order no special action to be taken by said Committee that is not
named in the Manual of this Church without consulting with the full
Board of Directors of The Mother Church and receiving the written
consent of said Board.
Publishing Buildings. SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the Christian
Science Board of Directors 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
Science 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 pleasantly
located in the same building, for the publication 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. SECTION 8. Boards of Trustees and
Syndicates may be formed by The Mother Church, subject to the
approval of the Pastor Emeritus.
Duties of Church