On page 283 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy, "after definitely giving the rule in regard to "Obtrusive Mental Healing," and the two exceptions to this rule, says, "I insist on the etiquette of Christian Science, as well as its morals and Christianity." It cannot but be helpful to us, as loyal followers of our Leader, to consider carefully the exact meaning of the term etiquette in its relation to the cause of Christian Science, to our individual growth in the work, and to our responsibility before the world as exponents of this great cause. The dictionary defines the word etiquette in part as follows: "The forms required by good breeding, or prescribed by authority, to be observed in social or official life." As Christian Scientists, members of The Mother Church or one of its branches, we are under the necessity, both socially and officially, of living up to a code of divine decorum which will conform to an established pattern of excellence, one which will bear the scrutiny of the most exacting observer, thereby, as Paul says, "giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, . . . by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned."
What canon or established pattern of excellence is this to which we are required to conform? Is it not that of obedience to, and reflection of, the qualities and attributes of God, whom through the teaching of Christian Science we have learned to know as omnipotent and omnipresent Life, Truth, and Love? Mrs. Eddy says on page 4 of "Christian Healing," "God must be our model, or we have none." This divine model or pattern, continually unfolding to our comprehension as we ascend the mount of spiritual discernment, becomes for us the perfect standard, by which all our thoughts and words, all our obligations, social and official, are tested, measured, and adjusted. It is a standard at once inclusive of the highest type of courtesy, loyalty, moral courage, purity, intelligence, refinement, and culture,—in other words, of good taste and good breeding, as well as of the divine demands: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
The term etiquette as applied to Christian Science signifies the scientific, spiritual rules governing our intercourse with one another and with the world at large, from the most trivial and informal occurrence to the most momentous and formal occasion. Its code is unselfish, consecrated loyalty to the perfect model, to the practical attainment of perfection in every undertaking. Its divine decorum is based on a love which, purged of selfish interests, respects the individual rights and privileges of all men, and not only would refrain from trespassing upon them, but would gladly forfeit one's own if this would really benefit another. It naturally will be compassionate, for it "is not easily provoked," and "thinketh no evil." The proprieties which it observes are those which "mark the perfect man," —righteous activity, modesty, gentleness, compassion, purity.
