FROM THE DIRECTORS
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, May 5, 1923]
Tenets of The Mother Church
The Tenets of The Mother Church were copyrighted by our Leader. That she did not desire them to be reproduced indiscriminately is shown by the By-law of the Manual, Article XXIII, Section 4.
About the time of the organization of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy gave the Directors permission to print the Tenets; and they were then included in a small folder, along with the few rules of the church and a certificate of membership. This little booklet, which was presented to each new member, was in use until the appearance of the Church Manual, which was first issued in 1895, containing the Tenets, rules, and Bylaws of The Mother Church.
When applications for membership took the place of the church record book, by signing which members formerly signified their adherence to the Tenets, the Tenets were printed in the forms of application for membership with The Mother Church, and applicants certified thereon their adherence to them.
Then came a request from branch churches to use the Tenets similarly. The Directors, with the approval of our Leader, prepared them on a sheet which could be folded, the blank pages of which might be used for the application forms in use locally and including, if so desired, the local bylaws or rules. These sheets have often been inserted in the record books of branch organizations wherein the signatures of new members are appended. Occasionally these have been useful for distribution purposes to show, in brief form, the fundamental teachings of Mrs. Eddy.
In recent years there has been a growing demand for the Tenets in a size and form suitable for binding in the booklet which many branch churches now use to contain their bylaws; and the Directors have arranged, through the Clerk of The Mother Church, to supply the printed Tenets in a smaller size than heretofore, with wide margins which may be trimmed to conform to the usual size of the printed by-laws of branch churches and societies. The standing notice of the Clerk in our periodicals gives directions for the placing of orders.
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, May 19, 1923]
The Annual Meeting
On the occasion of the dedication of The Mother Church, our Leader wrote, "Owing to the time consumed in travel, et cetera, I cannot be present in propria persona at our annual communion and the dedication in June next of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist. But I shall be with my blessed church 'in spirit and in truth'" (Miscellany, p.25). Even so, it is not expected that every member of The Mother Church will attend the Annual Meeting in person, but it is hoped that all will avail themselves of the privilege of being present in spirit, and every member may read with profit the printed reports of the meeting in the periodicals.
As the time for the meeting approaches, it is helpful to ask ourselves what our Leader's purpose was in providing for the Annual Meeting at which reports are made by officers and members of the church. It marks the close of a year's work and the beginning of a new year, with all that this signifies. It is not a time for self gratulation, individual or collective, but for honest self-examination and renewed consecration. It is a time for gratitude to God for His care of His own, and for new and higher resolves of obedience to His commands. It affords the opportunity to review a year's work, to see how much of the great mission of the Christian Science church to the world has been accomplished, and to consider what are the next steps to be taken. In the words of our Leader (Miscellaneous Writings, p.98), "We come to strengthen and perpetuate our organizations and institutions; and to find strength in union.—strength to build up, through God's right hand, that pure and undefiled religion whose Science demonstrates God and the perfectibility of man."
When, in 1908, our Leader abolished the communion season of The Mother Church, she spoke of the danger that it "might in time lose its sacredness and merge into a meeting for greetings" (Miscellany, p.142). Mortal mind would like to make of this Annual Meeting a great social gathering, in which the deep spiritual significance of the occasion might be lost. Each member who attends, therefore, needs to watch lest this evil work be accomplished in him. Those not attending the meeting may realize their unity with its blessings as they lay hold of its spiritual significance. The privilege of being present at an Annual Meeting of The Mother Church also carries with it the responsibility to bring to the meeting and take away from it only such thoughts as will help to fulfill its holy purpose. Like the disciples on the day of Pentecost, we should be "all with one accord in one place." Then from this meeting there will go forth a spiritual influence which will strengthen the hands and hearts of every worker in the movement. Literature Situation in Europe
For the past four years, since communication was again established with the war-stricken countries of Central Europe, the Directors, because of the very high rate of exchange with some of these countries, have embraced the opportunity of assisting the Christian Scientists there to a large extent, to enable them to obtain Christian Science literature and to give their annual lectures.
Shortly after the Armistice was signed the Directors began to send Christian Science Quarterlies to the churches in Germany and to the Christian Scientists in Austria, Latvia, Esthonia, and Russia, in sufficient quantity to meet their needs. Other Christian Science literature, including copies of our Leader's writings, especially the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," was also sent them free of charge. Because of the desire, however, of the Christian Scientists in the Central European countries to pay something towards the literature sent them, as they found themselves able to do, rates have been established from time to time in their currency, whereby they reimbursed the War Relief Fund to a small extent. The Mother Church now has a credit to the War Relief Fund in the Deutsche Bank in Berlin of a considerable number of German marks representing these paments from the churches and societies in Germany, a sum which, while not of much value in the money of certain other countries, yet expresses much sacrifice on the part of the depositors.
The Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy sent without charge to the branches of The Mother Church in Germany one thousand copies of the English-German Christian Science textbook; and The Christian Science Publishing Society has been able through the generosity of subscribers to Der Herold and Le Heraut, also of contributors to the free fund, so called, to send free subscriptions for Christian Science literature to those in Europe who might not otherwise be able to have these aids to their study of Christian Science.
The War Relief Fund has supplied, largely at specified rates, approximately ten thousand copies of the textbook and three thousand copies of other writings of Mrs. Eddy; also about four thousand subscriptions to the periodicals and more than fifteen thousand other pieces of literature, exclusive of Quarterlies. The larger part of this has gone to Germany. Literature has also gone to Austria, Hungary, Jugo-Slavia, Latvia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Esthonia, Russia, Roumania, and the Ukraine.
It has now become necessary to withdraw the offer to supply literature to Germany at the rate of one thousand marks to the dollar, because the balance in the War Relief Fund reserved for this purpose is nearly exhausted. The demand for literature, especially in Germany, is very great, many of the Reading Rooms having had lists of individuals awaiting their turn to be supplied with the textbook. Some Reading Rooms advise that no sooner is a shipment of books received than their shelves are nearly depleted, so eager are the seekers for Truth to own the textbook of Christian Science. In consequence, they have discontinued keeping such lists because of the lack of books to meet the demand.
Having become aware of this demand for our literature and the difficulty in obtaining it, some individual Christian Scientists and some churches have requested the Directors to be allowed to help in continuing to supply this need. The Directors have accordingly authorized the Treasurer of The Mother Church to receive special gifts for the purpose. Such funds as may be received by the Treasurer, designated to be used to supply literature to the Central European countries, will be expended by the Board at such stated rates in the currency of the recipients as from time to time may seem reasonable and right; also to supply literature free of charge in such cases as circumstances may warrant. It is probable that by far the greater amount contributed will be applied to the needs of Germany, where the Scientists are most numerous and the need is greatest. Any balance of funds remaining on hand after the necessity for which this fund is established has passed, will be placed by the Directors in such other church fund as seems at the time best to meet a particular need.
CLERK OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
The Tenets of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, for use of branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, are printed on folded sheets, containing space for adding the application form for membership in branch organizations, or extracts from their by-laws. These may be obtained in the regular size, and also in a form suitable for binding into booklets containing by-laws. Either size may be ordered from the Clerk at seventy-five cents a hundred, the minimum order, but unless otherwise specified, the larger size will be sent. Remittances should accompany all orders, but postage stamps should not be sent in payment.
The Tenets may also be obtained in either size printed on alternate pages in English and German or in English and French.
Correspondence relative to the Tenets should be addressed to George Wendell Adams, Clerk, 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.
CHURCH TREASURER
Per Capita Tax, as provided in the Church Manual, Article VIII, Section 13, is due annually from "every member of The Mother Church," and "shall be forwarded each year to the Church Treasurer." This tax of "not less than one dollar" may be forwarded at any time during the year. When a remittance for church dues is more than the amount required to balance one's account, the surplus is credited for the present year.
Contributions to The Christian Science Benevolent Association are acceptable; and contributions may also be made to the General Fund and to the Real Estate Fund of The Mother Church.
Please make all remittances payable to Edward L. Ripley, Treasurer, and send them to him at 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.
ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE MOTHER CHURCH
Please address correspondence relating to membership with The Mother Church and requests for application forms for membership to George Wendell Adams, Clerk, 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.
