One of the most important of the many wonderful provisions our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, made for the advancement of the Christian Science movement was her ordination in 1895 of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" to be the pastor of all Christian Science churches.
Writing of this ordination on pages 382 and 383 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy says: "In 1895 I ordained that the Bible, and 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' the Christian Science textbook, be the pastor, on this planet, of all the churches of the Christian Science denomination. This ordinance took effect the same year, and met with the universal approval and support of Christian Scientists. Whenever and wherever a church of Christian Science is established, its pastor is the Bible and my book." (See also Section 1 of Article XIV of the Manual of The Mother Church.)
By means of this wise provision Mrs. Eddy forever freed our church services from the dangers which often attend personal preaching and the expression of human opinions from the pulpit. She thus substituted the revealed truth contained in the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons for mere opinions of persons about Christian Science.
