The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, with its far-flung branches, comprising the Christian Science organization, is the means which God revealed to our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, to ensure the permanency of pure Christian Science, as discovered and founded by her. The government of The Mother Church is forever outlined in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. This work of our Leader came, like the textbook itself, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," through holy inspiration. Because the Church Manual was divinely revealed to Mrs. Eddy, it stands forever unchanged in its mission, content, and authority.
God's requirement that all obey Him is particularly evident and mandatory to the Christian Scientist. Let us liken the situation to that of travel. Transportation as we know it today depends largely on the vital factor of law. Laws are made to regulate speeds, direction, and other conditions essential to the safety and facility of all who travel. Disregard of these laws by an individual would invite serious difficulties in his journeying; general or public disregard of these laws would jeopardize all safe transportation. In fact, our commerce, our industry, our way of living, as we pursue them today, would be out of the question.
Everyone traveling Spiritward under the direction of Christian Science—every individual who seriously accepts this teaching —is affected by the activities of The Mother Church. This obligates the Christian Scientist to obey the Manual, which not only ensures but actively promotes a safe passage to the haven of Soul, the divine destination at which all must eventually arrive.
