In the Manual of The Mother Church, Mary Baker Eddy stipulates that "the associations of the pupils of loyal teachers shall convene annually" (Art. XXVI, Sect. 6). This By-Law is of great importance to the spiritual growth of class-taught students of Christian Science.
A student of Christian Science attains membership in an association by reason of having had class instruction with the teacher whose pupils comprise it. He cannot transfer his membership to another association, nor can he be a member of more than one association; and he may attend only one association meeting a year. Students who have not had class instruction are not eligible to attend an association meeting, and pupils whose status is that defined in Article XXVI, Section 8, of the Manual may not attend any association meeting until they have again had class instruction from a teacher in good standing.
In unusual circumstances a pupil of a loyal teacher may find he cannot attend his own association meeting. He may, then, seek an invitation to attend the meeting of another teacher's pupils (see Manual, Art. XXVI, Sect. 7). As a matter of etiquette the initial step would be for the pupil to communicate with his teacher and request permission from him for this purpose. Having received such permission, the pupil would be free to write to the teacher whose association he wishes to attend—or, in the absence of the teacher, to the executive committee—making it clear that he is doing so with his teacher's knowledge and consent. Should permission not be forthcoming from his teacher, then the matter of receiving an invitation from another teacher or executive committee to attend their meeting without it would be his individual demonstration.
