Becoming a member of The Mother Church and one of its branches is more than a privilege. Carrying out the requirements of such membership protects the member and guides him into the realm of immortal existence in Spirit. Each new member is obliged to sign the Tenets given the Church by Mary Baker Eddy, the last of which reads, "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."Manual of The Mother Church, p. 16; This is in full accord with the beatitude given by Christ Jesus, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."Matt. 5:8;
All six Tenets should be carefully studied by applicants, for they outline the ideals for members to adopt. In the Tenets, a number of Christian acknowledgments precede the final promise quoted above. In the light of this promise of purity, should an applicant be admitted to membership who indulges the habits of smoking and drinking? Some people feel that admitting those who smoke and drink is no different from admitting those who are sick. This is assuming that the applicants who smoke and drink expect to be healed of those habits just as persons who are ill expect to be healed of sickness. But no true Church of Christ, Scientist, would knowingly take in an applicant who is still taking medicine for healing.
Neither depending upon medicine or other material means for healing nor indulging the sensual habits of tobacco and alcohol for satisfaction is compatible with church membership. The promise to be "pure" could not be carried out under such circumstances.
