In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy makes four stipulations for those who qualify to serve in the Reading Rooms of The Mother Church. A By-Law includes the following under the heading, "Librarian": "The individuals who take charge of the Reading Rooms of The Mother Church shall be elected by the Christian Science Board of Directors, subject to the approval of Mary Baker Eddy. He or she shall have no bad habits, shall have had experience in the Field, shall be well educated, and a devout Christian Scientist." Man, Art. XXI, Sect. 2;
This brief paragraph is a timeless and succinct expression of the essential qualifications for every Reading Room librarian. These qualifications are high. New librarians, Reading Room staff workers, substitutes, or librarians who have served for a period of years can always benefit from a renewed study of this By-Law and a sincere endeavor to demonstrate its demands. Experience, education, devotion, and freedom from bad habits are above-average goals for anyone.
To have no bad habits requires honesty, much self-examination, and striving. But it is an achievement that is important to the progress of the individual and Christian Science. Smoking, drinking, use of drugs in any form, profanity, and immorality impede progress, as do the less obvious vices of gossip, destructive criticism, and negative thinking.
