Shortly after establishing the Church to serve the needs of mankind, Mrs. Eddy saw the importance of keeping the public informed of her discovery. At the same time, in order that people properly receive the benefits of her discovery, it was necessary to correct unfounded criticism or misstatements about her work or herself.
Two specific offices created to meet these needs were The Christian Science Board of Lectureship and the Committee on Publication. Both of these offices have the responsibility of caring for the public, one by informing, the other by correcting misinformation. These two distinct functions were established in the Church's governing document, the Manual of The Mother Church, written by Mrs. Eddy.
In her great desire that the public be properly informed, Mrs. Eddy gave parlor lectures for small groups. She thereby became the first public lecturer on Christian Science. In 1898 she established the Board of Lectureship. In a letter to a member of this Board, she wrote, "Take the questions uppermost in the public mind, and answer them systematically in Science." Today the objective remains the same.
