One day while I was serving in a Christian Science Reading Room, a new student of Christian Science asked me where the "Daily Prayer" he'd heard church members mention could be found. I introduced him to the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy and showed him the page where the "Daily Prayer" appears. See Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 4.
He spent some time in the study room reading the Manual. When he came out, he told me that it had answered many questions for him and that it set out the Church's government in a wonderful, orderly fashion.
I loved this man's enthusiasm for the Manual and his quick apprehension of its value! But a long time ago I wasn't as enthusiastic. My copy of the Manual had gathered dust. I had read and studied the Bible, as well as Science and Health and other writings by Mrs. Eddy, on a regular basis, but had neglected the Manual. I called myself a Christian Scientist, but here I was, indifferent toward a salient part of the work of the Founder of Christian Science. Then I woke up to the need to obey the By-Laws, which were established to forward each member's spiritual progress, and to prosper and defend the Cause of Christian Science. But if I wanted to obey these By-Laws, I'd better know what they were! So I proceeded to study the Manual with joy and with an open mind and heart. Many parts were familiar to me. But I found whole sections that I had forgotten over the years.
