It's clear from the Eddy-Farlow correspondence that, from the beginning, local branch churches and Christian Science societies in the jurisdiction of a Committee on publication were to take responsibility for financial support of the Committee's work. The Christian Science Sentinel of July 21, 1906, described this responsibility: "It should be borne in mind that this work cannot be carried on without expense, and this expense, when divided pro rata among the membership of the branch churches throughout a whole State, is but a small item for each one, and yet it is as necessary to the prosperity of the local churches as is any other outlay."
In 1900, Farlow wrote to various church members about compensating Committees on publication: "... there is just one thing to do, and that is to elect a good competent person and pay him well for his services, so that he can afford to take a large portion of his time." Alfred Farlow to Augusta E. Stetson, February 13, 1900, Organizational Archives, The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity . And again, "It is desirable that he should be well enough paid not to have to make this work second, while he earns a living at something else." Alfred Farlow to L. M. Davis, September 15, 1900, Organizational Archives . During the Committee's first decade, 1900 to 1910, a consensus grew that financial payments supporting Committee work should be made from branch churches' and societies' general funds—as per member or pro rata contributions—and not directly from each member.
Local financial support continues to be vital to Committee on publication work today.
