Unlike many 19th-century women, Mary Baker Eddy not only was a deep spiritual thinker and leader; she was also grounded in the nitty gritty of running a church and getting the message of Christian Science out. This diversity of talents allowed her to establish her Church and The Christian Science Publishing Society, which she expected to support the Church, on solid business and legal ground.
Key to the organization were the Church Manual, a handbook that contains the By-Laws of the Church and defines the structure and relationships of the organization, its branch churches, publishing activities, and all other aspects of the organization, and the Deed of Trust, which on January 25, 1898, established The Christian Science Publishing Society, putting its care and governance into the hands of a three-member Board of Trustees subject to the final supervision and control of The Christian Science Board of Directors.
Mrs. Eddy laid out specific requirements for the Society:
