The Church Manual's Article XXI, Section 2 was adopted in 1899. The next year The Mother Church opened its Reading Room after Mary Baker Eddy made a pointed request to her Board of Directors. She, in effect, wrote a very concise job description:
"Librarian. Sect. 2. 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" (Manual, pp. 63–64).
