The research staff of The Mary Baker Eddy Library often answers historical questions about By-Laws found in the Manual of The Mother Church. In last month's Journal, we took a historic look at the Manual as a whole. For the next few months, the Library will share background information on selected articles and sections of By-Laws to answer some of our FAQ's (frequently asked questions). The first ones we'll look at are Sections 7 and 8 from Article III, "Duties of Readers of The Mother Church and of its Branch Churches":
Enforcement of By-Laws. SECT. 7. It shall be the duty of every member of The Mother Church, who is a First Reader in a Church of Christ, Scientist, to enforce the discipline and by-laws of the church in which he is Reader.
A Reader not a Leader. SECT. 8. The Church Reader shall not be a Leader, but he shall maintain the Tenets, Rules, and discipline of the Church. A Reader shall not be a President of a church.
