For years I had a practice of reading a By-Law from the Manual of The Mother Church before work each day. I’d open the slim book at random and read.
Although Mary Baker Eddy wrote these By-Laws more than 100 years ago when nurturing the young Christian Science movement, I found that reading this inspiring collection of guidelines to be a productive use of time. Even though my choice was random, I’d consider the implications of each By-Law and the spirit behind it. It occurred to me that a simple instruction could have deep spiritual relevance if considered in the context of living the teachings of Christ Jesus.
However, one morning I flipped open the Manual and read for a few moments. And I was stumped. I can’t remember which By-Law I read, but it did mention a specific amount of money. Maybe it was the By-Law about the tuition fee for Christian Science class instruction, typically a 12-day course many students of Christian Science have taken. It says the cost of the course “shall not exceed $100.00 per pupil” (p. 84). Or, perhaps it was the one about “Emergencies,” where procedures are described for the Treasurer or the Clerk of The Mother Church for paying “bills of immediate necessity not exceeding $200 for any one transaction …” (p. 78).
