This interview originally aired on Sentinel Watch, a podcast of the Christian Science Sentinel. It focuses on a little book that has played a large role in the history of the Christian Science movement and has sometimes been held up as a model of how to craft succinct but sufficient laws. It’s called the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy. Christian Harder spoke with Irmela Wigger, a former President of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, who lives in Germany.
Irmela, can you explain briefly why a church would need a manual, and how its contents might be interesting even to those who are not members of the Church of Christ, Scientist?
Every church, every organization, needs guidelines so that everyone working there knows what to do, when to do it, and how to do it—so they know what is expected of them.
Jesus gave his disciples and followers spiritual guidelines in the Sermon on the Mount. And every Rule and By-Law in the Manual had its source in divine laws. Let me read a part of what Mary Baker Eddy wrote about how these Rules and By-Laws came to be: “They were impelled by a power not one’s own, were written at different dates, and as the occasion required. They sprang from necessity, the logic of events,—from the immediate demand for them as a help that must be supplied to maintain the dignity and defense of our Cause; hence their simple, scientific basis, and detail so requisite to demonstrate genuine Christian Science, and which will do for the race what absolute doctrines destined for future generations might not accomplish” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 148).
I found a little pamphlet called “The Church Manual—a source of strength,” and one of the articles mentions that Mary Baker Eddy had long since concluded that organization was a useful necessity. But, this article says the Manual must serve as a backbone of effort, not as a straitjacket for inspiration (see Robert Peel, “The Manual and organization,” Journal, July 1972). And I think that’s such a wonderful thing, that it does not hinder us, but it helps us to find inspiration in everything we have to do in church work.
That’s very nice. So, this is obviously more than just a book of rules. You say it’s a source of inspiration.
Yes, I think that even people who are not Christian Scientists may find inspiration, especially in something that she writes in the chapter on discipline. It’s called “A Rule for Motives and Acts.” There are some things that can be very helpful for every religion, or every group.
The first part says, “Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church” (p. 40). Animosity and personal attachments often are the source of trouble and difficulties in organizations.
It really is a guideline for day-to-day activities as well as in spiritual growth.
Yes, it is, and it has played a great role in my life, in my daily activities. The Manual had my interest long before I became a Christian Science practitioner advertising in The Christian Science Journal. It began as I became a librarian of the Christian Science Reading Room of our church. The Reading Room is a place where the Bible, all the writings by Mary Baker Eddy, and the Christian Science periodicals are available to read, to buy, or to study. After the former librarian had introduced me to my duties as librarian—to mark the weekly Bible Lessons in the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, place orders, and pay bills—I thought, “There must be more to being a Christian Science Reading Room librarian,” and here my interest in the Church Manual began.
I looked into that tiny book to find out what more was needed of the Reading Room librarian, and I read this passage regarding “the individuals who take charge of the Reading Rooms of The Mother Church”: “He or she shall have no bad habits, shall have had experience in the Field, shall be well educated, and a devout Christian Scientist” (pp. 63–64). I thought about that, and I thought that being well educated does not mean that we have to have had any extreme preparation for this job, but that we really need to have a heart that is prepared—that is “educated” to talk with visitors and to show them what they can find in our Reading Rooms.
The Manual does not hinder us; it helps us to find inspiration in everything we have to do in church work.
I also read, “It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this Church; …” (Manual, p. 44). I thought, “Yes, I will do that.” We did not have too much money at that time, and my English was not very good, but I thought, “If it’s standing in the Manual, it can only help.” And so, I started to read the Christian Science Sentinel to train myself in English. And after a short time, I really was able to read the other books, because I always held the thought that nothing can hinder me to get what I have to know about Christian Science and about Mary Baker Eddy, and so it was.
And it sounds like your motivation really came from the Manual.
Yes.
So, you’ve seen the Manual meeting your own needs.
Yes. I first started to see it in my own life. Everything standing in the Manual has the power of God behind it, because it’s divinely impelled, as Mary Baker Eddy says. For example, on an occasional day when I came to the Reading Room and did not feel well, I knew that the divine law supporting Reading Room activity would sustain me there, and I was always well when I went away again. Or, if, as one of the Readers who conducts the services, I felt I might not be able to read because I had a bad cold, and I could not get any substitute, I thought, “It’s my job to read, and since I’m God’s spiritual expression, God has given me the ability to do it,” and it always worked.
Good! And how have you seen it also meeting needs in a wider context—in church, for example?
Later on, when I was no longer the Reader myself, I could help by praying when the First or Second Reader thought they were not able to read because they were unwell. I could pray for the service and know the Readers and congregation were included in its healing message, and all could come and be healed. “A Rule for Motives and Acts” is a very good help for the church. I think it helps maintain a good atmosphere, because it encourages us to see in each other the brotherly or sisterly love we each express as God’s beloved child. And it’s not difficult.
Everything standing in the Manual has the power of God behind it, because it’s divinely impelled, as Mary Baker Eddy says.
I had a very hard time after the passing of my husband, and I was First Reader, and the members of my church were so loving and supportive of me. They knew God’s care for me and my family was constant and eternal. So, after two weeks, I was there again, reading as First Reader, and it helped me so tremendously that they really were sure that I would be able to do this work. We are all helping each other.
And, it’s the Manual that gives you all the confidence to support each other in that way.
Yes, it is. I must say I really love the Manual.
That really comes out in everything you’re saying. Have you ever struggled with any of the By-Laws in the Manual, or wondered why they’re there?
Yes, when I first read, “A member of The Mother Church shall not haunt Mrs. Eddy’s drive when she goes out, continually stroll by her house, or make a summer resort near her for such a purpose” (p. 48), I thought, “She’s not here any more; why should we follow that?” But then I saw that it is really something we need to follow today, too. We’re not supposed to worship people, wherever they are, or whoever they are. Maybe it’s tempting for people to adore the personality of their practitioner, or their teacher, or someone else, and Mrs. Eddy really wanted us to learn that that’s not Christian Science, because we only worship God, not people.
Mrs. Eddy also wrote that the people who were called to work for her were required to stay for three years (see Manual, pp. 67–68), and I thought, “Is it possible that she really could demand them to stay there so long?” I thought it was very strict, but then I saw how much she had to accomplish for the Church and the movement, and it was not possible without having people there to help with this important work. So, for me it’s very clear that it was not a too-strict demand. It was something that was very beneficial for the Church, for her followers, and for all mankind.
And it’s really a requirement to show devotion to the Cause of Christian Science.
Yes, it is, and I think that one thing we all learn when we work for the Church is this devotion—that we are not doing something for ourselves, or for a few people in our Church, but it is all for this wonderful Cause of Christian Science, which is working for the salvation of all humanity.
And so today, over a hundred years after the version of the Manual that we’re using was first published, it’s still relevant. It’s not outdated, is it?
No, it’s not outdated, because all things Mrs. Eddy had put in there can be used today, too, and they are really a great help. She has protected the Church with the Manual, and the Manual continues to guide the Board of Directors, and all the members of The Mother Church. It’s divinely impelled, it cannot stop, and there’s power behind it, so it works even today. It’s such a wonderful, God-given knowledge that Mary Baker Eddy had, even in ways she was not trained in. And this was because it wasn’t a personal knowledge; it came from her humble receptivity to God. Then, she could direct her followers to fulfill the work she wanted them to do—and sometimes they helped by suggesting what should be in the By-Laws as well.
Do you have any final thoughts that you’d like to share with us?
I’m happy that I have found out how helpful the guidelines are, which Mary Baker Eddy gave us in the Manual, even for my daily activities. For example, there is the “Daily Prayer,” which is introduced with these words: “It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day …” And here is the prayer: “ ‘Thy kingdom come;’ let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!” (p. 41). This helps us to know that God’s kingdom is here every day for us, and that this kingdom is the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love governing each individual. And, this is a prayer for the whole world, not only for ourselves. Can there be a better inspiration for the day?
