In The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Individuals, as nations, unite harmoniously on the basis of justice, and this is accomplished when self is lost in Love—or God's own plan of salvation. 'To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly' is the standard of Christian Science. Human law is right only as it patterns the divine. Consolation and peace are based on the enlightened sense of God's government."My., p. 283;
"God's own plan of salvation" for mankind is continually unfolding. "God is working His purpose out,"Christian Science Hymnal, No. 82; as a hymn so aptly describes it. And the divine plan for the salvation of mankind and the orderly unfoldment of human progress is outlined in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. This progress starts with the individual—with you and me—and thence goes on to embrace our movement, our nation, the world. In obedience to God's directing Mrs. Eddy wrote the Church Manual. She realized that human law, to be right, must pattern the divine. Each one of the Manual's Rules and By-Laws was written for our protection and guidance. They express for all time to come our Leader's love for and untiring devotion to the Cause of Christian Science, a love and devotion that embraced all who would adhere to her teachings.
In order that the God-ordained purpose of the Church Manual may be fully demonstrated in the government of our Church and in the experience of individual Christian Scientists, its importance must be realized by every member of The Mother Church. We can benefit from the Rules and By-Laws of our Manual only as we understand and obey them, and such obedience is impossible without an understanding of its God-directed author, Mrs. Eddy.
There is an important article in our Manual that is entitled "Relation and Duties of Members to Pastor Emeritus" (Art. XXII). Who are the members referred to? You and I. The Pastor Emeritus is, of course, our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. As members of The Mother Church, we are her followers. And we can be her followers only as we acknowledge her as our Leader and then demonstrate our love for her through active and enlightened obedience to the By-Laws of the Manual, thus fulfilling our duties to God, to our Leader, and to the Church she founded. The relations of the members of The Mother Church to their Pastor Emeritus are therefore characterized by obedience and love. God's design for the Manual unfolded to Mrs. Eddy gradually, and in this process she had to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."II Cor. 10:5; Because we love our God-inspired Leader, we unhesitatingly obey these Rules and By-Laws. Thus we are actively expressing our willingness to let our Leader lead us.
The By-Laws in the article referred to above specify the conditions under which pupils would have an opportunity to serve their Leader. Now, we sometimes hear the argument voiced that these By-Laws are of no further concern to present and future students of Christian Science. But is this really the case? Mrs. Eddy writes, "Notwithstanding the sacrilegious moth of time, eternity awaits our Church Manual, which will maintain its rank as in the past, amid ministries aggressive and active, and will stand when those have passed to rest."My., p. 230; And in the next paragraph she adds: "Of this I am sure, that each Rule and By-law in this Manual will increase the spirituality of him who obeys it, invigorate his capacity to heal the sick, to comfort such as mourn, and to awaken the sinner."
One Christian Scientist who came to work at the headquarters of the Christian Science movement in Boston felt regret that it was no longer possible for him to be called to serve in our Leader's household under her personal supervision and guidance. However, as he continued to pray for a better understanding of the Manual provisions, the thought came to him that today Mrs. Eddy's household comprises The Mother Church and its branches, and the call to serve our Leader can come to us in various ways.
What did Mrs. Eddy expect of the workers in her household? Evidently, a prompt and obedient response to her call. She expected those whom she called to serve in her home to make a prompt decision, to come within ten days, and to serve for three consecutive years (see Art. XXII, Sect. 11). We may ask ourselves, Would I be prepared and willing to serve my Leader in this way if such a call was made on me today? Such a call could come to us only if those spiritual qualifications were found in us which Mrs. Eddy expected her workers to have, as well as the human skills that were needed.
In working for the Church our Leader established, in following her as she followed Christ, it is of the utmost importance that we understand her place in prophecy, her work as the author of our textbook and as interpreter of the Scriptures, her place as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and our relations and duties as members of The Mother Church to her as the Pastor Emeritus. Without this understanding we would not be in a position to convey her message correctly to our age and present the facts to those who do not as yet appreciate the great work she did for mankind. Let us be alert that we do not look upon the Rules and By-Laws of the Manual as outdated or chafe against them as restrictions. They are not restrictions at all, but the guidelines needed to keep us in the straight and narrow path of Truth and Love.
Christ Jesus once said, "Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."Matt. 5:18.
The Church Manual represents the revelation of God's eternal law of good as it is applied to mankind. Our work as members of The Mother Church is to live our gratitude to our Leader and Pastor Emeritus through properly appreciating the significance of each Manual provision for our own individual spiritual growth. Then the whole world will learn to appreciate the worth and work of the beloved Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and respond to the healing mission of The Mother Church.
