Editorial October 11, 1930 Issue

Democratic Government

Clifford P. Smith

The discovery of Christian Science had to be followed by the founding thereof. This religion had to have a church of its own for its propagation and protection. Mrs. Eddy was, however, cautious about forming a new institution and about choosing or devising its characteristics. Yet ultimately, after adopting forms and modes which were provisional or impermanent, she devised and founded the now existing Church of Christ, Scientist, as being uniquely adapted to the requirements of Christian Science. In effect, also, she gave this organization a constitution which is final and permanent. See Article XXXV of the Church Manual. For all of these acts, Mrs. Eddy had and has the consent and support of her followers; and in all of this work, as all Christian Scientists are convinced, she acted under divine guidance.

Among the characteristic features of the Church of Christ, Scientist, are its two forms of democracy—essential and distinct. The government of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, is "essentially democratic" in that Christian Science government "is administered by the common consent of the governed, wherein and whereby man governed by his creator is self-governed." The government of its branches is required to be "distinctly democratic." These quoted words were used by Mrs. Eddy (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 247; Church Manual, Art. XXIII, Sect. 10).

The original democracy was government by the people in city-states of ancient Greece, which were so compact and small that the adult male citizens could meet and exercise directly much of the power to govern which resided in themselves. In the political science of to-day, the essentials of democracy are government in accordance with a constitution or plan to which the people have assented, and equality among all of the people who have political rights, whether men only or men and women. The government of The Mother Church is democratic in both of these respects. The members have assented to its plan of government, and all of them have equal rights as such. Thus, they have equal rights to prepare for its ministry or service, and equal rights to be considered, according to their evident or known fitness, for listing in its ministry or for employment or appointment in its service.

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October 11, 1930
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