Article July 19, 1930 Issue

The Church Manual

LILY M. PARHAM

To the young student of Christian Science, the Manual of The Mother Church, by Mary Baker Eddy, may at first seem to be necessary and important only to those who are forming churches or holding positions in the church organization. But upon further investigation it will be seen that these Rules and By-Laws point to the divine truth upon which one should and can base one's living, and that they are applicable also to the affairs of everyday life. Indeed, many of headings alone, such, for example, as "Moral Obligations," "Daily Prayer," "Alertness to Duty," "Charity to All," "Obdience Required," serve as wise and helpful reminders for general conduct.

Careful study of the Manual shows that underlying all the general and specific instructions for the harmonious government of the Christian Science churches there is a spirit of the highest standard of honesty, integrity, wisdom, and loving-kindness, thus extending the Manual's usefulness far beyond the merely technical aspect of church organization and government.

One student found of great value in the solving of domestic problems Section 5 of Article XXIV, under the caption "God's Requirement." In the effort to express "wisdom, economy, and brotherly love" in the household and in dealing with those whom we call "servants," a higher standard of house management or housekeeping unfolded, and many useful lessons in order, organization, and the true economy were learned. Spotless cleanliness, elimination of waste, use of labor-saving devices, wise purchasing, as well as loving consideration for all the members of the household, were found to conform to God's requirement of order and harmony.

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