Article July 21, 1934 Issue

From Letters, Substantially as Published

A copy of your issue of October 11 has just come to my...

Miss Ellen Graham, Acting Committee on Publication for Lanarkshire, Scotland,

Coatbridge Express

A copy of your issue of October 11 has just come to my notice, in which a clergyman, speaking of "Women and the Ministry," says that the "Christian Scientists" have "female priests." Will you very kindly allow me space to correct this statement?

When Mrs. Eddy founded the Christian Science church in 1879, she herself became its first pastor, and the system of personal pastors was followed until after the church in Boston was reorganized in 1892, under the title of The First Church of Christ, Scientist. Then in 1895 a step of immense importance was taken when, acting, as always, under divine guidance, Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as Pastor over The Mother Church and all its branch churches and societies. Since that time this impersonal Pastor has continued "to preach for this Church and the world" (Church Manual, Art. XIV, Sect. 1). In each branch Church of Christ, Scientist, two members, preferably a man and a woman, who are also members of The Mother Church, are appointed or elected by their fellow members to conduct the church services and to serve as Readers of the Lesson-Sermon, which is composed of citations from the Bible and from Science and Health. Their term of office lasts not longer than three years. Thus in the Christian Science church there is no priestly class. As is written in Science and Health (p. 141): "In healing the sick and sinning, Jesus elaborated the fact that the healing effect followed the understanding of the divine Principle and of the Christspirit which governed the corporeal Jesus. For this Principle there is no dynasty, no ecclesiastical monopoly. Its only crowned head is immortal sovereignty. Its only priest is the spiritualized man. The Bible declares that all believers are made 'kings and priests unto God.'"

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