Article November 13, 1954 Issue

"WISDOM, ECONOMY, AND BROTHERLY LOVE"

ETHEL MUNRO GOSS

As we study the By-Laws of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy in the light of the spiritual understanding of God and His law which Christian Science reveals, we become increasingly aware of Mrs. Eddy's wisdom in providing these By-Laws for the guidance of the members of The Mother Church. She says of the Manual (Art. XXXV, Sect. 1), "It stands alone, uniquely adapted to form the budding thought and hedge it about with divine Love." As we understand and lovingly obey each By-Law, we find that it acts as a law of protection, enforcing obedience to divine law, until "the budding thought" grows into spiritual maturity and becomes a law unto itself, a law written in the heart, governing human consciousness.

In the early days of the Christian Science movement, our Leader did not think that Christian Scientists would need any special laws to guide them in the paths of spiritual rectitude, but she soon saw the need of such laws in order to restrain mortal mind and to ensure obedience to the divine laws of Life and Truth and Love.

One By-Law, entitled "God's Requirement," reads thus: "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist." This By-Law (Sect. 5), which is part of Article XXIV, deals with the "Guardianship of Church Funds." It is important to note that the By-Law "God's Requirement" concerns "all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church;" so we realize that "wisdom, economy, and brotherly love" should characterize all our proceedings, whether in the personal realm or in church affairs.

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