Article May 17, 1982 Issue

The Church Manual: government by law

ARTHUR P. WUTH

Because of the spiritual sensitivity and commitment of one woman, Mary Baker Eddy, the teachings of Christian Science remain available today for the healing and regeneration of mankind. Receptivity and consecrated prayer brought the revelation that enabled her to discern not only the spiritual depth and practical application of Christ Jesus' teachings, but also the procedure by which their purity could be preserved.

Several events during the early years of the movement convinced Mrs. Eddy of the need for safeguarding the revelation from attempts to identify it with human personality. In this Mrs. Eddy was following the example of Christ Jesus. The Master's provocative response when a man called him "good"—as well as his absolute reliance on the Father who did the works^{See Matt. 19:16, 17 and John 5:30; 14:10 .}—points to the wisdom of turning attention away from human personality to divine Truth. The endurance of Jesus' teachings through the centuries confirms the rightness of this radical stand.

Prayerfully seeking a higher basis for Church government than person, Mrs. Eddy discerned the need for rules or laws, and acted accordingly. In the course of an interview granted to a correspondent from the New York Herald she described briefly the unfolding Church organization and then stated, "'Rules were necessary, and I made a code of by-laws, but each one was the fruit of experience and the result of prayer.'"^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 343.}