A branch church may not have other church branches, nor shall it be organised with Executive Members.[1]
Communion time for the branch churches is fixed by the Manual.[2]
In laying its corner-stone, a branch church must not permit a "large gathering of people."[3]
The services of the branch churches are definitely prescribed; they are to consist of music, Mrs. Eddy's prayer, and oral readings from Science and Health and the Bible.
Mrs. Eddy may appoint or remove—without explanation—the Readers of the branch churches at any time.[4]
The branch churches may never have comments or remarks made by their Readers, either upon passages from Science and Health or from the Bible.[5]
The branch churches may have lectures only by lecturers whom Mrs. Eddy has appointed in the usual way—through the "vote" of her Board of Directors.[6] And the lecture must have passed censorship.[7]
After listening to such a lecture, the members of the branch churches are not permitted to give a reception or to meet for social intercourse. Mrs. Eddy tells them to "depart in quiet thought."[8] It seems probable that this by-law was devised for the spiritual good of the lecturer. If fêted or made much of after his discourse he might easily become puffed up with pride of place.
