Services in the branch churches, as in the Mother Church, are limited to the Sunday morning and evening readings from the Bible and Science and Health, the Wednesday evening experience meetings, and to the communion service. (In the Mother Church this occurs but once a year, in the branch churches twice.) There is no baptismal service,[1] no marriage or burial service, and weddings and funerals are never conducted in any of the Christian Science churches.
Included in the Mother Church organisation are the Publication Committee, the Christian Science Publishing Society, the Board of Lectureship, the Board of Missionaries, and the Board of Education, all under Mrs. Eddy's personal control.
The manager of the Publication Committee, at present Mr. Alfred Farlow, is "elected" annually by the Board of Directors under Mrs. Eddy's instructions. His salary is to be not less than $5,000 a year. This Publication Committee is a press bureau, consisting of a manager with headquarters in Boston and of various branch committees throughout the field. It is the duty of a member of this committee, wherever he resides, to reply promptly through the press to any criticism of Christian Science or of Mrs. Eddy which may be made in his part of the country, and to insert in the newspapers of his territory as much matter favourable to Christian Science as they will print. In replying to criticism this bureau will, if necessary, pay the regular advertising rate for the publication of their statements. The members of this committee, after having written and published their articles in defence of Christian Science, are also
- ↑ When the Boston church was holding its services in Chickering Hall, Mrs. Eddy baptised a class of children. No water was used in the ceremony. This was the only baptismal service ever held in a Christian Science church.
