When Mrs. Eddy saw that certain persons were expected and expecting to assume authority over the quality and thinking of church members, and over outlying churches of Christ, Scientist, she was compelled to write the "laws of limitation" known as the Church Manual.

Among the first essential rules of her by-laws was Mrs. Eddy's demand that, "This Church shall have no leader but its Pastor --- The Bible and Science and Health", --- no leader but one's individual interpretation of the divinely inspired Word of God.

Another essential requirement is that, "One member of this Church shall not be guided by any other."