Officers, Copyright, Numbers

Page 21 of the Manual is interesting.  It lists the Church Officers.  This is one page that actually changes, for it lists the officers at the date of printing; the officers who were appointed at Annual Meeting of The Mother Church in that year.

My first (the tatty one) Manual has the dates June 1960-June1961; and the newer one, June, 1978-June, 1979.  There are slits in this page for replacement sheets which give the officers for subsequent years.  I must check a new Manual to see if this is still done.  I also wonder how often the book is reprinted.  The books do not give date of printing; only dates of copyright – the latest being 1936.
Well, the slits are in the Manuals for sale in our Reading Room, though they are now young editions.  One has a replacement sheet sitting in place – though not in the slits.

Another interesting note: Both of my old copies of the Manual give the honorific (?) “Mrs.” before the Second Reader’s names.  Not so in the newer editions.  I think our present First Reader of The Mother Church is only the second woman to hold that position.

Now I should check about copyright….In the Christian Science Journal  of March, 2012, there is an interview with Kevin Ness, The Mother Church’s General Counsel.  Here are a couple of excerpts:
http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/2012/3/130-03/copyright-ethics

Copyright ethics

with contributions from Kevin Ness

From the March 2012 issue of The Christian Science Journal

Here are a couple of excerpts:

Is it true that Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is no longer under copyright? 

That is true. Generally under United States law, items first published before 1923 are in the “public domain,” which means that Mrs. Eddy’s original published writings in English are no longer under copyright. In the case of Science and Health, the copyright was extended beyond its normal duration by special legislation in 1971, but this legislation was later reversed by a court decision. However, most non-English translations of Science and Health and Mrs. Eddy’s other published writings still remain under copyright.

 

Some branches share their church services online or through a telephone conference. Do they need to concern themselves with copyright?

They definitely do! Although there is a specific exception in the US copyright law that allows live performance of music or other copyrighted works in a religious service without permission, it does not cover broadcasts, recordings, podcasts, Web transmissions, etc. If a branch is using technology to broadcast and share services beyond the live audience in the auditorium or Sunday School, it may need to seek permission from third parties or The Mother Church before using hymns, solos, and other music, the Bible Lesson, and any other copyrighted elements of the services. 

The whole article is very instructive.

A point about numbers: Mrs. Eddy has given the rule in the Manual that we shall not number the people.  However, she allowed the reprinting of articles from regional newspapers which spoke of being impressed with the 40,000 people who gathered for the dedication of the Extension of The Mother Church in June, 1906.  On page 48 of the Manual we have the by-laws which apply to these matters:

Numbering the People. (Art VIII. Sect. 28).  The Christian Scientists shall not report for publication the number of the members of The Mother Church, nor that of the branch churches.  According to the Scripture they shall turn away from personality and numbering the people.

Our Church Edifices.  Sect. 20.  The periodicals of our denomination do not publish descriptions of our church edifices, but they may quote from other periodicals or give incidental narratives.
How unique for a church not to number the people!  It seems to me that the main purpose of some churches is to do just that.  And our church’s turning away from personality.  Excellent practice!

Joyce Voysey