On September 23, 1892, the twelve students Mrs. Eddy had chosen to establish the Mother Church met quietly in Boston and elected as First Members twenty other students. All were approved by Mrs. Eddy. In addition… the minutes of this historic meeting contain the Tenets of the Church:Tenets to be subscribed to by those uniting with "The First Church of Christ, Scientist” in Boston, were read… The Tenets were adopted, and ordered to be written in the book containing the records of this Church.
(Here is the way they originally looked):
1. As adherents of Truth, we take the
Scriptures for our guide to eternal Life.
2. We acknowledge and adore one Supreme
God.
We acknowledge His Son, the Holy Ghost, and man in His image and likeness. We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin, in the destruction of sin, and His present and future punishment of "whatsoever worketh an abomination or maketh a lie.” And the atonement of Christ, as the efficacy of Truth and love. And the way of Salvation as demonstrated by Jesus casting out evils, healing the sick and raising the dead -resurrecting a dead faith to seize the great possibilities and living energies of Divine Life.
3. We solemnly promise to strive, watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. To love the brethren, and, up to our highest capacity to be meek, merciful, and just, and live peaceably with all men.
Beasley, Norman, Mary Baker Eddy, pgs. 177-178
The Church Tenets made their appearance in “Recapitulation” (81st Edition of Science and Health, 1894). The Tenets date from the formation of the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879.
WHERE ARE THE SIX TENETS?
Actually they are found in three places:
1. The Manual of The Mother Church pages 15 and 16 (Right after the Table of Contents!)
2. The Mother Church Membership Application (You are agreeing to these Tenets when you join The Mother Church)
3. The Textbook page 498: it’s the last question on the last page of the Science and Health section of the textbook, right before the Key to the Scriptures Section.
WHAT ARE THE SIX PROMISES IN THE SIXTH TENET? AND REMEMBER THE COMMA!
1. WATCH, (Comma means pause)
2. PRAY FOR THAT MIND TO BE IN US WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS
3. DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO US
4. BE MERCIFUL
5. BE JUST
6. BE PURE