Description of the rituals and beliefs of the Church of Christ, Scientist, from it's founder, who devoted the remaining years of her life to the establishment of her church, authoring its governing bylaws, Manual of the Mother Church.
This was an assignment for a religious study group. Not the most exciting reading, but quite interesting to see how this small volume (just 100+ pages) has sustained a church and religious movement for over a century. Both church structure and guidance for daily living are included, most notably the Rule for Motives and Acts, which guides Christian Scientists to charitable and moral dealings with each other and the world.
I read this book just before I joined the Mother Church, back in 1983. It's really an amazingly concise little group of by-laws, considering it governs a worldwide organization. And they're really quite inspiring. That's more than I can say for any other rules or by-laws I've ever read!