Article December 23, 1922 Issue

Our Hymnal

RALPH W. COFFIN

Mrs. Eddy, in speaking of her work "Christ and Christmas," says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 372), "'Christ and Christmas' voices Christian Science through song and object-lesson." In reading this statement it came to the consciousness of a student how truly our Christian Science Hymnal, also, "voices Christian Science through song." Every number in our Hymnal voices spiritual truth; and with the perception of spiritual truth comes healing from discord. Even in the most ordinary human experience, we know a cheery song has a tendency to brighten every outlook, and causes one to see the "silver lining" to the seeming cloud of discouragement, or whatever the cloud may call itself. If this be true of the ordinary type of song, how much more should these chosen hymns, voicing spiritual facts, chase away all the claims of seeming inharmony.

The small edition of the Christian Science Hymnal for soldiers was a great blessing to the writer; and in many instances the truth written therein saved the day against error. Upon embarking for foreign service, while the submarine warfare was supposed to be at its worst, the hymn which begins, "In heav'nly love abiding," on page 168 of the Hymnal, drove out all fear; and many nights the student of Christian Science would go out on deck alone, and sing this song over and over, until peace, confidence, and perfect assurance of God's ever-presence were gained. Another time, when the danger of crossing the English Channel was voiced, almost immediately the words, "Make channels for the streams of love" (p. 89), echoed through his consciousness. This song brought a vision of the only real channels, that they are eternally filled with love, and that no danger could possibly lurk therein. Many times the writer was confronted with problems of such seemingly large proportions that even a start to get at the trouble by mental means seemed well-nigh impossible. Then sometimes the Hymnal was taken, and hymn after hymn was sung until light began to dawn in consciousness, leaving the student able to cope with the errors by the mental affirmation and denial which Christian Science teaches.

On Christmas Eve of 1919, in the reading rooms of the Christian Science War Relief Committee established in Nevers, France, the Christian Science workers gathered together with those who loved Christian Science; and for more than an hour they sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Christ, Truth. This was also done at the time of the signing of the Armistice and at the coming in of the New Year. No sense of loneliness could find a foothold when singing these hymns. Mrs. Eddy speaks of this comfort on page 234 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," when she says, "Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love—be it song, sermon, or Science—blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ's table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty."

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