Article July 25, 1931 Issue

Music in the Church

HELEN WOOD BAUMAN

Christian Scientists are everywhere rejoicing in the beauty and dignity of the church services which their Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has so wisely planned for them. In the simplicity and utility of their design all unnecessary form and operatic appeal have been omitted, and they impress the worshiper with a deep recognition of the spiritual activity which they symbolize.

Rarely is music employed in religious services with such careful appropriateness as in the services of the Christian Science church. An important musical function in these meetings, from the standpoint of spiritual accomplishment, is the singing of the hymns. Hearts unite in grateful praise, and the strength of spiritualized thought purifies and cleanses with the healing strain. Mrs. Eddy gave us our Hymnal, and surely intended that all should take part in the singing at our services. Each will do his share in improving congregational singing if he carefully accepts and follows tempos set by the organist and soloist, whether he agrees with their correctness or not, thus helping to preserve the musical as well as the spiritual unity which hymn singing is intended to exemplify.

A sincere effort on the part of those who believe themselves incapable of singing may develop latent ability. A student of Christian Science who seemed to have no comprehension of melody found that his efforts to unite in hymn singing developed an ability to recognize the different tunes. By understanding his relation to God, and through obedient effort to do his duty as a member of a Christian Science congregation, he gained a better sense of true inheritance than he had before experienced.

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