Song Service

VALDA HENDERSON BRUMAGIN

With the advent of the revised Christian Science Hymnal for the use of The Mother Church and branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, comes the opportunity to participate in the joyous and uplifting song practies which are being held in many of the churches.

How better can students of Christian Science serve than by carrying a song in their hearts at all times? It has been proved by many that the expression of song either mentally or audibly, persisted in, will rout the suggestions of "the evil one," or "one evil," as Mrs. Eddy puts it on page 16 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." How long can one be melancholy or discordant regarding any seeming material condition if one turns to joyous song? Under this influence how quickly will hatred vanish, also its copartners, jealousy, envy, resentment, and revenge!

Singing holds no small place in our church services. In the Manual, where Mrs. Eddy gives the order of services in The Mother Church and branch churches (pp. 120-127), she has provided for two hymns in the Sunday school, three hymns and a solo in the Sunday services, and three hymns in the Wednesday evening services. All present may participate in the singing of the hymns. Should one seem weighed down with a problem, or closed in by walls of sorrow, lack, or remorse, he has a glorious opportunity to drop the problem by lifting up his thought in song. Many times when one is successful in replacing the problem with song and praise to God, and then looks back to it, he finds that it is solved.

The writer is reminded of a healing which was consummated through song service in her own experience. A physical condition of inharmony seemed stubborn and for several days had resisted the loving efforts and work of a practitioner. one day the practitioner said that the work was finished and that she would do no more work on the problem. The student exclaimed, "But what shall I do?" feeling very much as one unable to swim would if thrown overboard into the sea. The practitioner calmly and lovingly answered, "Go home and rejoice!" Feeling much discouraged, friendless, and alone, but willing to be obedient, the student followed this admonition, and sang whenever the pain or error would try to manifest itself. After several days of persistent rejoicing the error vanished, she knew not exactly when. This proved to her that when joy and song fill consciousness, pain suffering have no place there. In fact, these are never real or present even when to material sense they seem to be. The earth never was flat even while many were believing that it was and the evidence of the material senses seemed to substantiate the belief of its flatness. So our reason for rejoicing is that error, whatever it is calling itself, is not real, and never was, and never can be, no matter what is thought or believed about it. In the case just cited, the truth declared by the practitioner was true in spite of what the material senses said to the contrary; but it was for the student to act as though she believed the truth and not the error; and the gaining of that right mental attitude completed the demonstration.

It is not always convenient to sing aloud or to gather with other Christian Scientists in song practice; but the joy and song in our hearts—the song of gratitude which replaces ingratitude and discontent—is a service known to God, divine Mind, whence comes all joy and gratitude, blessing and freeing, uplifting and strengthening all. Even though to material sense He seems absent, God is ever present and is continually expressing Himself through man.

Those who have had the privilege of attending the song services held in the Sanatoriums of The Christian Science Benevolent Association realize that the time spent in song fits one for a profitable evening of study, or for friendly and helpful conversation with others. Who could emerge from a song service such as these with enmity or sorrow in his heart? Those who have participated in these Sanatorium song services are grateful that Mrs. Eddy was farsighted enough to vision such a place of refuge, and that there were and are those spiritually-minded enough to catch this vision and carry out her plans in establishing and maintaining these Sanatoriums. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 354) she says:

"Give us not only angels' songs,
But Science vast, to which belongs
The tongue of angels
And the song of songs."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit