Items of Interest March 19, 1932 Issue

Items of Interest

The revised Christian Science Hymnal will retain all of the hymns by Mrs. Eddy which are in the 1910 edition, and all of the musical settings of her hymns which appear there. Frequent use of our Leader's hymns leads to a desire and use for several musical settings to each of her poems, and new settings will be included in the revised Hymnal. Two additional poems by Mrs. Eddy, one entitled "Love" as found on pages 387 and 388 of "Miscellaneous Writings" and on pages 6 and 7 of her Poems, and the other "Satisfied," as found on page 79 of her Poems, are to be inserted in the revised Hymn Book, making seven poems by Mrs. Eddy.

In the revised Hymnal the music page is printed with the composer's name or initials directly under the title of the tune on the left-hand side of the page, while the author's name or initials are on the right-hand side of the page. The significance of the asterisk and other signs used in the book will be explained in the Preface. Thus, for instance, the sign of the obelisk, or dagger, after the hymn number indicates that alternative tunes to the same words are to be found on immediately preceding or following pages. Metronome marks are not provided for each hymn, but some general indications as to tempo are presented on special pages.

It is the intention of The Christian Science Board of Directors, when the revised Hymnal is available, to arrange that pupils and officers of The Mother Church Sunday School may on certain evenings use the original Mother Church edifice in which to practice the new hymns and become familiar with them, so that they may sing them with greater freedom. Similarly, following some of the Wednesday evening meetings in The Mother Church, announcement will be made that those of the congregation who wish to remain for half an hour to practice singing the new hymns are cordially invited to do so. Some branch churches and societies are planning to make some similar arrangement to promote the better singing of the new hymns. It is a well-known fact that hymn singing in Christian Science churches is joyous, responsive, and inspiring; in other words, it expresses the spontaneity and spiritual joy of the singers.

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