The much-trenched Norway Street is now receiving perhaps its final trenching in connection with the building of the new Publishing House; it is being prepared to receive the new steam line connecting with the Edison Company's main line from their Kneeland Street plant; also the new conduit for electrical current to the substation located in the basement of the new Publishing House, where the hightension voltage of 13,800 will be reduced to usable voltage. Already the electrical apparatus for the substation is coming in and is being erected. Fans and motors and elevator machinery are arriving; and that which is to be located in the penthouse or fifth story, of Section "B" has been raised by derricks on the roof to its permanent position.

One walking around the Publishing House recently would see Clearway Street lined with limestone blocks, some of which were being raised to construct the parapet around the roof of Section "B"; steel beams bundled like giant matches in eights or tens raised by derricks to the upper stories of Section "A," as well as the fans and motors just mentioned, hoisted to the roof as easily as toys. The limestone facing of Section "B" is almost completed. As we write, the inscription fronting Norway Street opposite the Church Edifices is being placed and reads: "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalms LXVIII: 11."

As already stated in this column, two gangs of steel erectors are at work, and three or four gangs of riveters are riveting the steel on the upper floors. About ten days before this item reaches its readers it is expected that the steel in Section "A" will have reached the top or tenth — penthouse — story, and the flag will have been hoisted, upon its completion, in accordance with the custom of the erectors. Already the concrete floor in Section "A" is being constructed on the ground level, and the constructors expect to place, on an average, one concrete floor a week in this section. These floors are made up of terra cotta hollow tiles spaced a few inches apart. Between them is woven a network of reenforcing steel rods sufficient to bear the weight required. Over the tile and rods is poured the concrete, making a homogeneous structure.

The outer walls of Section "A" will be constructed of brick and mortar with a limestone face. Very soon the first, or granite, course of Section "A" will be laid after the completion of the facing of Section "B." The beauty of the finished building is now indicated by the outer appearance of Section "B," and Christian Scientists who visit Boston are greatly impressed by the fact that their Publishing House will complement The Mother Church edifice acceptably.

In 1889 Christian Scientists in Boston foresaw the need for a Christian Science Hymnal, and in The Christian Science Journal in July of that year the Editor invited recommendations concerning the best methods of compiling the Hymnal and requested contributions of loved hymns to be included in it. He mentioned the possibility of the early issuance of a small collection of hymns "for Sunday School and social use," which could likewise serve for church worship, and spoke of the necessity for action as "urgent." At that time the Sunday School included adults as well as juveniles, and the church services were in charge of a pastor instead of Readers. This collection was issued in the form of a sizable folded card containing the words of suitable and well-known hymns, together with notations as to the tunes to which they could be sung. Some of these words and tunes appeared in the first Christian Science Hymnal and have been retained in later revisions, including the 1932 edition. Before this card collection of hymns came into existence, the "Social Hymn and Tune Book" published by the American Unitarian Association, was in use by The Mother Church, although occasionally a hymn taken from another hymn book was sung. It is said by an early worker that the favorite hymns were those which gave courage and consolation and which showed the healing power of the Christ — those that indicated that the kingdom of heaven is here and now.

In July, 1890, the Publishing Committee, as they were called, who might be described as the predecessors of the present-day Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society, took active steps to have a committee compile a Hymnal, and on September 20, 1890, voted to compile a fourpage song sheet for temporary use. The preparation of the Hymnal took about two years, and it came out in 1892. At that time nearly all of the hymns were published with two sets of words and three tunes on opposite pages, to be used interchangeably. In 1898 the Hymnal was revised so that the words formerly printed separately at the bottom of the page were inserted between the bars of music, and alternate tunes were printed with the words repeated. This Hymnal in both editions was hailed with joy by the Christian Scientists. It meant much to them and to the church services. It contained some of the much-loved hymns written by Mrs. Eddy, to which others were afterwards added until the 1932 edition includes seven of her hymns, each with alternate tunes. In Mrs. Eddy's home hymn singing was an almost daily inspiration. Often our Leader herself delighted to participate with her household.

In 1909 the Directors of The Mother Church, who own the copyright, concluded that the Hymnal needed a thorough revision and enlarging, and a committee was then appointed to undertake the work. With that revision, as with the revision completed this year after four years' work, it can be said that the content more nearly approximates the ideal of the Christian Scientists who first compiled the Hymnal. In other words, today it is made up more fully of hymns expressed in terms of Christian Science, full of courage, inspiration, and healing. Four hundred years ago Martin Luther said of such song, "Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy; for it removes from the heart the weight of sorrow, and the fascination of evil thoughts."

On Sunday, September 3, 1932, the local congregation of The Mother Church found in the Hymnal racks at the morning service the new revised hymn books, and on the Wednesday following, after the Wednesday evening meeting, the congregation, at the invitation of the Directors, remained to devote about twenty minutes to the practice of new hymns. A large gathering joyously participated in the singing, and found, as the Editor of the Journal of 1889 contemplated, a Hymnal which will prove a particular blessing in "social use" among Christian Scientists, bringing, as it does, healing in its wings.