Items of Interest February 25, 1933 Issue

Items of Interest

For the benefit of superintendents in Christian Science Sunday Schools, it may be of interest to state that the revised Christian Science Hymnal includes one hundred and thirty-one tunes retained from the former edition. Presumably these tunes are familiar to the pupils in Christian Science Sunday Schools who may have difficulty in learning to sing some of the new hymns in the revised Hymnal. Yet among the new hymns there are not a few which are simple and easily singable, some of them having been selected with the Sunday school pupils particularly in thought. The following are mentioned as particularly usable in the Sunday school:

Neither Christian Science Sunday Schools nor Christian Science churches in their meetings and services need feel that every tune in the revised Hymnal is to be sung by them. The thought which led to the selection of so many tunes to certain hymns was that among them would be tunes which would please the various tastes and nationalities which are now represented in the Christian Science churches. It was not the thought that any one church need feel that it must use each of these tunes irrespective of its adaptability to the needs of its congregation. Let the membership learn to know and love these new tunes, particularly the more difficult ones, before they are frequently selected for the services. There is spiritual food within the covers of the Hymnal sufficient for years to come, and care in selection of suitable tunes for particular congregations and Sunday schools will avoid occasions when some are disappointed because they feel unable to sing the hymns. In some churches at every service familiar tunes are chosen in addition to one new tune.

Of course, the practice periods which are being held in The Mother Church and in many branch churches, following the Wednesday evening meetings, or on other evenings, are helping members and Sunday school pupils to familiarize themselves with unfamiliar tunes. One writes: "The practices have brought our group closer together. . . . Even though we seem a small group we mean to do justice to those who so faithfully worked on the Hymnal." A Christian Science Society writes of the Hymnal: "It is rich in verse and contains many treasures in hymnology, and is and will continue to be a source of healing and blessing. The inclusion of 'Love' and 'Satisfied,' poems by our beloved Leader, is also noted with grateful appreciation. We are grateful to all who have assisted in the compiling of this book, which marks a new era in the progress of our beloved Cause, and also to the Directors for having authorized the taking of this further step of progress." A church in the southern part of the United States writes: "It may interest you to know this check of was contributed by the children in our Sunday school and is the balance of a fund of which they have contributed for their own Hymnals. . . . The new Hymnal is a source of fresh inspiration and growth." A church in the Northwest writes, "We are getting acquainted with the new Hymnal and like it more as the acquaintance grows." The last-named sentiment reminds one of hymn number 140, the second verse of which reads:

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