Items of Interest
The Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, and the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society, have, for some years, issued literature in Braille for the blind. Some who do not read Braille for able to learn to read the Moon type, which is not so condensed and does not require so sensitive a touch. The Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy have recently issued in pamphlet form her sermon, "Christian Healing," in the Moon type, which has been increasing in use in the United States and abroad. It has been found that this is the first religious work to be produced in Moon type in the United States.
The pamphlet makes a volume of fifty-six pages, embossed on both sides of the page. The complete Moon alphabet is included at the beginning, thereby furnishing a chart from which the novice can learn this simple system of reading with the finger. The Moon type characters are formed of the letters, or parts of letters, of capitals in the English language, and are heavily embossed, so that their shapes are readily distinguished.
The Bible Notes, published weekly in the Christian Science Sentinel, are not intended for use in our church services; they are for private study. For those who care to examine them, they throw light on the Bible passages, and may be considered as in line with Mrs. Eddy's statement in Science and Health (p. 24): "Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness to give up human beliefs (establishedby hierarchies, and instigated sometimes by the worst passions of men), open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed out."
It is the King James Version of the Bible that is read in all our public services; and the punctuation in that version of the Bible should be recognized. Of course, one can read more understandingly who has gained from his study, including the Sentinel's Bible Notes if he desires, a better knowledge of the facts presented, as well as the true spiritual meaning they inculcate.
Christian Scientists who use phonographs are interested in records that reproduce Christian Science hymns, songs, or organ music. Especially do those who live in remote countries or districts, and who, at their services, have no other musical instruments than the phonograph, welcome such records. For instance, from India have come letters expressing the hope that more records will be available, since there they are used in some of the services. Other instances, too, are known of such recorded music being all that is available for Christian Science services in Alaska and in other remote places, where, perchance, the local audience sings with the soloist of The Mother Church to the accompaniment of its organ—recorded music, of course.
Several years ago the soloist of The Mother Church at that time made a double-faced record with the Columbia Phonograph Company, Inc., of New York City, consisting of two hymns by Mrs. Eddy from the 1910 edition of the Christian Science Hymnal:
Saw Ye My Saviour, No. 178.
O Gentle Presence, No. 197.
These records are listed in the current catalogue of the Columbia Phonograph Company, No. 50017D.
Some may not recall that in 1930 four double-faced records of music were made in the auditorium of The Mother Church, by its then organist and soloist. The records are R. C. A. Victor Records, and they include the following hymns taken from the Christian Science Hymnal (1910 edition):
Organ: Shephered, Show Me How to Go, by Mary Baker Eddy, No. 195.
Medley of Hymns:
1. I Look to Thee in Every Need, No. 176.
2. I Need Thee Every Hour, No. 182.
3. Come Ye Disconsolate, No. 241.
4. How Gentle God's Commands, No. 93.
Victor Catalogue for the above, No. 4171.
Additional music in this set of records includes:
Voice and Organ:
Oh, He Whom Jesus Loved Has Truly Spoken, No. 172. The Stranger of Galilee, by Morris, Solo.
Victor Catalogue No. 4172.
Saw Ye My Saviour, by Mary Baker Eddy, No. 178.
O Gentle Presence, by Mary Baker Eddy, No. 197.
Victor Catalogue No. 9629.
O'er Waiting Harpstirings of the Mind, by Mary Baker Eddy, Solo. Music by Root.
Love, by Mary Baker Eddy, Solo. Music by Root.
Victor Catalogue No. 9630.
The two last-named solos are available also from The Gramophone Company, Limited, of Sydney, Australia.
More recently, two additional records of four hymns were made under individual auspices, and are now available at shops of R.C.A. Victor dealers. They are from the revised edition of the Christian Science Hymnal, as follows:
Brood O'er Us with Thy Shelt'ring Wing, by Mary Baker Eddy, No. 30.
I Love to Tell the Story, No. 414.
Victor Catologue No. 4244.
O Dreamer, Leave Thy Dreams, No. 412.
O Gentle Presence, by Mary Baker Eddy, No. 208.
Victor Catalogue No. 4245. These records also are available from The Gramophone Company, Limited, of Sydney, Australia.
The following named records, all from the revised Christian Science Hymnal, were made in England, and are available from the Columbia Graphaphone Company, Ltd., London, and the Columbia Phonograph Company, Inc., of New York City:
From Sense to Soul, No. 64.
Jesus' Prayer, No. 157.
I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord, No. 136.
All Glory be to God Most High, No. 9.
Columbia Catalogue Numbers: U.S.A. G. B. 3004D, No. 64 DB 1354
2989D, No. 157 DB 1354
3004D, No. 136 DB 1355
2989D, No. 9 DB 1355
At the present time one who has acted as substitute soloist in The Mother Church is engaged with the Victor Company in making a few additional records of Christian Science hymns and solos, which will be available in the near future.
