Article May 15, 1937 Issue

Music in Christian Science Churches

ARTIE K. PALMER

Music is valuable in the measure that it conveys a spiritual message to one. Bird songs heard at dawn of a summer's day are delightful, uplifting, and beneficial if they speak symbolically to one in praise of God's harmonious spiritual creation. If the chorus of bird song serves in this way to bring a spiritual message, it cannot fail to strengthen one's trust in God, and to help one meet the seeming manifestation of sense evidence with increased assurance of the power of ever-present good. Besides this, the individual voices of the birds, spontaneous and joyful, may speak to one of the joy and vivacity of God's kingdom, and thus help us to express in our daily lives a greater degree of joyous activity.

When asked why his church music was always so cheerful, Mozart replied: "I cannot make it otherwise. ... When I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit."

Mrs. Eddy provides in the Church Manual for music in the Christian Science church services. All of these services have a musical setting. To be sure, the central feature of the Sunday service is the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, which students of Christian Science prayerfully study during the week. The music, also, should help us to attain a measure of spiritual beauty. The prelude is not merely something to fill in the period during which the congregation is being seated; it has a value in the service. Mrs. Eddy required that it be "of an appropriate religious character and of a recognized standard of musical excellence" (Manual, Art. XIX, Sect. 1). The prelude, the offertory, and the postlude, which conform to this requirement, intrinsically bring us messages of higher things. No individual is so musically dull that he may not hear and appreciate the harmonies in good music. And does not this harmony bespeak God's benign influence?

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