Editorial June 23, 1951 Issue

"PROSODY, THE SONG OF ANGELS"

Robert Ellis Key

After Mary Baker Eddy's discovery of Christian Science a change took place in her consciousness. This was inevitable because of the spiritual illumination which accompanied the discovery. Her outlook on life and learning was transformed from the material to the spiritual. In her book "Retrospection and Introspection" she writes of her experience with regard to learning as follows (p. 10): "Learning was so illumined, that grammar was eclipsed. Etymology was divine history, voicing the idea of God in man's origin and signification. Syntax was spiritual order and unity. Prosody, the song of angels, and no earthly or inglorious theme."

Prosody is that part of grammar treating with the laws of versification or metrical composition and is therefore especially associated with the art of poetry. The highest expression of language is to be found in poetical forms. Therefore a great poet may be honored as much and even more than a writer of beautiful prose.

Mrs. Eddy was a natural poet even before her discovery of Christian Science. She writes (ibid., p. 11): "From childhood I was a verse-maker. Poetry suited my emotions better than prose." We find dispersed among her writings a number of beautiful poems, seven of which have been set to music and are included in the Christian Science Hymnal.

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