Desire to help bring out a more intelligent and hearty singing of hymns in a Christian Science Sunday school led the writer to give the subject of music some earnest thought in the light of Christian Science. A study of the numerous references to music and song in the Bible and in the writings of Mrs. Eddy brought the inspiration which lifted thought out of a limited, material preconception to discern a higher, spiritual viewpoint.

In Science and Health (p. 304) Mrs. Eddy writes : "To be master of chords and discords, the science of music must be understood. Left to the decisions of material sense, music is liable to be misapprehended and lost in confusion. Controlled by belief, instead of understanding, music is, must be, imperfectly expressed." She also says (p. 126), "All Science is divine. . . . Human belief has sought and interpreted in its own way the echo of Spirit, and so seems to have reversed it and repeated it materially; but the human mind never produced a real tone nor sent forth a positive sound."

Since God is the divine Principle of all that really exists, we perceive that Mind, God, is the source of every right idea, hence the origin of all real music. The melody of this music is the unceasing song of joy and praise which has been going forth ever since "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Its harmony is the expression of one infinite Mind governing its ideas in perfect accord, divine Love correlating its own ideas. Its rhythm is the harmonious, unlabored action of divine Mind expressed by man, the obedient idea, moving under divine direction. Music then does not concern just the few, but all, since music in the true sense is universal and should be universally expressed.

Recently, while hearing and studying some of the world's noblest music, the writer was impressed with the fact that the Christian Science Hymnal includes many tunes that would be legitimately named great. Far more than affording mere sensual pleasure or intellectual stimulus, such tunes, inseparable in our thought from the words with which they are associated, are playing a humble but mighty part in the salvation of the world today, accomplishing in their office something which is of positive value to mankind. It is the experience of almost every Christian Scientist that at times when for the moment confusion or doubt seems to rob him of the power of scientific, orderly thinking, one of these oft-sung melodies will sing its way again into consciousness, bringing to mind the words of some hymn, and as these healing thoughts quietly unfold themselves in time with the flow of the music, the clouds are quickly dispelled by the sunshine of praise and rejoicing. Thus inspiring songs, wherever associated with right ideas, become in their gentle ministry weapons "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

The Scriptures, which admonish us repeatedly to "sing," "rejoice," and "be glad," testify many times to this power of rejoicing to destroy the claim of a power apart from God. A striking example of this which comes readily to mind is the experience of Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah when an army of allied enemies came upon them. At first fear overcame them, until Jahaziel, a descendant of Asaph, who was the musician and leader of David's choir, remembered and declared the oft-proven goodness and power of God ; then confidence was restored, and with joy they went out to battle with only the weapon of song and praise. As they stood still before their enemies, singing their thanks to God for His care and protection, the alien armies fell upon each other and were utterly self-destroyed. It will be recalled, too, how the walls of Jericho fell before the Israelites when in obedience to divine direction they compassed the city, relying not upon their material weapons, but sounding their trumpets and shouting with one voice.

Joy in the realization of the power of divine Love to break the illusion of the senses, when expressed by Paul and Silas as they prayed and sang praises in prison at midnight, not only released them from bondage to error, but others as well, for the Bible tells us that "the foundations of the prison were shaken : and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Even the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and the light of Truth dawned upon him and "all that were in his house." And we read in conclusion that he "rejoiced, believing in God with all his house."

When with the advent of Jesus of Nazareth the Christ-idea appeared to human consciousness, it was received with song. Zacharias, whose tongue had been mute, burst into praise and prophecy when he recognized his son John as "the prophet of the Highest," the herald of the Christ-appearing. Mary's gratitude was expressed in her wonderful hymn of praise, magnifying God, and angels and shepherds followed with their thanksgiving. Prayer and thanksgiving became one to Jesus, who prayed, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." That he recognized the value of song in hours of trial is shown never more clearly than when, in the narrative of that last supper in the "upper room," as he endeavored to make his discipled understand that he must leave them, and prior to that night of struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, we read the simple words, "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Music and song played an important part in the service of the temple. David, who sought divine direction in all that pertained to this service, appointed certain priests—at one time four thousand—whose sole duty was to sing psalms and play upon instruments which he had had made for the continual praise of God in the temple. At the dedication, when all the musicians and singers were as one voice in thanksgiving to God, the glory of the Lord filled the house and fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering, and when the people perceived this manifestation of divine power they too joined in the song.

This is not without significance to us in our service of prayer and praise today. We all unite in prayer, our communion with God, and we should be equally united in our praise, our thanksgiving to God, for never in the history of the world has there been more cause for gratitude. Christian Science is singing the new song in the new tongue. We are told to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord," to "serve the Lord with gladness," to "come before his presence with singing," to "enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." Isaiah says, "Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise," and prophesies that when the Christ-idea comes to human consciousness it will give the "garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

The singing of hymns in the spirit of true devotion and in expression of our rejoicing in this new-found truth, is one of the most important parts of our church services and Sunday school exercises, and it will be fittingly safeguarded from interruption and intrusion in the degree to which we have come to realize that the vocal expression of our address to God is an inspiring form of prayer. The music in the Sunday school has been well called "the praise of innocence." The hymns thus learned by the pupils will prove a rich legacy in later times, and never can the habit of rejoicing always be acquired more surely than in childhood, when the thought is receptive and pure. Jesus once rebuked the priests by asking them, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" Children who learn thus early the true function of rejoicing, will probably not be heard in later years to say, "I love the hymns, but cannot sing them at our services, for I do not sing." And the adult Christian Scientist need not suffer long from this deprivation, for he has learned how to oppose every belief of limitation with the understanding of Truth which brings freedom and harmony.

As we learn to understand better and love more the source of all harmony, God, we will cease to utter discordant sounds of any nature, either in speech or song, but will find restored to us the true "echo of Spirit," no longer "reversed" by human belief. Music finds its springs in joy, and a song in the heart cannot help but be on the lips. Song then is always possible to the selfless thought. When mortal self-consciousness is put away we shall all sing the new song, leaving with God, its divine Principle, all concern for the musical effect.

Christian Science today is echoing the celestial strain of the angel voices, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earch peace, good will toward men." Through its beneficent activity the discords of sense are being hushed and the primeval harmony of Spirit is again heard of men. As Mrs. Eddy has said in Science and Health (p. 568), "A louder song, sweeter than has ever before reached high heaven, now rises clearer and nearer to the great heart of Christ; for the accuser is not there, and Love sends forth her primal and everlasting strain."