Heavenly Harmony

MAY POMEROY GRAVES

On page 304 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Harmony in man is as beautiful as in music, and discord is unnatural, unreal." The work of a great orchestra has always been to me deeply impressive and uplifting. I was taken to concerts of this character when too young to analyze the effect of the music upon myself, but I always felt that it was some beautiful and holy influence, and sometimes in childish fancy I used to think that the music was a message from another world, a world wholly apart from material associations.

As I grew older I was taught to listen to the different themes and motives, so closely interwoven and yet so distinct, brought out first by one set of instruments and then by another, and to watch closely the harmonious construction of the whole from these various parts. After a while it was no longer a mysterious language, but one with as distinct a message as any words could have. It is sometimes said that only songs are helpful because of the beautiful words, but I feel sure that all those who truly listen will hear the message of harmony in instrumental music as well.

At a recent concert I was impressed with the fact that in such a perfect organization each member was necessarily so trained that he was or could be a soloist, and yet he was willing to subordinate personal achievement to the harmonious working out of the whole. Each man too might easily have his own conception of how a certain thing should be interpreted, but imagine for one moment the chaos resulting from independent action in such a case. Suppose, for instance, that sixty or seventy men were following the baton, and one should not approve the special interpretation being given a Beethoven symphony but insist upon giving expression to his own views: we can readily see that the harmonious concerted action of the others would be greatly marred, if not entirely lost. I have closely watched the men of a great orchestra subordinating personal opinion that the work of the whole might be perfect; playing conscientiously as it had been interpreted for them, even when they might not quite understand, but always following the conductor that they might not miss any fine points, and I have thought how many lessons the Christian Scientists might learn from such concerted action and subordination of self.

Our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, conducting us away from personal views and human opinions, has interpreted for us the way of life, beautifully, harmoniously, in accord with divine Principle, and yet are we not sometimes tempted by personal sense to think we know a better way? Are we always willing to keep our eyes on the baton, to subordinate self and work together in perfect accord, that the symphonies of divine Mind may be made clear to human consciousness? Should personal sense undertake to tell us that one was no longer willing to work quietly in a humble place with no "solo parts," we can remember that there is in Christian Science no place for self-aggrandizement, but an unceasing demand for purity of thought and unselfish devotion, even if it can only be expressed by regular church attendance and daily living. No matter how humble a position one may fill, if he is playing his part in loving obedience he is helping to bring out the spiritual harmony which will eventually need no mere words to interpret it.

In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 189) Mrs. Eddy says: "The silent prayers of our churches, resounding through the dim corridors of time, go forth in waves of sound, a diapason of heart-beats, vibrating from one pulpit to another and from one heart to another, till truth and love, commingling in one righteous prayer, shall encircle and cement the human race."

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