"The song of Christian Science"

Ella W. Hoag

What song means to most men could scarcely have been portrayed more clearly than by a certain poet when he tells us that "the land of song" lies in the glorious world of God within us; while another speaks of song as "the speech of angels." It has been in song that men have been wont to express their deepest feelings, their highest aspirations. Songs have gone with them through trial and through victory, encouraging them when hope wavered, expressing their joy and gratitude when good has triumphed. It is therefore not strange that our beloved Leader should have spoken definitely of "the song of Christian Science."

On page 2 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, Mrs. Eddy wrote, "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work—work—work—watch and pray.'" Herein she presented the primal necessities for the demonstration of this Science; and it was surely natural she should have referred to them as a "song." Full well she knew that it was only as those necessities were held "in the land of song,"—in God's glorious world within us, within our present possibilities,—where His angels are ever present to guide, guard, encourage, strengthen, that the inspiration could be gained and maintained which would be sufficient to fulfill the deep demands of "the song of Christian Science."

Human belief has not been in the habit of calling work a song; and when the work has led to more work, and then to yet more, even though it may have been begun as a song, the singing has been apt to grow fainter and fainter, until it has often disappeared altogether, and in its place has come sad complaint. Weariness has resulted, and the work has either dragged hopelessly or ceased entirely. All this is because suppositional mortal mind is inherently lazy and is always crying out for inaction, which it calls rest. Christian Science, however, shows plainly that there is no possible satisfaction in a lack of activity. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 240) Mrs. Eddy tells us, "If at present content with idleness, we must become dissatisfied with it;" in the Church Manual (Art. XVII, Sect. 1) she says: "Amusement or idleness is weariness. Truth and Love rest the weary and heavy laden."

Indeed, every student of Christian Science discovers very early in his attempts to obey its teachings that he is wise if he always approaches such obedience from this standpoint of a song. To recognize that whatever the demonstration of these teachings may involve, whatever the effort which may be required, if he will always hold such effort as a veritable song, every struggle will be lightened, every point won will be glorified. When we have entered the service of God, as marked out in Christian Science, there is no time for the singing to stop. There is no time to stop working, watching, praying. And why should one seek such release, since to continue thus joyously to "work—work—work—watch and pray" is to enter into the very Holy of Holies. It is to work as God Himself works. Jesus declared, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." It is to prove one's self the reflection of divine Mind.

Jesus always presented work from the standpoint of a song. He called upon men who labored and were heavy laden—to whom work seemed toilsome and irksome—to come and learn of him, because, he said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." He knew and proved that to "work—work—work—watch and pray" in the service of God meant such joy and triumph that when contemplating it at one time he prayed for his disciples that the joy which he had gained through such activity might become theirs also.

Then for the Christian Scientist to realize what a marvelous privilege is his in fulfilling "the song of Christian Science" is for him to be able to rise above all sense of mental inaction; it is to prove that the divine Mind is superior to all the claims of mental apathy, egotism, animality; it is so to love to work and watch and pray that he shall each day and hour joyously use the arguments and affirmation of Truth, until the claims of inaction and evil shall have been proved without power, presence, or reality. Thus we find that "the song of Christian Science" may be translated into the joy of continual radiation—reflection—of good, wherein there is never weariness or burden, but only the complete satisfaction of the "well done" which comes from God-governed working, watching, praying.

Ella W. Hoag

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Among the Churches

February 16, 1924

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