Christian Science Hymnal
|
|
The Christian Science Hymnal is a collection of hymns sanctioned for use in Christian Science worship services including Sunday services and Wednesday evening testimony meetings, as well as in occasional informal hymn sings. It includes both traditional Christian hymns, traditional hymns with minor adaptations better suiting Christian Science theology, and hymns unique to Christian Science, including seven poems by the denomination's founder Mary Baker Eddy set to various tunes: Christmas Morn, Love, Satisfied, Mother's Evening Prayer, Communion Hymn, and Feed My Sheep. The hymns I Need Thee Every Hour, I'm a Pilgrim, and I'm a Stranger, and Eternity were included at Eddy's specific request.
The first formal hymnal appeared in 1898; its form as the commonly red-covered 1910 edition lasted until the revision of 1932, somewhat expanded and with some modifications, the standard through the present day, typically in first blue, then brown cover, with an octagonal emboss of the Original Mother Church tower and Extension dome. Settings of the second and third poems above first appeared with the 1932 edition.
The hymns are primarily alphabetical by first line, some with different tune settings, and include note of author, tune composer, meter, and use by permission. 400 basic hymns appear (241 appeared in the 1910 edition), with a supplement of 29 in a separate appendix. Index listings include tunes alphabetically, tunes metrically, composers and sources, tempo indications, authors and sources, and first lines.
During the last part of the 20th century, exploratory work was undertaken into a third edition, but as the church experienced unusually intense dispute and distrust over the financial crisis resulting from the media expansion and publication of the highly controversial The Destiny of The Mother Church, and revision would likely have generated further rift, the idea was not pressed.