Publisher's Synopsis
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HYMNAL
With Five Hymns Written by Reverend Mary Baker Eddy
Preface to the 1910 Edition of the Hymnal
In presenting the 1910 edition of the Hymnal, the Committee does not claim that all the hymns therein are strictly scientific, as the selection had to be made very largely from the writings of authors who were unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science. Nevertheless, it is believed that it is representative of the best religious and poetic thought in hymnology, including a number of excellent compositions contributed by Christian Scientists. In the musical department an effort has been made to present a useful and varied collection of times, the purpose being to appeal to every lover of church music, of whatever taste or ability. The improvements introduced in the edition of 1898 (which was a comprehensive revision of the earlier one) have been retained, not the least of these being the printing of the words and syllables beneath the notes to which they are to be sung.
The present edition contains five hymns written by Mary Baker Eddy, and the hymns "I need Thee every hour," "I'm a pilgrim, and I'm a stranger," and "Eternity," which were originally included in the Hymnal in accordance with her wish. Also two of the tunes, which, in the earlier editions, had become very closely associated with her hymns "Shepherd, show me how to go" and "O'er waiting harpstrings of the mind," have been reinserted, at Mrs. Eddy's request.
The new book may be used in connection with former editions, as it is not so much a revision of the Hymnal, as it is an enlargement. A number of tunes that were rarely used have been replaced by others of exceptional merit, and some were removed because of complications in the copyright, but in most cases the hymns and tunes from 1 to 193 remain unchanged. A new tune has been composed for "Shepherd, show me how to go," by Mrs. Eddy, and thirty-six other hymns have been given additional settings, the new music having been selected, after careful consideration, from a list of several hundred tunes taken from the best English, German, and American sources. Ten new hymns have been set to the following tunes: "The Mother's Evening Prayer" by Mrs. Eddy to a tune called "Morecambe"; "The heavens declare the glory," "All power is given unto our Lord," "Our God is Love," and "O tender, loving Shepherd" all by Frederic W. Root to "St. Anselm" by Barnby, "Ein Feste Burg" by Martin Luther, "Varina" by George F. Root, and "Homeland" by Sir Arthur Sullivan, respectively; "He leadeth me" by J. H. Gilmore to "Aughton" by Bradbury; "We thank Thee, heavenly Father," from The Christian Science Journal, to a tune by Mendelssohn. . .
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