I shall ever be grateful for the privilege of attending the Christian Science Sunday School from childhood up to the time I was inducted into the United States Army during World War II. At that time I learned to use wonderful truths, and they sustained me throughout the experience.
In recent years I have had the opportunity to prove the effectiveness of Christian Science in my work as music supervisor for an area in a large public school system. A portion of this area includes a section of the city that has had many racial problems. Two years ago my superintendent asked that I prepare a combined chorus made up of schools from this area to perform at an educational fair planned for the month of June. The motive for the fair was to raise the image of this particular community and show the good things happening there educationally.
I did much prayerful work to select the schools from this area which would participate, as well as the songs to be used. Everything seemed to be going along harmoniously. However, in early March as I began to visit each school to see how its chorus was progressing, I found that certain problems had to be met. First of all, there seemed to be a great feeling of apathy among the boys and girls. They just did not seem to care whether they learned the music or not. Secondly, because of this apathy they simply could not sing in two-part harmony, much less three-part. The repertoire chosen had included several two and three-part songs.
I began to be afraid that perhaps I had been overly ambitious and had selected too difficult music. However, I refuted both of these arguments through knowing that each and every spiritual individuality was a perfect expression of the one infinite Mind and that as such was reflecting the intelligence and ability of Mind. Also because of this reflection each individual included the qualities of intelligence and excellence.
It was truly wonderful to see how these simple truths changed the entire picture. Each week as I visited the schools, I found the children becoming more interested and wanting to learn. Furthermore, they began to discover that they could sing in two and three-part harmony. What a thrill it was to see their faces light up as they began to hear the wonderful harmony coming forth as a result of their efforts!
As the time drew nearer to the last combined rehearsals and final performance, Hymn No. 51 in the Christian Science Hymnal was particularly helpful. The first stanza reads:
Eternal Mind the Potter is,
And thought th' eternal clay:
The hand that fashions is divine,
His works pass not away.
Man is the noblest work of God,
His beauty, power and grace,
Immortal; perfect as his Mind
Reflected face to face.
As I took each statement and applied it to the situation, I found that everything began to unfold in its proper order. For example, from the line "The hand that fashions is divine" I reasoned that since the power and intelligence that was fashioning or unfolding this chorus was infinite Mind, the results or outcome had to manifest perfect expression, perfect intonation, perfect beauty and clarity of tone, and perfect diction.
Then taking the lines, also in the first verse,
Man is the noblest work of God,
His beauty, power and grace,
Immortal; perfect as his Mind
Reflected face to face,
I recognized that man is not identified by race, color, or home background. He is spiritual and reflects God's "beauty, power and grace." Every statement in each verse of this hymn was very helpful during this time.
The outcome of the final performance was far beyond my expectations. The children sang beautifully; and everyone present, including the head of the school system, was most complimentary. As they were expressing their thanks, I thought to myself, "Thank You, God, for without You none of this would have been possible."
I am very grateful for the help of a consecrated Christian Science practitioner and for the support of my wife during this time.
It is indeed a privilege to be a member of The Mother Church and to serve in various capacities in a branch church, as well as to have had class instruction from a dedicated teacher of Christian Science. My heart is filled with more gratitude each day to God, for Christ Jesus, our Master, and for Mrs. Eddy, who gave us this wonderful truth which meets our every need.
Tarzana, California
I would like to verify my husband's testimony. Indeed, holding to the truth that God is the one Mind has blessed our home in every way. I might say that I was doubtful that these children could sing selections of Bach and Schubert, but I was limiting God's unfoldment for His own expression. Many problems in that riot-torn area were solved harmoniously through the study and application of this great truth. Among these problems was concern for my husband's safety. The practitioner's faithful help and patience are much appreciated.
