Less than a year later, a Boston revision committee was formed in June 1928. Seven members formed the original committee, its composition changing along the way with resignations and additions:

• Margaret Murney Glenn (later Margaret Glenn Matters) (resigned March 19, 1929)
• Florence Middaugh
• Mary M. Neal
• Margaret S. Patton (resigned June 26, 1928)
• Florence Pray
• Claude E. Saunier (resigned May 2, 1929)
• Walter E. Young (resigned March 19, 1929)
• Maria Louise Baum (appointed July 12, 1928)
• Frances Thompson Hill (appointed September 13, 1928)
• E. Elizabeth Siedhoff (appointed March 27, 1929)

E. Norman Greenwood and James Helfenstein acted in an advisory capacity, as expert hymnologists to the Boston committee and later to the final revision committee.²

The Christian Science field was informed that the Hymnal was in the process of revision, and members were invited to submit material:

Original compositions by experienced writers, compositions of entirely new hymns,— words and music,—are desired, rather than recommendations for changes in the present Hymnal, a subject which has already received much attention. The work offered should be “of an appropriate religious character and of a recognized standard of musical excellence” (Manual, Article XIX, Sect.1). The poetry should be of a like standard of excellence…. All contributions should be in the hands of the Directors not later than June 1, 1930. It is expected that the revision committee’s work … will be completed and the Hymnal, it is hoped, ready for distribution early in 1932.³

Church members in the United States and abroad responded promptly and generously, contributing many inspired new hymn texts and tunes, as well as suitable hymns known and esteemed in their respective countries. These submissions played an essential role in forming a comprehensive and varied collection of materials to be considered for the new edition.

The London and Boston committees completed their work in July and August of 1930, respectively, and a final committee of three was appointed in September. It consisted of Margaret Glenn Matters, chair, Florence Pray from the American committee, and Violet Hay from the London committee. The three women met steadily over the next six months, receiving a monthly salary and completing their work in March 1931. In all, this committee and the two previous committees held a total of 275 meetings over four years. They reviewed more than 6,000 hymn submissions.⁴

Margaret Matters, c. 1940, courtesy of Bachrach Studios.

Violet Hay, n.d. P00930.

Florence Pray, 1923.

Articles in the Christian Science Sentinel kept people informed of the progress. The March 19, 1932, edition heralded the coming of “Love” and “Satisfied” in the new Hymnal; then seven texts by Eddy would be included.⁵ A month after the committee finished its work, The Christian Science Publishing Society alerted branch churches that the Hymnal would be available in early 1932.⁶

The Directors, praying and expecting that Christian Scientists would be receptive to the new volume, encouraged them to start learning the new hymns—not as a task but as a joyful process of elevating and strengthening their spirituality. Margaret Morrison, the author of hymns 179 and 371, eloquently expressed this same point in her Sentinel article “Song and Salvation”:

… Our revised Hymnal — the result of much consecrated love and devotion — will soon be given to the Field. With what gladness we give a willing welcome to this new evidence of Mind’s unfoldment … Mrs. Eddy has said, “The song of Christian Science is, ‘Work — work —work — watch and pray.’” According to this “song of Christian Science,” let us work and watch and pray that our new messenger of song — this beautiful development of good — be protected from the erroneous beliefs of the carnal mind, the notes of discord which would seek to annul its mission and destroy our joy in taking this revealed step of progress…. let us safeguard our new book of song … from the personal sense of preferences and disappointments, and from unwillingness to learn new measures of beauty and harmony. Let us welcome the opportunity of learning the hymns that for long have been dear to our brothers and sisters of other lands, seeing in them an expression of that great bond of love which unites us all in song and salvation.”⁷

The printing plates for the 640-page volume were prepared in Boston, with all the type set by hand. Kingsport Press of Kingsport, Tennessee, printed the initial order of 410,000 books. This was the largest known single order of hymnals ever placed with one firm. The work began on June 15, 1932, with five large presses running 20 hours a day. The more than 600 employees—nearly all of them descendants of early settlers in the Appalachian Mountains—found the printing of the 1932 Hymnal “one of the nicest jobs” they ever had. They often sang or hummed the hymns as they worked on this massive project. The printing was completed in approximately two months.⁸