PREFACE.

EXPLANATORY.

THE object of this book is manifold :—

1. To aid in giving unity to the Church, Social Meeting, and Sunday-School. The Sunday-school pupil should not find the Social and Church Singing an unknown realm. "Ariel," "Harwell," “Coronation," "Almost Persuaded," and a hundred other ringing or tender tunes, are as appropriate for the Sunday-school as for any other assembly. The glorious old hymns of the ages should vibrate through every department of the Church, and the vivid, vital hymns of faith that have been born of latter-day Pentecosts, that have thrilled camp-meetings, love-feasts, and prayermeetings, should spread both ways into Church and Sunday-school. Then the child and the oldest saint will feel at home in every department.

2. To put, at the lowest possible price, a large variety of sterling standard hymns, unaltered and unabridged, whose meaning is well understood and approved, within the reach of all.

3. To suggest a great variety of tunes, both old and new. Leaders are apt to fall into the habit of using a very limited number of tunes, to the great detriment of spirited singing. To print this great variety in our limits would be impossible. We have, therefore, given the melody, or a part of it where it is well known, of over two hundred tunes, and referred, for the convenience of the organist, to the page in the TRIBUTE OF PRAISE where the harmony is to be found. The hymn will usually be found in the "Tribute" associated with the first tune mentioned. The first number given refers in each case to the melody at the back part of the book.

We beg the leaders of song to sing ideas as well as sound. Talk briefly about a hymn before it is sung. For example, quote a passage of Scripture containing the same idea; quote an omitted verse of the hymn, as the second of Hymn 159:

"Thou art coming to a King:
Large petitions with thee bring:
For his grace and love are such,
Thou canst never ask too much."

Possibly for just once you might take the liberty of reversing the first two and last two lines of the last verse of Hymn 75, so closing in glory instead of the grave. Recall incidents, and thus fill old, familiar words with new power. A hint of what we wish is given in the specimen notes appended to a few of the hymns.

Also, express feelings as well as ideas. Take two tunes, if necessary, to express the different parts of one hymn. For example, the first double verse of No. 43 may be sung to "Windham" in E Minor, and the rest to "Duke Street" in E Major. See No. 322 for another example. Children catch the idea with surprising quickness. If a hymn is a prayer, as Hymn 335, the school may pray it with closed eyes and uplifted hands.

Do not be afraid to repeat a hymn and tune that is found to be full of grace and power. Awakened patriotism never tires of "Marching Along," "God Save the Queen," or "The Marseillaise; " nor awakened piety of the "Doxology.'

EBEN TOURJÉE.

HENRY W. WARREN.

NOTE.-A cornet, properly played, is a most admirable, inspiriting, and scriptural instrument to lead the singing of a multitude of voices. Important.-1. Where an organ is used, let the melody be given out on the great organ, with loud stops, and the harmony on the swell or choir organ.

2. At the conclusion of the prelude, let the full harmony be begun on the great organ.

3. The last note of each line should be sustained whenever the musical structure of the tunes will admit.

4. Interludes should not be played between the verses, but the pedal note may be continued.

5. Pipe organs are almost a necessity for effective singing.

6. Every voice should sing the melody.

7. Sing familiar tunes for worship. Learn new pieces at Praise meetings.

THE FIGURES REFER TO THE HYMNS.

HYMN S.

INTRODUCTORY.

1 (1)

C. M.

Northfield, 80: T.P. 55. Marlow, 76: T.P. 57.

a

My great Redeemer's praise; The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of his grace.

2 My gracious Master, and my God, Assist me to proclaim,—

To spread, through all the earth abroad, The honours of thy Name.

3 Jesus! the Name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease;

'Tis music in the sinner's ears,

'Tis life, and health, and peace.

4 He breaks the power of cancell'd sin,
He sets the pris'ner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avail'd for me.

5 He speaks, and, list'ning to his voice, New life the dead receive;

The mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

6 Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, Your loosen'd tongues employ ;

Ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

2 (2)

St. Thomas, 123: T.P. 120.
WAKE, and sing the song

S. M.

Wake, every heart and every tongue,
To praise the Saviour's Name.
2 Sing of his dying love;
Sing of his rising power;
Sing how he intercedes above
For those whose sins he bore.
3 Ye pilgrims, on the road
To Zion's city, sing;
Rejoice ye in the Lamb of God,—
In Christ, the' eternal King.
4 Soon shall we hear him say,-
Ye blessed children, come;
Soon will he call us hence away,
To our eternal home.

5 There shall each raptured tongue
His endless praise proclaim;
And sweeter voices tune the song
Of Moses and the Lamb.

3 (4)

Devizes, 65: T.P. 64.

C. M.
Peterboro', 84: T.P. 67.

OME, let us join our cheerful songs

angels

the

Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, But all their joys are one.

2 Worthy the Lamb that died, they cry, To be exalted thus:

Worthy the Lamb, our hearts reply,
For he was slain for us.

3 Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, forever thine.