PREFACE.

EXPLANATORY.

THE object of this book is manifold :—

66

66

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;" awakened piety of the "Doxology."

EBEN TOURJÉE.

HENRY W. WARREN.

nor

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.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by

NELSON & PHILLIPS,

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

ACTION OF THE BOOK COMMITTEE.

Resolved, That we recommend the Book Agents to publish a small collection of hymns, mostly from our Hymn Book, for use in Sunday-schools and in Social Worship. W. H. HUNTER, President. Feb. 11, 1875. M. J. TALBOT, Secretary.

ACTION OF THE AGENTS.

In compliance with the above resolution of the Book Committee, we requested Rev. H. W. Warren, D.D., to select the hymns, and Eben Tourjée, Mus. Dr., to edit the musical department, of the accompanying work. NELSON & PHILLIPS.

INTRODUCTORY.

The Hymns in our Standard Hymn Book are not only doctrinal, but unusually expressive of strong devotional feelings, and of the fullest and richest spiritual experiences. They are as profitable for devotional reading as for private and public worship. This Collection could have no higher commendation than is furnished by the fact that the Hymns are mainly selected from our official Hymn Book; and I think, selected with good taste and judgment. It is of the very first importance that the children in our Sunday-schools should know the Hymns in common use in our public worship. This will prepare them to join in the singing in our social meetings, and to take part in the devotional services of the sanctuary. It will be an incentive to them to attend public worship, because they will be prepared to share in its exercises. These Hymns will furnish them with sentiments and spiritual songs that will be useful to them in hours of penitence, of temptation, of adversity, of religious joy, of closet devotion, and when dying. O! how different from those flippant, sentimental, semi-religious songs used in so many of our Sunday-schools! The importance of having the same hymns generally used at our family altars, in our Sunday-schools, and in our public congregations, cannot well be over estimated. This Collection, published by the Book Agents upon the recommendation of the Book Committee, by its cheapness, by the skill with which it has been compiled, and by its simple music, provides admirably for meeting this great desideratum, not by superseding our general Hymn Book, but by leading to its higher appreciation and more general usc.

DUP. EXCH. 23 JAN 190 S. JANES.

DREW THEOL SEM LIB

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.