The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratum

tendency of its fathers. Soon after its resuscitation at Herrnhut, in Saxony, in 1722, several Collections of Hymns were published by Count Zinzendorf, many of them being his own productions. These, however, do not rank as Hymn-books of the Church. The first work bearing this character and title appeared in 1735. It was frequently reprinted, and was followed by twelve appendixes, containing the outgrowth of that period of sentimental fanaticism which, for a few years, disfigured the history of the Renewed Brethren. Hence, these appendixes were gradually suppressed. An entirely new Hymn-book, moreover, was issued in London in two Parts, the first in 1753, and the second in 1755. This work, generally known as the "London Hymn-book,” contained more than three thousand hymns. An abridged edition appeared simultaneously with the original, and was commonly used in public worship. In 1778 a new Collection came out, under the supervision of Christian Gregor, a distinguished hymnologist of the Church. This Hymn-book is still in use. An abridgment of it appeared in the United States in 1848, and another in Germany in 1869.

All these works were issued in the German language, and contain many hymns of the Ancient Unitas Fratrum. Among the tunes, moreover, are more than thirty of its chorals. Of the other tunes, some are original; the rest, with the exception of a few popular melodies, are borrowed from the old Roman Catholic Church and the Churches of the Reformation.

The German Hymn-book, in its various editions, formed the basis for Collections of hymns, published at various times, in the English, French, Lettonian, Esthonian, Bohemian, Greenland, Esquimaux, Negro-English, Cherokee-Indian, Delaware-Indian, and Kaffre languages.

The first English Hymn-book of the Unitas Fratrum appeared in London, in 1742, and was entitled "A Collection of Hymns, with several translations from the Hymn-book of the Moravian Brethren." It was followed, in 1746, by a Second, and in 1749 by a Third Part. In 1754 it came out in a greatly enlarged form, bearing the following title: "A Collec

tion of Hymns of the Children of God in all ages. In two Parts. Designed chiefly for the use of the Congregations in union with the Brethren's Church." This work was edited chiefly by Bishop Gambold, on the plan of the German "London Hymn-book," and embraced eleven hundred and sixty-nine hymns, many of which were exceedingly poor translations from the German, and others objectionable on account of their extravagant phraseology. Hence, an abridgment was published, in 1769, entitled: "A Collection of Hymns, chiefly extracted from the larger Hymn-book of the Brethren's Congregations." This remained in use for twenty years, and was then superseded by the revised and greatly improved edition of 1789, called "A Collection of Hymns for the use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren." Of this work, two revised editions appeared: the one in 1801, reprinted in 1809; and the other, in 1826.

In 1835 the Provincial Synod of the British Province of the Unitas Fratrum unanimously requested James Montgomery a member of the Church-to subject the Hymnbook to a still further and more thorough revision. This he consented to do, and the result of his labors was laid before the Provincial Synod of 1847. That body appointed a committee to prepare a new edition, and this committee received full liberty from Montgomery to adopt, reject, or modify any of his emendations, and, at the same time, to make free use of his own compositions. Under such auspices appeared, in 1849, the "Liturgy and Hymns for the use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren, or Unitas Fratrum," which work is still used in Great Britain.

The first English Hymn-book of the Church printed in the United States came out in Philadelphia, in 1813, at the office of Conrad Zentler. Prior to that time, Hymn-books were imported from England. It was a reprint of the edition of 1801. The edition of 1826 was also reprinted in this country, and remained in use until 1851. In that year, according to a resolution adopted by the Provincial Synod of 1849, the first original Hymn-book of the American Province of the Unitas

Fratrum appeared. It was based upon the English edition of 1849, but differed from it in many respects.

The Liturgy and Hymns, herewith presented to the Church, are the result of a series of resolutions adopted by the Provincial Synods of 1864, 1867, 1868, 1870, and 1873. It has been the great aim of all those connected with this work, to bring the new Hymn-book up to the standard of modern hymnology, without destroying its Moravian character.

In accordance with synodical enactments, the Liturgy has been carefully revised, and the Liturgical Services for the Festivals of the Christian Church and other special occasions, ordered by the Synod of 1864, have been appended. These Services are all based upon such as have been in use, for many years, in the German Moravian Church.

In conclusion, we renew the pious wishes of our fathers as set forth in the Preface to every edition of the Hymn-book since 1789: "May all who use these hymns experience, at all times, the blessed effects of complying with the apostle Paul's injunction (Ephesians v, 18 and 19), 'Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.' Yea, may they anticipate, while here below, though in an humble and imperfect strain, the song of the blessed above, who, being redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, are standing before the throne, and singing in perfect harmony with the many angels round about it (Rev. v, 9-12, and vii, 9-14), 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing, for ever and ever. Amen!'"

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