The Church Thymnary A Collection of hymns and Tunes COMPILED BY EDWIN A. BEDELL AND JOHN B. CALVERT, D.D. NEW YORK MAYNARD, MERRILL, & CO. 1900 •B42 PREFACE IN sacred song the devout soul holds sweet communion with God. In public worship this spirit finds appropriate and beautiful expression "in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" through which the congregation may "offer the sacrifice of praise." The Psalms-"the first hymn-book for public worship"voiced in lofty and stately measure the deep longings and thanksgivings of God's ancient people, and it is those hymns and sacred songs which most nearly resemble them that have touched widely and deeply the Christian heart and have been accorded an enduring and exalted place in public worship. The aim in this book has been to bring together from the treasures of the whole Church "things new and old," the hymns and tunes which have been generally accepted as best promoting the spirit of worship. The work, in consequence, has been of slow growth. A smaller collection, prepared some years ago, proved by practical use the value of many of the hymns and tunes, and was received with so much favor that it led to the preparation of a larger and more general edition, which was also awarded very generous approval. Few hymns of real worth have been omitted from this edition, while many that are new and expressive of the larger and more complex life of the churches of to-day are here made available. The book is rich, full, and varied in hymns and tunes, and, while having some new features, it combines a large number of the old favorites with the latest and best hymns. An exalted standard throughout the work has been maintained. The subjects and the variety of the hymns and the order of arrangement are specially to be noted. The book is adapted to all the varied services of church life and work of to-day. The compilers desire to make acknowledgment to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin, & Co. for the use of the hymns of John Greenleaf Whittier and Oliver Wendell Holmes; to Charles Scribner's Sons for the use of No. 928 (from "Saxe Holm. Stories," Vol. I); to Denis Wortman, D.D., for the use of Nos. 702, 713, and 971 (the last from "Reliques of the Christ "); to U. C. Burnap, Richard Storrs Willis, George E. Oliver, Frederick W. Mills, and many others-authors, composers, and publishers-whose names appear on the pages of this book. The CHURCH HYMNARY is submitted to the churches with the earnest hope that the blessing of the Lord may inspire the worship in song of all His people in the Church militant, until they are permitted to join in the chorus of the redeemed in the Church triumphant. NEW YORK, May, 1900. EDWIN A. BEDELL. JOHN B. CALVERT. |