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From REV. THOS. S. HASTINGS, D.D., Pastor of the West Pres. Church, New York City, April 23, 1873. "I have examined the Songs for the Sanctuary very carefully, and the more I have studied and used it, the more thoroughly I am persuaded that, on the whole, it is decidedly the best collection now before the public. The Church I serve, at my suggestion, and the cordial recommendation of the session, has recently adopted it for our services, giving it a marked and decided preference over all similar books now issued."

From REV. HOWARD CROSBY, D.D., Chancellor of the University of New York, and Pastor of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Nov. 26, 1872. "The Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church uses the Songs for the Sanctuary in both Church building and lecture-room. We selected the book after very careful examination of others, and are perfectly satisfied with our choice."

From REV. ROBERT R. BOOTH, D.D., University Place Presbyterian Church, New York, Nov. 1872. "We have used the Songs for the Sanctuary since 1866, first in the old Mercer Street Church, and now in the University Place Church. I can conscientiously say that it grows upon our affections the longer we use it. It holds its place by its own merit, and not by any effort or favor of mine. I learn that it has just been adopted also by our two mission flocks, and is awakening new interest in the service of praise among them. In my judgment, it is the best book of the kind in existence."

From REV. R. S. STORRS, D.D., Pastor of the Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, N. Y.

"It is not necessary for me to compare Songs for the Sanctuary with other books which aim to fulfill the same office, any further than to say that on the whole I preferred it at the outset to any other which I have seen, and that this preference has only become stronger, and has seemed to be more amply justified, the longer I have continued to use it."

From PROF. GEO. E. DAY, Yale College. "This book appears to me superior to any used in the churches."

From REV. Wм. IVES BUDINGTON, D.D., Clinton Ave. Congregational Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., May 1873.

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"Since January last our church have employed on the Lord's Day the new and improved edition together with the Psalter. Our expectations have been more than realized. The hymns constitute a choice Selection; judgment and good taste have been evinced in the musical adaptation. The Chants in the new edition are pointed for use, and the Psalter consists of a judicious selection from the Psalms and the prophecies of Isaiah, well arranged for responsive worship by minister and people."

From REV. A. H. CLAPP, D.D., Secretary American Home Missionary Society, N. Y., March 19, 1873. "Taking Hymns and Tunes together, it is by far the best book out yet, in my judgment, and in that of the ministers I hear speak of it."

From REV. W. HENRY MCGIFFERD, Parkersburgh, West Virginia, April 15, 1873.

"I have thoroughly examined the new edition of 'Songs for the Sanctuary,' and I have no hesitation in pronouncing it, in my judgment, not only a great improvement upon all former editions, but incomparably the best Hymn and Tune Book that has ever been published. Every one is delighted with it, and our only wonder is, not that 2000 churches have adopted it, but that any church can consent to do without it.

"The Psalter is a very great improvement, and if universally introduced would add much to the beauty and interest of our Sabbath services." From REV. JOHN N. WaddelL, Chancellor University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss., March 24, 1873. "We are very much pleased with it, indeed. We have seldom examined a work more satisfactory in all respects."

From REV. P. M. BARTLETT, D.D., President Maryville College, East Tenn., April 5, 1873.

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"We have sung some of the new tunes. They are very fine. * * Thus far I pronounce the music superior to that in the Ch. Hymn Book.' This last is a good book, but I am inclined to think a musician will prefer Dr. Robinson's Selection."

From REV. MYRON A. MUNSON, Moriah, New York, April 22, 1873.

"I have examined 'the Songs for the Sanctuary' with abounding gratification. Its lyrics are lyrical, and its music musical.

"The book which has heretofore held the first place in my esteem has now subsided to the second place. I am delighted with the music of Dr. Robinson's book." From REV. P. S. BOYD, Amesbury, Mass., Feb. 15, 1873.

"I regard it as the most perfect book for the Service of Song with which I am acquainted, and I have examined a large number of its rivals."

From REV. THOS. S. ROBIE, New Ipswich, New Hamp shire (whose church has just adopted the edition containing the Psalter), Feb'y 24, 1873.

"There is a good deal in a name. And while the word Sanctuary' has a richness of meaning which belongs to no other Hymn-book, the term 'Songs for the Sanctuary' has a fragrance and a melody in it appropriate to its sweet mission as a messenger of music in the House of God."

From REV. A. L. CHAPIN, D.D., President Beloit College, Wis., March 1, 1873.

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NEW EDITION.

1872.

VERDICT OF THE PRESS.

From the N. Y. Observer (Presb.) Nov. 14, 1872. "There is nothing so successful as success. And there is hardly a better test of merit of hymns or tunes, and perhaps we may say of hymns and tunes, than the approval of the Church. A song sings itself into the heart of the Christian public and becomes immortal as the soul. It is not altogether so with tunes, but in a measure it is true of them. Old hymns and old tunes that ring in the memories and devotions of the people are good hymns and good tunes. The songs compiled by Rev. Dr. Robinson, with tunes, and bearing the name of Songs for the Sanctuary, have had the impress of success stamped upon them in a most remarkable manner, showing that they meet the wants of the people and answer the great end of a hymn-book for divine worship. We do not know the number of Christian congregations that now use them, but we have reason to believe that more at this moment sing from them every Sabbath than from any other one book. Of the peculiar merits of the book that has commanded this wide popularity, we are not critically competent to speak. It has made its way without ecclesiastical power into thousands of places, and will continue to hold its own, being a hymn-book in which all who love Jerusalem above their chief joy will find songs and notes to bear their spirits to the skies.""

From the Congregationalist, Boston, Dec. 12, 1872. "If there is on the whole at the present time a more popular book of hymns and music for congregational singing in the house of God than Songs for the Sanctuary, we have to be informed of it, and by general acknowledgment its popularity is justly deserved. There may be other books which can contest the palm with it in special features, but in other points they are vulnerable as it is not; so that its mean of excellence may be left where the public judgment seems to be putting itabove that of any of its competitors. Nor is it difficult to account for the remarkable success to which a new edition, after the printing of over 200,000 copies of the first, is a striking testimonial. Its variety and richness as a collection of hymns, the almost uniform singableness of its tunes, its admirable arrangement of both hymns and tunes, its typographical beauty, and the convenience and shapeliness of its form, were sure to win the favor of the church-going community from the start. We know of no book of the kind which, edited by so severe and exacting a taste, yet so strongly appeals to the popular heart on every side. There are some books which have more hymns; others which have fewer truly classical tunes, and more that are of the camp-meeting type; others which show a greater array of indices and collateral matter; others which are smaller and less costly; but none that we know of which give greater satisfaction to the user. 'Doubtless man could make a better' hymn and tune book, but 'doubtless he never has,' and when he does we shall be glad to see it. The Songs for the Sanctuary is now in use in nearly 2,000 churches of different denominations, and this new edition, from a complete new set of electrotype plates, is certain to carry it into many congregations more. No church about to introduce a new singing-book for congregational use can afford to de-* cide on the change without a careful examination of the claims of this particular candidate."

From the Advance (Cong.), Chicago, Nov. 21, 1872. "If there is a better book of praise for our churches, we have not seen it."

From the Interior (Presb.), Chicago, Nov. 21, 1872. "It is a delightful companion of both public and private worship, set to sweet, tender, heart music." * Dec. 5, 1872: "The new edition is very beautiful."

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From the Independent (Cong.), Dec. 5, 1872. "It is hardly necessary to say a word in commendation of this excellent collection. * The chief fault that we can find in it, however, is that it is too big. Yet after long and familiar acquaintance with it, we should find it hard to pick out many hymns and tunes with which we should want to part. There is less prosaic theological rhyme in it than in most books of its class. Nearly all the hymns have some poetry in them, and nearly all the tunes are musical. On the whole, we know of no hymn and tune book which we like so well."

From the Evangelist (Presb.), N. Y., Nov. 14, 1872. "A. S. Barnes & Co. have just issued a new edition of Dr. Robinson's Songs for the Sanctuary, the most popular book of hymns and tunes ever published in this country. Its success has been quite marvellous, and all the more so that it has not been obtained by any tricks of popularity, such as attempts to manufacture public opinion, but simply by its own merits. *Any further notice is anticipated by Dr. Cuyler, in another column, who gives his hearty tribute to the merits and the success of this admirable collection."

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"A copy of this new issue, on fresh electrotype plates and fair paper, now lies before me.

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Although this hymn-book seemed well-nigh perfect before, yet several improvements have been made. *Brother Robinson is to be congratulated on the splendid success of a hymnologic collection which is already used in two thousand churches, and of which nearly a quarter of a million copies have been circulated. To him the whole company of lovers of sacred song owe a debt of honest gratitude for adapting many very dear hymns to eligible tunes."-Rev. T. L. CUYLER, D.D, in N. Y. Evangelist, Nov. 14, 1872.

From The O. S. Presbyterian, St. Louis, Nov 29, 1872.
"This is a collection of the standard old hymns and
old tunes, and of the choicest new hymns and new
tunes. It has stood the test of trial.
* The de-
mand for it is increasing. * ** * We prefer it de
cidedly."

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