[ Transcription of the Preface, from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London.]
THIS collection of Hymns is strictly supplemental. It assumes the use, in Public Worship, of those classic hymns which, because of their great excellence, are found in almost every Hymnal ; and it merely furnishes, as additions to these, certain compositions, most of them of recent production, which for various reasons it may be desirable to include in worshipping use. This Supplement, therefore, has neither the completeness nor the proportions of an independent book of worship-song.
The remarkable development of Hymnology during the last few years - in the Romish and Anglican Churches especially, in which hitherto it has been neglected and disparaged - has produced innumerable writers of hymns, of various degrees of excellence. It is in these churches chiefly, strange to say, that both the poetry and the music of our church-song are just now threatened with a corruption as meretricious as that which, in former times, was charged upon Puritans and Methodists. But just as the latter could also boast great singers like Dr. Watts and Charles Wesley, with whose hymns no book of church-song can now dispense; so modern Romanists and Anglicans have contributed very beautiful and very precious additions to the worship of the church:-- first, by fine translations of old Church Hymns; and next, by original compositions of great fervour and excellence. Many of these have so rapidly and so deservedly become popular, that it is very generally felt to be desirable that they should be available for use in churches. It is, indeed, as impossible as it is undesirable, that the canon of church-song should be closed, so long as God bestows gifts of song upon His servants. From the unhappy polemics that now array churches in hostile parties, and that are specially associated with rival Hymnals, the Free Churches of Great Britain are happily exempt; no suspicion of sinister proclivities attaches to them, because they use hymns derived from Romish or Anglican sources. They are able, therefore, to introduce into their worship whatever, either in words or music, may contribute to their devoutness and joy. I have, consequently, felt at liberty to use whatever appeared to me intrinsically good, irrespective of the source whence it was derived; and thus have gladly furnished another illustration of the essential oneness, especially in acts of devotion, of all truly religious men.
More especially I have endeavoured to supply those classes of Hymns in which our ordinary Hymn Books seem to me most deficient and meagre. Hymns of Divine worship, such as are largely found in all our books, must ever be the staple of public praise; but Hymns of Christian life and sentiment are also essential to the nurture of religious feeling; and have their abundant justification in the Book of Psalms, especially in those Psalms which are most precious to devout hearts. The Sacramentarian developments of late years have supplied a great number of tender and devout Hymns for the Lord's Table, where, if anywhere, sanctified affection demands free expression. Of these I have freely availed myself; avoiding, I hope, every taint of the fatal heresy for which, chiefly, at the Reformation, English Christians forsook the Church of Rome.
Most of the Hymns in this collection are by modern writers, and are copyright. Permission to use them has in every practicable instance been asked; and the Authors, whose names are prefixed to their compositions, will, perhaps, permit me, in a general reference, to acknowledge the great and generous readiness with which it has been conceded.
Acknowledgements are also made to Mr J.T. HAYES, for permission to use Dr. Neale's "Hymns of the Eastern Church;" to the Rev. Sir H.W. BAKER, Bart., for permission to use Hymns from "Hymns Ancient and Modern;" to Messrs. HOULSTON and WRIGHT, for permission to use Hymns from "Hymns on the Holy Communion."
Permission to use Hymns from "The Chorale Book for England" has been purchased from Messrs. LONGMANS.
Those who are the best acquainted with our treasures of Hmnody will the most readily make allowance for the incontinence which has permitted the expansion of a modest purpose of thirty or forty Hymns to the magnitude of this book.
To secure the use of appropriate music, I have prefixed to each Hymn the name and number of a Tune in "The Congregational Psalmist." The more inseparably we can connect Hymn and Tune, the more effective both will be. I pray that these Hymns may inspire the holy hearts, and enrich the devout feelings of all who, whether in the Church or in the home, use them for the worship of Him to whose glory they are dedicated.
HENRY ALLON
Canonbury, January 20, 1868
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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 30/3/04)