[ Transcription of the Title Page and Preface, from a copy in the British Library. No editor's name on the Title page, but the Preface is signed "W.Garrett Horder". ]
[ Title page ]
[ Preface ]
During recent years a great change has come over the taste of the Church in relation to Hymns, partly through the spread of more spiritual views of Christian Truth, and partly from a growing dislike to exaggerated utterances, which are felt to be out of harmony with the actual beliefs, experiences and desires of worshippers. This change of feeling has rendered a considerable number of the hymns in our present books almost obsolete, so that they are rarely, if ever, used, and has also led to a greater appreciation and use of hymns of a more spiritual character and in deeper harmony with the actual experiences of the Christian life.
Thus a great need has arisen and a loud call been heard for a book which should combine in one, all the older hymns that have gained, and still hold, the affection of Christian hearts, together with the choicest productions of the present age, than which no previous one has been more rich in hymn writers of the highest type, for in recent days the mantle of Watts and Wesley has fallen on many a gifted mind, touched, in not a few cases, to finer issues by the influence of modern culture. And in this union of the noblest of the older hymns with those of the present age the Church will find the fittest and fullest expression for her devotional feeling. In these pages will be found hymns by members of almost every section of the Christian Church (nearly three hymndred and fifty authors and translators are represented in its pages); indeed, it will serve to illustrate the real spiritual unity of all Christians, and will show how great a part hymns may fill in enabling men to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." None have been admitted simply because they were written by those connected with that portion of the Church to which the Editor belongs, nor have any been excluded because they were produced by those from whose theological or ecclesiastical position the Editor differs. The one aim has been to secure hymns fitted to express, and so to deepen, the devotional feeling of the worshipper.
The Editor has therefore deemed it needful to fix a higher standard than has been usual in the majority of hymn-books, and so has rejected hymns that were jejune, common-place, or without poetic inspiration, and has restricted his selection to such hymns as join the fervour of religious emotion, the ring of poetic expression, with the chastened sobriety of scriptural truth. He deems that a good hymn should have a unity of thought, feeling, and expression, and that it is far enough removed from the mere rhyming of common-places so often accepted in its place. With the rich storehouses of sacred song open to him, there was no need to admit inferior compositions. He has endeavoured to make this a collection of real hymns, and for the most part, has excluded such as have no direct reference to the Divine Being, and are of a homiletic and hortatory character, since these are, in reality, only sermons in disguise, and as a rule, unsuitable for the public worshiop of the Church.
As far as possible, the Editor has adhered to the original texts of the hymns included. It is not possible to do so in every case; and although some claim to have done so, there is no hymn-book in existence for which this claim can be substantiated. Changes of taste, of theological stand-point, to say nothing of the exigencies of correct metre, make it imperative on an editor who provides a book for actual use in the Church to make alterations. But these have in every case been kept within the very narrowest limits, and even for the slightest alterations the Editor is prepared to give a distinct, and as he believes, a sufficient reason. His method has been far enough removed from that ruthless and senseless disregard of the integrity of hymns which has been too common, since he has only altered under dire necessity, and where he believes the writers themselves, if they had lived in our day, would have written differently. In the case of hymns by living authors, he has either asked permission for such alterations or persuaded the authors to make them for themselves. In many cases they have welcomed and adopted his suggestions. It may indeed be said of this collection that in the great majority of instances in which the text differs from that in previous use, it is either a recurrence to the original one, or an improved text sanctioned by the authors.
Attention is directed to some special features of the book:-
(1) There is a growing tendency to open and close the worship of the sanctuary with hymns that are distinctively suited to such a purpose or have direct reference to the morning or evening of the Sabbath. There is also observable a more frequent use of hymns suitable to the various seasons of the year. To meet both these needs a large number of hymns, many of them of great beauty, have been inserted.
(2) In many Churches it is happily now the custom to recognise the presence of children in the congregation, and to introduce into each service a hymn specially adapted for them. For this, ample provision is made in the section "Services for the Young," which contain some of the noblest hymns of this class.
(3) From every service of the Church many are detained by reason of sickness, trouble, age, or family cares. These should not be, and have not been, forgotten; and for them, as well as for use in the home, a considerable number of hymns have been provided under the title of "The Home Sanctuary." *
* This section may be obtained separately for use in the home or for distribution to the sick and suffering. The hymns in this section are regarded by the Editor as most adapteds for private use; but if any of them should be deemed suitable for public worship, they are available for that purpose.
(4) Psalms and passages of Scripture are now chanted in most Churches, and, therefore, to obviate the inconvenience of more than one book, all of the Book of Psalms that is suitable for Christian worship, together with other passages of Scripture, have been appended to the book, and carefully pointed for chanting. *
* The Hymn-book may be obtained without the Psalms. The Psalms are also published as a separate book.
The words of anthems have not been included, since, without the music, they are of little service to the worshipper, and on account of their repetitions have a very unpleasant, and even distracting, look on the printed page. It is easy to refer those who do not use music, to the Scripture passages themselves.
(5) In order to secure unity in singing between the choir and congregation, very simple expression marks have been introduced, which will prove, it is hoped, a guide even to those who are not musical.
Much consideration has been given to the classification of the hymns, and it is believed that the method adopted, together with the carefully-prepared indices, will render it exceedingly easy to find hymns suitable to any subject or occasion.
Special attention is directed to the section "The Christian Life," with its manifold divisions. In it will be found hymns adapted to every conceivable feeling of the Christian soul, especially to those peculiarly characteristic of our own age; indeed, the Editor entertains the hope that this will be found a feature of the book greatly helpful to a large and increasing number of worshippers.
The pleasant duty remains of thanking with all possible heartiness the authors of hymns who are still living, for the kind permission to use their hymns. Their names are appended to their hymns, and to them all the Editor tenders his most grateful acknowledgments.
[ Copyright and other acknowledgments follow . . . ]
The Editor now offers his work for the service of the Churches, assured that it provides hymns which are fitted to express, more fully than any collection with which he is acquainted, the devout feelings of Christian hearts in this eventful age, and with the earnest desire, that it may lift the worship of many a sanctuary and home to a nobler and more spiritual level. He is not without hope, that it may not only prove a help to the public worship of the Church, but also that it may become a devotional manual, which will be greatly prized, in many an hour of quiet thought, and in many a season, when through sorrow or affliction, the privilege of united worship is denied. Should this hope be realized, the Editor will reap the reward to which he has looked forward, during the years of anxious thought and labour given to his responsible, but pleasant task.
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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 11/12/03)