New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-24
THE HYMN-BOOK CONTROVERSY.

To The Edito, 0 The " Y TtibVHe
SIR: TIE srtlce in The TRIBUNE Of Saturday, en-
titled "Beecher w. Bacon, con;ains several inaccu'
races which in justice to ell paries sbozd be prompt
" corrected. As personal FIJI. nd Of Dir. Beeeher, OF
Mr.. Barnes bis publisher, cf the Rev. l. W Bacon
and the Rev. T. EDDY, snd of the iitors Of The Ner-
Esgasder s, think in possession Of all the facts in
the cese and have interest of any sort in either
Hymn Book and have lot haan in sny way party 10
the controversy about the comparative merits of the
two sm sure that I write without prejudice. Your
a tc!e ssys Mr.. Beecher " introduced a number OF
tunes and melodies in order to promote TIE good Old
fsshion Of copgrt gations singing IN churches. The
Rev L W. Bacon in his compilation, the Connect
/" cut Collection, introduced the same feature" This
implies that MIR. Beecher originated the plan of
coupling hymns and tunes upon the SEINE page, for
congregational singing, AID that Dir. Bacon initiated
him.
Now, The facts are these: In 1915, when Nr. l.. W.
Bacon was college youth, tbs " Connecticut Coec-
ton compiled by the Rev. Horace HoOrer,
ID. D., end the Rev. D. L. Daggett, ID. d.. under
the supervision OF the Rev. Drs. Day, Haws Tyler.
Fitch and Bacon, COMMITTEE appointed for this
Iurpose by the General Associeton of Connecticut
That book not any the mpilatou OF the
kew. l. w. Bacon, OF Litchfeld Connecticut. A
few years since Mr. Bacon whose tate both 10 poetry
and music s sdn able made sd-ptaon Of tuues to
selection of hymns from the Connecticut Election,
designed TO promote congregational singing This little
book was very favorabJ received. 1t Drtc,ded by
some time Mr. Beechers collection. Mr.. Beecher
merit, aud deserves Its extensive popularity
Subsequently 10 the appearance If the Plymouth Col
lection Mr. Bacon extended the al spts Of tunes 70
oil the hymns of the Connecticut c. lection thus I'd
ing the whole book to oongre sa:iousl singing This
done under the sanction of ths Associ atom
Of Connecticut WHO approved and accepted his abors.
TIE COX is theirs and tho copyright belongs not TO
Mr. Bacon, but TO the General Association.
Your Article says = He Mr.. Bacon gave his book,
through the medium of Tie Ner. nelorder of
which be bus eff is ODE Of the editors, pretty lsuda
. NJ r q 1T { 4
not ole OF the eoi,ors of The Netr Engiander. His
father, the Rev. Lspnard Ba on, ID. d IL one Of the
five gentlemen who are associated In conducting that
periodical. Mr.. Bacon did write for TIE Nsp-Ea-
glander dsparss ing criticism Of the Plymouth Col
cton; but this Ltore bis own adaptation OF tunes
n the lole Connect cut Collection made and the
reviewer cid not in any way puff bis own work. 1t
wes severe criticsm, ard perhaps not altogether
jut.; but was confined to Mr.. Boechers work
Some months dfitrrard, when Mr.. Bacon's lsbors
were concluded and Scceped by the General Associa
ten the Rev. Il Eddy OF Birmingham, CoLD., write
favorable reyi. of this DO with severe hits -
Mr. Beebers sbois in the ape field. Tne,e LAST miy
not have been called for or in good tssfe; bat Mr.
Eody wa not the gentleman hO assisted Hr Bacon
ID the preparation OF his ~ mn-b loE. Ia Common
With dozen OF Mr. BsNons iriends, Mr.. Eddy may
bave given him hints and suggestions but did not
asset him in any such 10 be eoejito Of the
book, and 20 drqualifed for revie wing It he only
gave his opinion to the adaptation OF certain tunes
10 C. rita By mns The final work and its resp0nsoL
iiy belong 10 Mr.. Bacon alone.
You cay: IAN impartial Observer nigh. suppose il
amounted 70 nearly the thing whether Mr.
EDDY Mr. Bacon wrote the article, seeing the fat
"ter lent bis columns TO it, snonynOu. publication"
New, es Mr. Bacon has no control Of The ken-Ez-
eidndtr, he hsd DO columns 20 lend. Besides be did
not Mr. Eddys Iotce OF bis book till it appeared
II PRINT That notice vas adopted by The associated
edlCIs OF The Ner Ehgland.r rs Laeirs, and DO Que
should have gone back thei 10 search the writer.
The haDsgresson of this obvious rule OF etiquette ia
Journalism has occesioned much Of the difficulty.
Mr.. Beecter. upon what be supposed good a1thor-
i'y psyfuily emerged hr. Bacon ~ith having paifsd
hs own book. Ii Mr. Bsc,n had d ms thi. II nj mt
It'll Be sques ticu wbethr M Deecher had ral %
know tie fact @. to il before the pubic d not
sey MS to censu,e him or his pubher but 20 give
IL l~ltant ssI@ct Of Lhe csse.
You ssy hat ID one shouli bIsme hE. Bseche for
the course he toek having, a. be supposed IN mos.
posi'lve proof a. u the oenuiy OF the sutnor.'
Ntst were ttese proofs a | understand the tscts
Nh Feeders pubhsher wrote . TWO geatemsn 10
New Maven, neither Of whom i connected nth TIE
VEG EEelanfsr. inqaIiing who wrote the Ievisw in
qu.scop-tst IL, the sse0zd review mentioned sDoys
Thee eerfemen Jepeo that they believed" or
"ve'e Hformeo' that Mr. Bseon wrote Il, Doe OF
these gel ten. got biz il form .tou III tbs way: He
tieppec INTO periodical depot in New-Hsyea SAD
IL qpirtd who ernte The review of Mr. Bseebers box
10 lAe Atr Engl7Eder. TIE proprietor Of the store
thinking a the prS review WI teo manlh, 500 AZ.
swerd, Mr.. Bacon wrote it." The nane " 'iss