The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-08
A NEW BOOK oFDayorIoN.

One OF the most noticeable of the religious
phenomena Of our time is the tendency, dis
cernible in almost all denominations, to de-
eided reaction in the general sentiment with
regard to forms and ceremonies. 1t is a truth
which is beginning to be widely felt, that the
Puritan fathers of the church, in their honest
disgust at the misuse Of religious ceremonials.
cast from them much which, rightly used, may
minister to the souls life. An evidence O.
this change Of sentiment win be found in the
great number of churches which employ, as
part of their Sunday service, some kind of
ritual The preparation of suitable book
for this purpose is task of much difficulty.
La many of those hitherto prepared, especial
y such as have been designed for use among
the more liberal denominations, we find that
in the effort to avoid whatever sayored of the
harsh and narrow creeds which have been al
lowed to spring up in the Church, they have
rejected also much which is both grand and
universally appropriate. Intended to be liber-
al, they become vague, and lose their direct
ness, and power to move the heart, which is
often far more deeply stirred by false creed
nobly stated than by a sublime truth clothed
in weak and inadequate language Tha. it is,
however, quite possible to avoid both these
difficulties, we have ever been convinced; and
in a beautiful volume entitled prayers and
Hymns," just issued by the New England Uni
vcrsalist Publishing House, Boston, we are
happy to find evidence that it is conviction
well founded Nsf TI
The first portion of this volume contains
forms for weekly Morning and Evening Prayer,
and for the festivals of the Church, for the adj
ministration Of the Holy Communion, of Bap-
tism and Confirmation, for the solemnization
Of marriage, and the burial of the dead, for
family worship, for public Thanksgiving, for
ordinations, installations, and all those occa-
sional rites over which the Church appropri-
ately presides. In the preparation of these
services, the author, or authors, have wisely
followed as closely as possible; the Liturgy of
the Episcopal Church, that sublime and beau
iiul ritual which has nourished and strength
ened and soothed the souls of SO many GEN
erations of men, only deviating from it when
5it'seemed necessary for purposes of brevity,
or to avoid Objectionable or questionable mat
tiers of doctrine. BY following this plan they
have been able to retain the scriptural grand
eur and solemnity of forms which have never
been surpassed in human language: and at
the same time to bring them into harmony
with the spirit of the church for which they are
especially designed. 88NNH1M &c
The second, and much the larger portion of
the book, consists Of collection of Psalms and
Hymns. In the preparation of this collection
wide field has been swept, and the selections
have been. made with much discrimination.
1t will be found to contain the better portion
OF all the hymns and sacred lyrics in common
use among all Protestant denominations. with
m my more not hitherto included in any hymn
ooo&. Here breathes the simple devotion of
the Wesleys; here are the rough vigor of Watts.
the mournful melody of Cowper, the sweet
strains. of Montgomery and Madame Guyon.
the noble hymns of Luther and Milton, and
the flowing music of Heber. Here are such
modern names as Whittier, Bryant, Longfel-
low, Adelaide Proctor, Keble, Bonar, and a
score of others; and here, too, in undying
beauty, are the early strains of Herbert, and
Of Henry Vaughan, with many transations
from old Latin and German hymns, rich and
glowing with the warm and mystic devotion
of the middle ages. Among SO much that Is
excellent it is difficult to make selections, but
we extract the following