The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-11-28

lines at time The English Congrega
tional monthly goes into the interesting
history at great length
In this country the Methodist Church
has always sung its way on in triumph
No other denomination has made so
much use of song, and no one has had so
rapid development. Wesleys hymns
were introduced from England, and the
first hymn book was printed about TWEEN
ty years after Emburv hegan to preach
Successive additions have BEEN mad-, in
1902, 1908. 1920 1886, lS49. and this last
having been in use nearly thirty years. l.
now to be superseded by the New
Hvmpal. which we have jnst received
from the Book Concern in this CITY
The General Conference. OF 1876 ap
pointed large Committee on the suh
jet of revision, and in compliance with
their suggestions. the B shops selected n
Committee of fifteen to perform the
work They have been at the task two
years and the result is before We
have no hesitation in saying that the
work is well done; that Book OF
Hymns and Tunes has been prepared
that evinces taste. Judgment and skill.
and one that, whil. it ref cts credit on
its compilers. will also prove a rich spir'
itual Guessing TO the church at large. The
Principles governing the Committee in
selecting. rejecting and changing, in the
main are sound. and it we now and then
dissent from the decision reached. the
dissent is rare. Many men of many
minds" and a hymn that pleases us
would not be accepted by others. Some
hymns had to be retained because the
Church says: with all their faults. we
love them still" The book has ll4S
hymns, and as are selected out of 10000
in the English language, they ought TO
be good As whole we believe there
are as many singa6te hymns in this col
lection as in any other of the same di-
mensions, as few that are commonplace
and superfous while there may be more
that a tastidIous taste would omit as not
up to the dignity of divine worship But
those who have sung the modern revival
melodies need not be greatly disturbed
bv old fashioned Methodist hymns and
tunes.
W. have been charmed by the e,i-
dence in this book that as Christians of
all denominations pray alike, so also do
they sing in the sama words to the glory
of God The heart, in the acts OF praise
and prayer, rises nearest to the central
point of all Christian aspiration, so that
the children of God are there nearer to
one another and we find them breathing
the same desires and inspired by the
same joys This Methodist Committee
place Toplady's Rock of Ages" in the
first rank OF Christian hymns. Now Top
lady was a Calvinist This hymn book
abounds in the great hymns which the
Calvinistic churches sing, and even the
sternest Scotch Psalmodist, if driven by
stress of weather into a Methodist camp
or meeting house, could find hymns in
this book that. word for word, are in his
version of the Psalms DR. Horatious
Bnnar is the author of more hymns in
this book than any other recent writer,
and he is an Edinburgh Presbyterian.
And If we ever had fear that any OF
our Methodist brethren would practise
their doctrine of failing from grace" We
shall cease from tearing A. we sing with
them, Hymn 679 of the New Methodist
Hymnal. How firm a touDdation, DC,
and make th. ratters ring we come To
the last stanza and the precious promise
of God:
"Tne soul that on Jesus hath leane for repose
VIII not, l will not des-it to his fo-s;
That uI, though all hell should eadeavor to
shake,
III never, no never forsake."