New-York tribune., 1891-05-24
4 NEW HYMYAL FOR PLYMOUTH CHURCH
DIR. LYMAN ABBOTT TO REVISE PLYMOUTH
COLLECTION EDITED BY MR.
BEECHER IN 1858.

DIR. LYMAN ABBOTT TO REVISE PLYMOUTH
COLLECTION EDITED BY MR.
BEECHER IN 1855.
Action was recently taken by Plymouth Church au-
thorzng revision of the hymnal In use In the church
since it edited by Mr. Beecher in 1885, and known
as Plymouth Collection OF Hymns and Tunes; for the
use OF Christian Congregations" This was the first
hymnbOok Of It's kind, containing comprehensive col
lection of hymns OF all ages and great variety OF
authors all UNCONVENTIONAL divisions being dlsregarded
| and having the music printed with the hymns 1t
was an innovation Of great moment at the time ana
paved the way for the many popular hymnals OF like
character since complied Before Mr.. Beechers death
he had considered the subject Of preparing new edition
of the book to comprise many modern hymns not In
cluded in the book originally and new music written
since its publication but he took no steps In the matter
The subject has been considered at various times since
and finally the music committee Of the church TOOK
up the subject formally DR.. Abbott offered to colt
the work. and he and his associates on the committee,
including Thomas g. Shearman, Iorat0 G. King Henry
~ Whitney and Chauncey Ives presented report TO
the church setting forth their views and recommending
that the church authorize the publication OF new
edition Of the book provided that the church and society
be involved In expense in its preparation; that the
title remain substantially unchanged that the original
preface be retained with supplementary note explain
ing the changes; and that all hymns sacred in the
history of the church cusomary used In the church
or lecture-rOOm be retained. This unanimously
adopted at a church meeting.
The committee said In reporting the subject that
there nothing associated with the worship Of Ply
mouth Church TO which the members Justly felt
deeper attachment than to the Plymouth collection.
Originated by Mr.. Bcecher and characteristic Of him.
catholic in its selection Of hymns and reaching truer
and sncerer expression of Christian experience and
aspiration than any of its contemporaries 1t must
always be the book Of praise OF Plymouth Church.
Through 1t the church was indirectly and incidentally
represented In every hymnbook in today. But to
leave the book as 1t without any Of the new
hymns or music written in the last thlrty-fve years,
excluded the book from all other churches
and deprived them of Of the best and
effective services which Mr.. Beecher rendered to
the churches. He the author Of the revival of
congregational singing. The book as 1t stood did not
fairly or fully represent the ideal which Mr.. Beecher
entertained thirty-fve years ago. 1t included many
hymns which he never used and some which he could
not even bear to read, but they wcrc inserted in
Difference TO inferior taste the theological super
stton of the period. Many Of them disappeared from
the orthodox hymnals, and their retention in book
bearing the name of Mr. Beechcr was an anomaly.
The music also, owing TO copyright difficulties, was
never what he desired, and scarcely onethid OF the
hymns were ever sung in Plymouth Church. Mr..
Beecher intended to have edition prepared that
the catholic and progressive spirit of the book might
be perpetuated, and that the Church might hcor-
porate into its worship still more fully the spirit OF
It's founders. Much progress had been made toward
the realization OF this hope, but the work remained
undone at his DEATH While it was deeply to be re-
cetted that he did not I've TO complete the task 1t
did not follow that it should remain undone So, In
order to carry out the intentions of the original
editor and also as the most effective means OF per-
petnang his work and hOnOring his memory as well as
to revive the interest of the generation In the
HYMNS and music of the Church. the revision was under
taken.
Tho plvmouth Collection contains over 1900 hymns
and 3G7 tunes Mr. Beecher said IN the preface that
II was the result Of conviction that congregauohal
singing hest answered the end Of worship By means OF
song and he expressed the hope that the book woud
nromote congregational singing by providing tne
means for Il. He spared no pains IN collecting ma
terals for the work and searched all existing coec
tions NJ psalms and hymns and collected many fugl-
five poems expressive Of feeling or tending TO inspire
H. He carefully avoided narrow adherence 10 MS
ncrsonal taste I'm the choice Of hymns, ana maze te
collection so large and varied that every one couu nho
in It what he desired. SO far as possible ITO
changes of form were made save to restore TO their
original form those hymns which had been mutuaoeu'
No pains were spared to secure full expression ior
the whole religious feeling and activity Of the tlmes'
including especially Roman Catholic MoaVian anu
Methodist sources. In regard to the music MI
Heecher said that the tunes chiefly for conge-
patlonal singing. He gathered what he could hnd Oh
merit in old rev music 1Of ulS tiu hNiu'iie
revival melodies lie thought that congregational
slncinc would never become general and permanent
until the churches employed tunes which had melodes
that CLING TO the memory and touched the feelings or
The IMAGINATION. lie did not think that congregauoA
singing would ever prevail with power until pastors
pprecated Importance and oborcd 10 secure H. ana
said: II ministers regard singing as but decorous
kind OF amusement pleasantly relieving or SEPARATING
the more solemn acts Of worship 1t would be degraded
II Il very general impression that the pastor Is to
teach and to pray but another man is to sing Music
is ared out and the unity of public service Is mared
hv two systems of exercises conducted by different
persons and oftentimes without concord sympathy
with each other and sometimes even with such con-
trarey that the organ and choir eiectuay neutralze
the pulpit While 1t may not be necdful that the
pastor should perform the part OF musical leader yet
II Is certain that there will not be spirit OF song IN
the whole congregation II he Is himself indifferent 10
il, and the fist step toward Congregational singing
must be In the direction OF the ministry" ,.,,o.
In preparing the music OF the Z" Plymouth Collec-
tom Mr. Beecher assisted by his brother. the
Rev. Charles Deecher, and John Zundel the organst
Of Plymouth Church for many years. About four
wears were spent In the preparation OF the book and
the preface bears date August 10; 1858; The book
was used I'm many churches after Plymouth Church set
tbe example but 1t has gradually been superseded by
aItboush rstS1ned in Plymouth Church.
In preparing for his wOfN Of revision, DR.. Abbott
sent 10 every membeC Of the church and every pew
holder letter. saving: Plymouth Church has lnrust.
cd to M paGg S Z he pi purpose SeT to an IN
this edition al the hymns and tunes which by reason
church To AID in securing this result: you are cor
daily invited TO give me the names OF any favorite
the new edition. From the requests thus made the
wishes OF the Church will be made known and TO tho
thus selected win be added S gcs as ,s IN the
edition. year more will he spent In the work f3r
the aim is TO make It complete In every respect and II
possible 10 surpass In merit existing hymnals'