The Washington times., 1901-12-16
Lansburgh & Bro
420 TO 426 Seventh ST.
FEWER HYMNS FOR
THE METHODISTS.
REVISION COMMITTEE AT WORK.
New Book to Contain Some Old Fa-
vorites md 100 New Selections
plans for Including
Gospel Hymns.

CINCINNATI. Dec. 15.-The reduction
OF the number Of hymns in the Methods,
/ Episcopal Hymnal. which is being carried
on by the committee on revision Jf that
church. in session here. has occasioned
some concern among churchgoers Of that
denomination. lest old favorltes be
eliminated in the desire to make the book
less bulky
Third Meeting OF Committee.
This is the third meeting of the com
miesion appointed by the board OF bishops.
as instructed by the last general con-
ference. for the purpose Of revising the
Methodist Episcopal HymnaI. the first
sessions having been held In New York
City. The reason for holding this meeting
in the West was largely founded on a
desire to snow courtesy to the Western
MethoGists. 1t is expected that the com
mittee's book will be ready for submission
to the Bishops at their next semi annual
meeting. on April 30, in Chattanooga.
Tenn.
The secretary Of the committee. the
Rec DR.. Charles VI. Stuart. OF Evanston.
Ill. commented today upon the work in
hand as follows:
Work One of Magnitude.
I'VE believe the task Of revision will be
completed in time for the publication and
issuance Of the new hymn books next fall
or early in the winter Yes, the bulk of
the hymn book will be considerably de-
creased. although the style of printing
may have much to do with that. There
are now 1.l5O hymns in the book. and we
shall probably take 100 OF these out. and
in place Of them use 100 new hymns,
which will stiil cut down the original
number about half OF course. We cannot
tell what hymns will be eliminated or
which will be substituted. as such changes
can be made up to the nour of going to
press with the new book
There viii be no move toward climi-
mating such lCng-establishcd favorites as
Rock OF Ages. Jesus. Lover Of Ny Soul
and From Grcenland's Icy Mountains To
cut cut such beloved pieces would be to
invite criticism. which IS the very thing
we want TO avoid. Lead, Kindly Light
and Nearer Ny God to Thee McKinleys
favorite hymns. will. Of course. not be
disturbed. although he author OF the lat
ter was a Unitarian.
Question of Gospel Hymns.
"One Of the most delicate questions be-
fore the committee is the selection OF
Gospel hymns to add to the new collec-
iion. Two views are teld regarding this
matter in the Methodist Church. One of
these is that rs these are of a lighter
character and properly belong to the
eyangelstic field they ought to be ex-
cluded from a standard hymn book. The
other view is entirely opposite, aud is
that. as they are Of a popular character.
they should find a place in the new hym-
nal.
1t NAV bn stated authoritatively that
tho committee will cmbcdy in the new
book a proportion OF the best Gospel
hymns. The committees sessions consist
not only in looking over hymns. but hear
ing them played and sung. Tc this end
Prof Z. J. Harrington, Of the State Uni
versity Of Maine. has been appointed mu-
steal adviser Of the committee, and at
tends all the sessions, giving practical il
mstraticns ct the work under revision.
The committee has substantially decided
ON the hymns that are to be retained. and
has also selected the 100 new hymns. but
they are still subject to change. The oh
jcct Of the present session IS to tx the
hymns. and as far as possible assign
musical settings or tunes to them.
a strong demand has been made upon
the committee to provide a series Of re-
spousiye readings to be included In the
hymnal. This demand may be acquiesced
in. The committee has decided to invite
the assistance OF two experts in arranging
for the musical settings for the HYMNS"