New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
PRUNING METHODIST HYMN BOOK.
MANY OLD SACRED SONGS WILL Re MISSING
FROM THE REVISED VERSION

Cincinnati, Dec. "A (speciaD.-The committee on
the revision of the Methodist Episcopal hymnal,
which has been holding daily sessions in the bsh-
obs room Of the Western Book Concern Building,
consists of the Rev. DR.. Samuel F Upham. Of Madi-
SON n. J.. chairman the Rev. DR. Charles NJ Stu
art, Evanston, H. secretary; the Rev. DR. Cam
den NJ Cobern, of Denver: the Rev. DR.. Richard j
Cooke, of Chattanooga; the Rev. DR.. Charles ;,
Nutter. OF St. Adams, Vt; the Rev. DR. William A
ouay1e of Kansas City. Mo; the Rev. Dr. Charles
w Smith. of Pittsburg; Professor Caleb 7 Win
chester. of Middetown, Conn. and Matthew Y.
Simpson. son of the late Bishop Simpson an at
torney of Philadelphia.
Secretary Stuart said OF the committees work:
This is the third meeting of the commission ap-
pointed by the Board OF Bishops. as instructed by
revising the Methodist Episcopal hymnal. the tlrst
sessions having been held in New-York City The
reason for holding this meeting in the West
presume, was largely founded on a desire show
courtesy to the Western Methodists and Western
The next meeting will be held in New-York or
t 4dIFsl , :. W. nope 10 nave our "ofk compete
Tor submission TO the Bishops ar their next semi
annual meeting on April 80, in Chattanooga Tenn;
in time for the publication and issuance of the new
hymn books next fall or early in the winter Yes
decreased although the style of printing may have
in the book, and shall probably take seven
hundred of these out, and in place of them use
the original number about half, OF course, we can
not tell what hymns will be eliminated or which
up to the hour Of going TO press with the new book
long established favorites Rock OF Ages y
Jesus, Lover of My Soul and From Greenland 5
Icy Mountains" To cut out such beloved pieces tsf.
we want TO avoid Lead: Kindly ,IY Ii, Light an, and
hymns. will Of course, not be disturbed. although
the author Of the latter was a Unitarian
One OF the most delicate questions before the
committee is the selection Of Gospel hymns 70 add
TO the new collection Two views are held regard @
ing this matter in the Methodist Church. One of
these IS that as these are of lighter character and
properly belong to the evangeliStc field they ought
to, be excluded from a standard hymn book The
other view is entirely opposite and is that, they
| are Of a popular character. they should find a
place in the new hymnal L may be sta ted authori
tatyely that the committee will embody in the new
book proportion of the best Gospel hymns The
committees sessions consist not only in looking
over hymns. but hearing them played and sung. To
this end Professor Z. ?. Harrington. of the State
University Of Maine, has been appointed musical
adviser OF the committee and attends ali the ses
sons giving practical illustrations of the work
{ under revision The committee has substantially
decided the hymns that to be retained and
has also selected the one hundred new hymns but
as have said before, they subject TO change
the last minute The object of the present session
is to fix the hymns and far possible assign
musical settings tunes to them.
A strong demand has been made upon the com
mittee to provide series of responsive readings
be included in the hymnaL This demand may be
acquieSCed in. The committee has decided invite
the assistance OF two experts in arranging for the
| musical settings for the hymns