The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-02
PRUNING DOWN THE HYMNAL.
Methodist Pastors Discuss Revision
of the Scored Book.

1
For the purpose OF learning their views
| on the subject. Rev. C. W. Smith, d. D.,
! editor of the S;lisburg Christian Advo-
| cate" made an address ana opened dis
| cussion on ne New HymnaI'' at the
meeting of the Methodist Ep scopal min
! listers this morning in the chapel OF the
| Methodist building. Rev. DR.. Smith out
| lined the work which has to be done, and
| he informed his hearers that in accord
| ance with the instructions OF the general
| conference the hymnaI will be reduced to
almost one-hah its present size. Several
| plans for effecting the revision were sug-
| gested by the ministers, and while the
| discussion was purely speculative. 1t VIII
| have weight in the final adjustment.
| At the last general conference held in
Chicago. at which SO many radical changes
| in Msthodism were made a revision OF
the Methodist hymnal was ordered. The
board of bishops appointed a committee
| Of nine representative members of the de-
nomination TO do the work, and one Of the
nine is Rev. DR.. Smith. The latter said
this morning that the hymnal would be
reduced so as to comprise only 500 hymns
This means that over 400 will be eiimi-
mated from their honored position. 1t ia
said that all the old hymns of the Wes-
leys, John Newman, the Careys and others
will be retained as a basis for the new
work. Some of the newer hymns will
necessarily fall by the wayside.
There will L.. little change in tunes, as
the entire number does not reach 500,
several or more hymns being set to the
same measures. The so-called Sunday
school hymns win probably be rejected in
the revision also. Many extremely devo-
tionaI but rather unpOetical stanz6s nave
crept into the hymnal without really mer-
iting the distinction. some of which have
been placed there cut Of regard to the de-
ceased Methodist who wrote them. as the
only way in which to do honor to stanch
loyalty and answering piety. There viii
be no place for these in the new work.
but '-Old Hundred viii be found IN its
old place.
'-The Interpretation Of the Apocalypse"
was the subject of an interesting theolog
zeal paper read by Rev S. \. Hunter,
LID. at the meeting OF the Presbyterian
Ministerial Association. in the First
Church. Wood Street. this morning Rev.
DIR. Hunter said that no other heek Z:
the Bible was so difficult OF interpreta-
ton. and that all interpreters differ
widely. He mentioned the fact that many
persons poorly equipped for the work
had written volumin9us commentaries on
the subject. thereby adding literally to
the stock of intellectual rubbish. In part
he said:
1--WE are under obligation to understand
the revelations as far as we can. but we
must not cast aside any OF Gods revela-
lions because of their obscurity. The
Apocalypse is obscure both in conse-
quence of the way in which it is written
ard the use Of symbols. Some eommenta-
tors turn their telescopes altogether 10
the past and assert that the prophecies
have been fulfilled. Others turn the tcle-
scope altogether 10 the remote future and
bacorpa convinced that tho fulfiilmcDt ia
ves to come Both of these types of COM
mentators are wrong. The progressive
commentator holds that the revelations
OF God have been in progress Of fulfill
ment since the world was created. and
will continue to be verified in the future.
This is the historical view. and 1t is rap
idly gaining adherents, so that it's uHiyer-
sal acceptance seems to be only matter
of time