Evening journal., 1912-06-07
PASSING OF
OLD HYMNS
EpiSCOpalians Retain OHly the
FavOriteS in Church
Worship
NEW MUSIC FOR
OLD COMPOSITIONS

In this era Of militant Christianity |
churchgoers are becoming intolerant !
Of the merely sentimental hymns
which appealed to their grandfathers
and grandmothers. and as a result of
this widespread feeling. the Protest
ant Episcopal Church at its last con-
Vcntion in Cincinnati appointed a
Joint commission for the revision of
he hymnal.
The commission is now nearing the
completion of its task and will re-
port the result to the general conven-
tion next year. II has gone over every
hymn in the Episcopal hymnal, scan
ned it with view Of its religious
sentiment, its poetic strength, it's
musical appeal, and has eliminated
from the list that will be recommend
cd for retention many OF the old fay-
orites, that are sung principally for
their association and not because OF
any latent inspiration in their COM
position.
Even the music OF the church
hymns is being revised, and under
the new order of things many of the
old songs will appear IN new set
ting more appropriate to their senti-
ments and more in keeping with the
general quality Of dignity that is be-
ing aimed at by the commission.
The secretary OF the commission,
Morris Earle, OF Philadelphia, has
had a difficult task before him. He
has had TO consider the preju1ices of
those who cling to old verses for
their associations, and to old tunes
in spite OF their lack of musical quail
tiles. He has had to remember that
some hymns, like Onward, Christian
Soldiers" /" Nearer. My God, to Thee"
and "Rock of Ages" are part Of the
churchgoers' inheritance and must
not be tampered with. He has had 10
weed from the book the inane and
purely sentimental, which carry no
lesson and have no tendency to
strengthen faith or promote religious
feeling.
To simplify the task. Mr. Earle and
his associates made an appeal to the
public to discover the general senti-
ments which prevail in the matter OF
eliminating certain hymns. BY means
OF church papers all over the coun-
try he got in touch with church sing
ers. The result was that lists OF
hymns to be omitted and lists to be
retained were received. and after
carefully comparing them II was
found that the popular taste was not
divided on the issue.
Ola Favoriies Are Retained.
There are hymns that will be sung
as long as congregations meet and
Worship Is held. and that no power
can wrest from the hymnal. abide
With Me- cannot be supplanted by
any substitute; Nearer. My God. to
Thee" since the Titanic wreck has
become more than ever n part OF the
universal religion OF the race: 'The
Church's One Foundation" Is a stir
ring profession OF belief, and "The
Son of God Goes Forth to War" is
only second to Onward. Christian
Soldiers" In It's militant music and the
inspiration OF it's appeal.
No one would consent to "Come.
All Ye Faithful" being severed from
the Christmas music Of the church,
and few would like TO think that they
had sung Jesus. Lover OF My Soul, ="
for the last time.
The commission is doing its work
quietly and is not prepared to adver-
tlse the names Of the hymns that will
he dropped, because the members do
not want 10 create controversy. but
they are willing to admit that many
of the oldest and most tuneful Of the
religious songs will he consigned TO
oblivion when the revised hymnal is
printed.
There are scores or oId-fashioned
HYMNS about the Joys Of heaven and
the miseries Of this life that fit in i'll
with the sturdy ideals Of the date
and these. no doubt, will be dropped
Such hymns as "There is a Blessed
Home" "The Sun is Sinking Fast,
.sThe Day is Gently Sinking to a
Close" "As Der the Past My Memory
Strays" are among those which do not
seem to find a popular response and
have no message for the modern sing
New Music for Hymns.
II is a moot question whether the
commission will leave Jerusalem, the
Golden" among the revised and ap.
proved hymns. Some feel that the de-
rcription Of the world to come in this
hymn is not based on theological be-
REF
Among the quaint, old hymns which
sentiment is in favor of preserving
are "The World Is Very Evil" ane
"There Is a Green Hin Far Away
Cardinal Newman's Lead. Kindly
Light" and From Greenland's Icy
Mountains" the popular old mission
ary hymn. will doubtless be retained
while many churchgoers are interest
ed to know the fate of Paradise, 9
Paradise"
Mr.. Earle recently asked for ma
torial for new hymns and for new mu'
y. sical settings for old hymns, and II
znswor 20 this request he has re
ceived many scores and many new
: versions of old songs. The matter o
putting the ancient words TO moderI
music win be difficult, and It is an
ticipated that more dissatisfaction
win be reused by this than by tn
complete elimination of certail
hymns
Newest out in Batiste and Lawns
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