The Washington times., 1921-12-04
5TTER MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR PUPLLSFAVORED BY BAL
Gathers Sacred Songs
OF All Lands and Ages
Frank J. Metcalf, Owner of
Second Largest Collection Of
Hymn Books In U. S., for
Years Has Carnered Literary
Treasures from Every Avail
able Source Of Supply.

Partially achieving the ambition of
his lifetime-to be collector and owner
of the largest library of hymn books
in the United States-Frank j. Met.
is today probably the owner of the old.
est collection of ancient hymn books
and second - the largest collection in
this country.
In Mr.. Metcalrs library are hymn
books of every character. from every
land. for every denomination in the
world--more than enough to provide
a dozen hymns for every man, woman
and child in Washington. books dating
back many years. written with charac-
tiers. symbols on parchment paper.
boards and in later years paper.
The style of music has changed
several times in the last 200 years,
since the first hymn book was print
ed. Mr.. Metcalf stated, bringing out
some ancient books that were old when
Washington was village.
The first styles were tunes taken
from the English boks and very few
tunes were composed by Americans
before the Revolutionary War.
One of the early popular styles. in
troduced by William. Billings about
1910 was called F'ugue tunes. SO called
because each part sang several words
behind or ahead Of the other part, thus
getting the name Fugue from the word
as We know 1t today, fugitive, running
away from.
Wesley, Prolific Singer.
A study of American hymnology
shows that among the greatest writer's
OF hymns was Charles Wesley. AN
EnglishmaD, who wrote more than
5000 hymns. His first collection of
psalms and hymns was printed in
Charleston, s. c.. in 1897.
Mr.. Metcalf's object in devoting time
and effort in collecting the hundreds
OIL rare old hymn and psalm books
which compose his library is to pre-
pare a history of early church music.
He is already the author of many
works and articles on early church
music, chief among which is a study
of American Psalmody or Titles of
Books" containing tunes printed In
America from 1921 to 1920, and EN-
bracing more than 1000 titles.
In reply to a query as to why he
had spent years of his life in delving
the musty past searching out ancient
hymns Mr.. Metcalf admitted that II
was for the love of the work.
One Of the early and rare books
which Mr.. Metcalf prizes most high
ly is a Family Musical of the Broad
Church printed in 1859 by the Rev.
William ID. Haley, pastor Of the WASH
ington Unitarian church.
1t is a collection Of Unitarian church
services, catechisms, prayers for
children. orders of confirmation and
more than 100 hymns.
Rock Of Ages" by T. M. Toplady.
and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" nv
Charles Wesley. Mr.. Metcalf cites ss
probably being the two Oldest and most
popular old hymns OF the present dav.
Near, My God, to Thee" written
by Miss Sarah Flower Adams, re-
ceived its popularity from it's connec-
ton with the death of Mckinley. II
was his favorite hymn while living.
And was chosen by the dying Presi-
dent to be sung at his funeral.
Probably the most American" book
of hymns in his library Is Indian
Melodies" written by Thomas Com
muck, a Narragansett Indian in 1S+5.
Among the most curious OF the lot
Is a copy of the Psalms of David by
Isaac Watts, published in 1918, in thnt
the upper two-thirds of the leaves
contain the wordes of the psalms, the
lower third Of the pages, containing
the tunes, being SO arranged that the
chorister can select the music best
suited to the words