The Church Hymnary

Twentieth Century Edition

A COLLECTION OF HYMNS AND
TUNES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
COMPILED BY EDWIN A. BEDELL

NEW YORK
MAYNARD MERRILL & CO.

1900

TWENTIETH-CENTURY EDITION

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

SINCE the publication of the first edition of THE CHURCH HYMNARY the
demand for the book, which has exceeded the most sanguine expectation of the
publishers, has required the printing of so many editions that it is now necessary
to make new electrotype plates. Advantage has been taken of the opportunity thus
afforded to omit a few hymns (less than one-twentieth of the entire number) and
to insert such material of recent date as should be included in a book which is
now the latest, as it aims to be the best, collection of hymns and tunes for con-
gregational use.

In the arrangement of material no space has been wasted. It has therefore
been possible to present in a compact and convenient form 849 separate tunes,-
a larger number than can be found in any other collection of an equal number of
hymns, and to arrange the music so as to offer with a very large proportion of the
hymns a choice between one or more old familiar tunes and others of the modern
English school.

The unusual number and arrangement of hymns and tunes makes the book
peculiarly and perfectly adapted to the varying needs of the churches.

Another important advantage gained by this wise economy of space arises from
the close proximity of words and music which makes it easier for the eye to follow
both at the same time, and thus encourages congregational singing.

The Twentieth-Century Edition retains all those distinctive features which
have made the first edition so useful and so widely popular, and justifies the
expectation that in its new and more attractive setting THE CHURCH HYMNARY
is about to enter an even broader field of usefulness and success.

THE CHURCH HYMNARY is the outgrowth of a smaller collection prepared some years ago for the use of the Church and Sunday School of which the compiler is a member. The value and availability of much of the new music have thus been proven by practical use. From the treasures of the whole Church, "things new and old" have been brought together; very little of importance, it is believed, has been omitted, while much valuable matter not hitherto used in our Church Hymnals is now made available. It has been sought to make the CHURCH HYMNARY so varied, full, and rich, both in hymns and tunes, that it would commend itself to all Evangelical Churches.

Special thanks are due to William H. Clark, D.D., Edward A. Collier, D.D., and Rev. Frederic M. Bird for constant assistance in preparing the work and for many valuable suggestions. To their critical taste and judgment, as well as to their painstaking labor, the compiler is under many obligations.

The CHURCH HYMNARY is published both with and without the CHURCH PSALTER, a topical arrangement of the best Psalms for Responsive Reading, prepared by the Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., or with the Psalter following the Revised Version prepared by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D.D. It is believed that the increasing number of Churches, in which Responsive Reading forms a regular part of Public Worship, will welcome this new Psalter designed especially to meet their needs, and arranged so as to make its use easy and helpful.

Permission to use hymns and tunes has been freely granted, and the compiler desires to express his appreciation of their courtesy to Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., for the use of the hymns of John Greenleaf Whittier and Oliver Wendell Holmes; to Charles Scribner's Sons, for the use of No. 928 (from "Saxe Holm Stories," Vol. I.); to Denis Wortman, D.D., for the use of Nos. 702, 713, and 971 (the last from "Reliques of the Christ "); to U. C. Burnap, Richard Storrs Willis, George E. Oliver, Frederick W. Mills and many others-Authors, Composers, and Publishers, whose names appear in the body of the book.

If the CHURCH HYMNARY shall be accorded by the Church at large some measure of the favor with which, in a more limited sphere, much of it has already been received, the compiler will feel thankful for the opportunity of making this contribution to the promotion of the Service of Sacred Song.

EDWIN A. BEDELL.

ALBANY, September 1, 1890.