PREFACE.

T

HIS HYMNAL is offered to supply a real demand. The German Evangelical Synod of North America, organized over fifty years ago, is confronted by the necessity of giving to its children a Hymnal in the language of the country. The rising generation of this church, though of German ancestry, is gradually, in some sections even rapidly, drifting away from the language and customs of its forefathers, and is in danger of becoming estranged to a church, all of whose services hitherto have been conducted in the German language.

While there are many Hymnals in the English language, yet there is none that contains a sufficient number of the beautiful, lofty and dignified German chorales, to merit its introduction into the Evangelical congregations, with whom the knowledge of these chorales is the very essence of their musical taste and education.

In the General Conference of the Synod, held at Elmhurst, Illinois, A. D. 1895, it was resolved to publish a Hymnal in the English language, which should meet the requirements of the Evangelical Church. This work was assigned to the Rev. C. G. Haas, who in compliance with his instructions has endeavored to compile a Hymnal, based upon the noble German chorales with the very cream of English and American hymns, thereby giving to the Church at large a book, which, while being both a SELECTION and COLLECTION of choice tunes and distinctive Evangelical hymns, will very likely have a wide and lasting influence upon the hymnological literature of America, and tend greatly to improve it. The aggressiveness in eliminating a host of old English tunes, which have become obsolete and worthless, may call forth severe criticism from some quarters; yet we trust that the very fact that we

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have departed from this ultra-conservativeness and have given space only to the most exquisite music of ancient and modern date, will enhance the book in the eyes of all those who thoroughly examine it, and who deeply appreciate that which is beautiful, that which is sublime, and who believe with Jeremy Taylor, that "A church tune should be a holy thing, fit for a seraph to sing and angels to hear."

Melodies of rare metre and merit, never before published in America, have been adopted and new translations of choice German hymns introduced. The arrangement of hymns according to the Church-year and under many miscellaneous headings facilitates their selection.

A noteworthy department of hymns is the one entitled: "Children's Services," containing fifty-one carefully selected hymns and tunes especially adapted for children. This department-with other hymns and melodies throughout the book, which children can easily learn to sing, as auxiliaries— may well serve for Sunday School use. A great many of the Sunday School songbooks now extant lack altogether the sacred character and elevating influence which they necessarily should have. The heart of the child is very tender and susceptible, and therefore ought to be given that only which is truly elevating and sacred. Children should be taught to sing the same beautiful hymns, which they sing when older in the church. What they learn while young, will remain with them through life; and church-singing, which oftentimes is so lamentably poor, almost impossible without a strong choir, would surely be greatly improved. Let members of ONE CHURCH, young and old, have ONE BOOK!

To the hymns proper are added occasional Anthems and Canticles, also an appendix, comprising the Gospels and Epistles of the Church-year, Prayers that may be used for devotions at home and Psalms selected for Responsive Reading.

And now remains only the agreeable duty to record our deep sense of the great kindness shown to us in the hearty co-operation of many friends. The Editor would express his sincere gratitude to all who have answered his inquiries or in any way lightened his labors, most especially to Mr. U. C. Burnap, Mus. Doc., who has taken so deep an interest in the Hymnal and given him the benefit of his special knowledge and experience of long standing in the adaptation of melodies to the respective hymns with which they are associated, and who has so liberally contributed original and other compositions, not published hitherto in America. Thanks are due to the composers Chas. Geo. W. Jungk and Frederick G. Haas, who have set to music the hymns assigned to them.

Thanks are also given to the following owners of copyright tunes, who have generously permitted the use of them:

Mr. Louis H. Redner;

Mr. Beekman F. Ilsley;

The Rev. J. Nevett Steele, Mus. Doc.;

The Rev. Robert Lowry;

The Rev. Jeremiah E. Rankin, D. D.

Mr. Ernest Carter;

Mr. Walter B. Gilbert, Mus. Doc.;

Mr. U. C. Burnap, Mus. Doc.;

The Rev. C. L. Hutchins, D. D.

Grateful acknowledgment is also made for kindness received from many known and unknown friends for permission to use the several hymns against which their names are placed, especially to the following:

The Rev. Robert Lowry;

The Rev. Jeremiah E. Rankin, D. D.;

The Rev. Daniel March, D. D.;

The Rev. Washington Gladden, D. D.;

The Rev. Dennis Wortman, D. D.;

The Rev. Louis J. Benson;

Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., for the hymns of Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier;

Miss A. M. Longfellow for the hymns of the late Rev. Samuel Longfellow. Probably there are some copyright tunes and hymns used for which no permission has been obtained. It is hoped that such an accidental infringement of the Copyright Act will be readily forgiven, as every effort has been made to find the various owners and to solicit their permission previous to insertion. In future editions such omissions will be gladly rectified and acknowledged, if those whose rights have been trespassed upon will kindly give notice of the same.

The work is now submitted to the members of the Evangelical Church and to all lovers of hymns and tunes with the earnest hope that, by God's blessing, it may be acceptable and of some use in the private circle of the home as well as for the public services of the Church.

ST. LOUIS, October 14th, 1898.

BOARD OF PUBLICATION.