As evidence of the unaffected humility of Dr. Andrews, and also to show how strong to the last was his faith in the favorite truth, of which he was never weary of hearing or speaking the reunion in a future world of those most dear in this, we may mention the fact, that he left written directions to have his funeral conducted with the greatest simplicity, and also an inscription for his grave-stone. This inscription, after giving his name and the usual dates, concluded thus:

"He cherished the fond hope, of meeting in the heavenly world the beloved friends who had gone before him.

There thy bright train, immortal friendship, soar, No more to part, to mingle tears no more." Dr. Andrews was not a great man, a man of shining and brilliant qualities; but he was emphatically a good man, a good Christian man, one who used his talents in the right way, and endeavored always, and in all relations, to do his duty with fidelity and according to the dictates of an honest conscience. His long life was without contention, and none ever doubted the entire honesty and purity of his purposes. To be able to say this, to be able to say that his was a heart that might have been laid open to the world without a fear that anything unworthy would be found therein, is to be able to say a great deal. No greater honor need be desired than that which can safely be claimed for our venerable friend: for we can stand by his grave and say without qualification, "Here lies the dust of one, who in simplicity and godly sincerity had his conversation in the world; one who went to his fathers in peace, and was buried in a good old age; one whose days on earth were the days of the upright."

The writer of this imperfect notice knows that after the mental faculties of the venerable subject of it were weakened, and something of second childhood had come upon him, his religious trust remained firm, and his religious hope bright. He spoke from time to time more calmly of his own departure from earth, which he felt was near, than upon almost any other topic. Death had for him no terrors: he was rather anxious to go hence. He has gone to his reward, and left a good name as a rich legacy to those who mourn his loss.

T. B. F.

1846.]

New Hymn Books.

29

ART. III.-NEW HYMN BOOKS.*

THIS large array of Hymn Books, most of them very recent, and some just from the press, certainly indicate an unusual attention to one of the most popular departments of sacred literature, and one of the most interesting helps of social worship. We must admit that it indicates something more,—a want of perfect satisfaction with any Collections heretofore in use. In both these respects it reminds us of the Collections of church music, which have lately been multiplied in a corresponding manner, to meet new wants in our religious congregations. With respect to these latter, however, we cannot but suspect that the interests and peculiar tastes of the compilers have had at least as much influence in promoting the enterprise, as any wishes of the people. We cannot help looking with some mistrust on rapid successions of works of psalmody from precisely the same hands, and feeling that the spirit of fickleness or of trade may have had too great a share in them. It is true, that some excellent new tunes are thus

* 1. Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship. A Collection compiled by a COMMITTEE OF The Cheshire PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. Boston Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 16mo. pp. 454.

2. A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary. Boston: J. Munroe & Co. 1845. 12mo. pp. 586.

3. A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Social and Private Worship. Revised Edition. With Supplement. New York: C. S. Francis & Co. 1845. 12mo. pp. 520.

4. Hymns for Public Worship. Boston: Andrews, Prentiss & Studley. 1845. 16mo. pp. 416.

5. A Manual of Prayer, for Public and Private Worship, with a Collection of Hymns. Second Edition. Boston: J. Munroe & Co. 1845. 12mo. pp. 394.

6. The Psalmist: A new Collection of Hymns for the use of the Baptist Churches. By BARON STOW and S. F. SMITH. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 1845. 16mo. pp. 784.

7. Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship; prepared and set forth by the GENERAL ASSOCIATION of Connecticut. New Haven : Durrie & Peck. 1845. 16mo. pp. 720.

8. Church Psalmist: or Psalms and Hymns, for the Public, Social, and Private Use of Evangelical Christians. Fifth Edition. New York: Mark H. Newman. 1845. 16mo. pp. 653.

9. Hymns and Anthems. London: 1841. 16mo. pp. 120.

added to the common stock; and what is still better, some fine old cathedral strains have been awakened from their long silence to inspire the devotions of modern assemblies. It is true, also, that some varieties of measure and tone unknown to former choirs were needed, to bring into vocal expression the fresh stores of sacred poetry, and to match with the demands that the prevailing use of the organ has introduced into our churches. We do not say that great improvements have not been made in this branch of a divine art, by what has been lately and so abundantly published. We believe that there have. At the same time, we have found something confounding in the accumulation of books of this description. We have watched with no little uneasiness the capricious changes that they have encouraged. We have seen the evils that altered harmonies, changes uncalled for, different pieces under the same names, and the distractions of an almost endless variety, can hardly fail to produce. This will not seem a long digression from the subject we have taken in hand, or indeed hardly a digression at all, if we consider the intimate relation that exists between the words of a hymn, and its musical effect in the tune that has to be adapted to it. We ought to remember, what the compilers of hymn books are very apt to forget, that a hymn is not a copy of irregular lines, that may be clogged with consonants, or broken up with pauses, or stifled with syllables but half vocal, or set on with uneven feet, according to the writer's pleasure. It is not written to be read alone, and by the eye merely, or to be declaimed with the freedom of rhetoric. It is a melodious composition, that should almost sing itself; confined within rhythmical laws of its own, and to be chorally represented. The old masters of holy verse were more attentive to this important point than their successors have for the most part been.

But let us return to the class of books more directly under our review; especially to those examples of it, which we have placed at the head of this article, and thus bound ourselves to give at least some imperfect account of. On surveying their number, our first impulse was to be glad that so much attention had been given to the good work, and that so many differing voices had been called out to praise God and Christ. There is no danger, no objection

1846.]

Multiplication of Hymn Books.

31

here, of the kind just mentioned. Each hymn book stands single in the society that has adopted it, undisturbed by any divisions or discords. It is almost sure to remain long enough to secure the attachment of those to whom it has grown familiar. It is not likely, at least at the present time, to be an object of pecuniary speculation, or to be touched by any but the highest motives. The most successful compiler can scarcely expect that his labors will travel far beyond those for whose benefit they were prepared. Our congregations are generally slow to encourage changes. Economy, as well as habit and revering associations, will tend to keep them in the use of what is already in their possession. Nevertheless, circumstances are continually arising that make innovations desirable. Hymn books will fall out of print, as they insensibly decline from the estimation in which they were at first held. New societies are forming, that have only to select the one that shall recommend itself the best to their preference. Different religious views, and not only these, but different impressions of the sentiment that a hymn should most suitably convey, will lead to a choice in conformity to them. There can be no doubt, moreover, that improvement will follow in the train of successive attempts. Better arrangements may take the place of those that now seem good enough. A richer copiousness or a more perfect selectness may be exhibited than has ever been yet. Some pieces, even, of the elder day may be presented with more force and beauty, while constant accessions of devout strains, from that fountain of the spirit which is always flowing, will pour their tribute into future repositories and perhaps constitute their chief glory. We believe in progress. The best has not come, and we shall never see it come. Meanwhile, let us receive with courtesy every candidate for so holy an office as that of leading this part of our devotions, examine his claims with candor and discernment, and neither think that the work requires to be hurried nor that it can ever be done.

With these views, we rejoiced, as we have said, to see so large a company coming forward, bringing the results of their industry and taste to a good cause, and into fair competition for public favor. We do not know that this gratification has been materially abated by an examination of

the works themselves. They all have merit, and each one has some point of advantage which it is entitled to claim as peculiarly its own. We were occasionally inclined, indeed, to raise a question, whether this were a well-chosen time to multiply Hymn Books to such an extent, when Dr. Bowring is so busy, and Mr. Montgomery, though he has written several pieces that are eminently good, is enjoying a degree of reputation which we do not think he will permanently retain. This objection, however, seemed to press with less weight, as we thought to make it of very serious importance. Another preliminary question crossed our minds from the circumstance, that but a short time has elapsed since the publication of the "Christian Psalter," of which an extended and most favorable notice appeared in the Monthly Miscellany so lately as March, 1842. But we considered the difficulty, if not impossibility, of satisfying all with the same performance. We considered the manifold wants of different congregations. It ought also to be taken into account, that many of our societies have become attached to the Collections that they have had long in use, and prefer making them the basis of an enlarged edition, to introducing an entirely new work. This cause will be seen to have contributed to make the number here before us so large as it is. Nor had it been inactive before, as one or two remarkable instances remind us. This was the case with the excellent though disjointed Collection used by the Church in Brattle Square, which bears upon it the labors, though not the names, of two distinguished pastors, Buckminster and Palfrey, and of which the second edition was issued only ten years ago. It is true also of the very inferior one as we are compelled to regard it— of the West Church, which appeared in 1823.

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Having thus alluded to former endeavors, we hope not to be thought tedious nor to speak irrelevantly, if we review a little what has been otherwise done by our denomination in this department. Fifty years ago, an insensible change of religious views had rendered offensive many of the doctrinal expressions that abound in the writings of Dr. Watts, some of which he would not himself have consented to utter in the latter part of his life. Dr. Belknap, aided silently by Dr. Clarke, then published his "Sacred Poetry," which was received with great approbation and widely