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PREFACE.
THIS HYMNAL is the fourth which has been published for congregational worship in the Primitive Methodist community. The first was chiefly a collection of hymns for ' Revivals,' open- air services, and general evangelistic work. It rapidly passed through several editions and slight enlargements, and contributed in various ways to the growth of the Connexion.
In 1825' The Large Hymn Book for the use of the Primitive Methodists' was issued under the editorship of Hugh Bourne, one of the Founders of the Denomination. In the preface he says-' In compiling the present Hymn Book great care has been taken to select the best hymns from the best authors; and a considerable number of original hymns have been composed expressly for this work.' This book and the previous small one bound together continued in use for nearly thirty years, but not without the need for a more suitable collection being for some time both felt and expressed.
A new book compiled by the late Rev. John Flesher, and published in 1854, was doubtless a great improvement on its predecessors, and it has also served the Connexion for upwards of thirty years.
While it is admitted that a change of hymn book may be an inconvenience to some, it can hardly be said that we are changing too often. Considering how new hymn writers continue in the order of Providence to be raised up; the constantly increasing number of hymn books; the progress made in hymnology and church music; and, owing to the spread of education, the altered tastes and preferences of vast numbers who worship with us- it can scarcely be expected that any hymn book, however carefully compiled, will, without addition or alterations, meet the wants of our church for more than thirty years.
The present IIymnal has been compiled by a committee appointed by the Conference of 1882. The appointment was made in response to a loud call for a Hymn Book more suitable for the public worship of our congregations than the one in use. The con. nittee soon found that the work involved much more labour than was at first anticipated. The richness of our age in good hymns increased rather than diminished the difficulty. There were not only the accumulated treasures of the past, but also the abundant stores of modern hymnologists, from which to make selections. With a much less supply of material the work of the committee would have been considerably easier.
In compiling the book the aim has been to retain the older hymns which are endeared by many hallowed associations to the hearts and memories of Christians of every name, and to add the choicest productions of our own times. Although the collections of Watts and Wesley still supply the largest number of hymns for a good hymnal, especially for Methodist worship, yet in these pages will be found selections from numerous other authors and translators. The names of these, as affixed to the hymns and contained in a separate list, will show that no church has had a monopoly of the gift of sacred song.
The committee have guarded as much as possible against altering the text of the hymns; and, as a rule, have scrupulously adhered to the author's own version, where that could be ascertained. The exceptions to this are few, and such as changes of taste in forms of expression, or the exigencies of correct measure, rendered necessary. Scarcely less than the evil of altering words and lines in classical hymns is that of cutting down lengthy compositions to an arbitrary standard. On this ground there will not, it is presumed, be great fault found with the present Hymnal. In some hymns a weak verse or verses have been deleted where this did not appear to injure, but improve,