PREFACE TO THE HYMN- BOOK.
IT is not probable that any Mission Hymn- Book will ever command In Mission Work there must be general acceptance, nor is it to be desired. variety of ideal and method, and, from this, the necessity of Hymn- Books answering to these. I have never yet found a Hymn- Book fully meeting my desires. Enquiry led me to know that this was a need felt by other Church Evangelists. This Mission Hymn- Book is sent forth with the hope that it may meet this need.
It has been compiled by Mr. Keymer and revised by me. We have had in its preparation the benefit of the advice of many experienced Missioners; they have informed us of the Hymns they have found practically useful. This Book is therefore the result of the experience of many clergy who have practical knowledge of the whole subject of Missions.
The addition to the Hymns of the prose contents of the Book will, we believe, make it a more valuable help to the Missioner than a mere HymnBook would be.
I would desire to express my most hearty gratitude to those Authors Owners, and Publishers who have kindly permitted their hymns to be printed. Especially would I thus thank Mrs. Monsell for the hymns of the late Dr. Monsell; Dr. Greeves for Wesley's hymns; Longman, Green& Co. for 77; Rev. J. Mills for hymns by late Rev. E. Caswall; Novello and Co. for 73; Mr. Hayes for the late Dr. Neale's hymns; Miss Hankey for" Tell me the old, old story"; Nisbet and Co. for Dr. Bonar's hymns; Bishop Walsham How for 76, 78; Miss Maria Havergal for hymns of late Miss F. R. Havergal; Rev. J. H. Lester for 34; Messrs. Morgan and Scott for 9, 17, 35, 37, 72, 88, 89, 92, 97, 105, 106, 115, 116, from" Sacred Songs and Solos"; Messrs. Richardson for Faber's hymns. In a few cases we have. been unable to find out to whom we ought to apply for permission to use the hymns. I trust we have infringed no copyright; if we have done so, we offer our sincere apologies.
If this Hymn- Book should in any way meet the need of any of our Mission Clergy, the purpose of its preparation will have been attained. It is now sent forth with the earnest prayer that, by God's blessing on its ministry, it may be useful in the Missions in which its services may be enlisted.
The College, Durham,
June 6, 1885
GEORGE BODY.