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first pages of this "Dictionary of Hymnology, Setting forth the Origin and History of Christian Hymns of all Ages and Nations, with special referenoe to those contained in the Hymn Books of English-speaking Countries," were completed more than ten years ago. Since that time, there has been a constant and rapid production of official and quasi-official hymn books of great importance in all English-speaking countries. To meet this emergency, and to make this work both trustworthy and exhaustive, constant revisions and additions were imperatively called for, which have considerably enlarged the work and delayed its publication.

2. Hymnological works, both historical and critical, and in several languages, have also been published during the same period. A careful study of these works—many of which are by distinguished scholars and experts in the various languages and departments—and a laborious and critical testing of their contents, have consumed a vast amount of time, with the result of great practical advantage to the Dictionary as a whole.

3. The (Parts I. and II.) also became a necessity; and, together with the "Cross Reference Index to First Lines" (pp. 1307–1504), the "Index of Authors, &c." (pp. 1505–1521), and the "Supplemental Index" to each (pp. 1593–1616), must be carefully consulted by the hymnological student.

4. Where it could possibly be avoided, nothing has been taken at second-hand. Minute technical accuracy has been aimed at, and, after great labour and inevitable delay, has, it is hoped, in most instances, been attained. The pursuit of this aim has very frequently demanded, for the production of one page only, as much time and attention as is usually expended on one hundred pages of ordinary history or criticism. 5. The MSS. used in this work number nearly ten thousand, and include (1) those in the great public libraries of Europe and America; (2) those in private hands; (3) those in the possession of the Assistant Editor; and (4) those of the Editor.

6. The Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Broadsheets, &c, collated and examined, have been too numerous to count. The Editor's collection of MSS., Books, Pamphlets, &c, will, on the publication of this work, become the property of the Church House, where they will be available for consultation.

7. The total number of Christian hymns in the 200 or more languages and dialects in which they have been written or translated is not less than 400,000. When classified into languages the greatest number are found to be in German, English, Latin, and Greek, in the order named. Other languages are also strongly represented, but fall far short of these in extent and importance. The leading articles on National and Denominational hymnody given in this work furnish a clear outline of the rise and