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 290 OUR HY3IXS :

Mr. Cotterill was the author of a volume of Family Prayers, which had reached a sixth edition in 1824. But he is chiefly known as an author for his hyinn-book : &quot;A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Puhlic and Private Use, adapted to the Services of the Church of England.&quot; This is a compilation of evangelical hymns, and it includes a few by the compiler himself. It was first prepared for his congregation at Lane End ; being favour ably received, it had reached a fifth edition in 1812. The eighth edition was published, at Sheffield, in 1819. It contained 150 psalms and 367 hymns. In the preface, he vindicates the use of hymns in worship, not only on Scripture grounds, but also be cause &quot; hymns have been annexed to the Prayer Book from the time of the Pteformation without any legislative or royal sanction.&quot; In the preparation of this edition Mr. Cotterill had the assistance of Montgomery, many of whose hymns were introduced. Mr. Cotterill introduced his hymn-book to his congregation as a matter of course ; but a few of its members, who did not work amicably with their pastor, opposed its introduction as irregular, and carried their opposition so far that the matter was taken into the Ecclesiastical Court at York, where it was tried in July, 1820, before Granville Yenables Yernon, the commissary on the occasion, but the matter was settled by both parties agreeing to accept the mediation of the Archbishop. The course the Arch bishop pursued was to pass in review the hymns submitted by Mr. Cotterill, and adopt or reject them. He also added some from the book he used at Bishopthorpe. The proofs were also read by Mr. Montgomery. Some of the hymns were much altered. &quot;Good Mr. Cotterill and I,&quot; says Montgomery, &quot;bestowed a great deal of labour and care on the compilation of that book ; clipping, interlining, and remodelling hymns of all sorts as we thought Ave could correct the sentiment or improve the expres sion,&quot; Thus Montgomery was guilty of what he condemned. The hymn-book, as revised by the Archbishop, is used in the Sheffield churches and elsewhere in the diocese of York.

It is diilicult to determine which hymns in his collection are by

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