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 PREFACE

is the outgrowth of a smaller collection prepared some years ago for the use of the Church and Sabbath School of which the compiler is a member. The value and availability of much of the new music have thus been proven by practical use. From the treasures of the whole Church, "things new and old" have been brought together; very little of importance, it is believed, has been omitted, while much valuable matter not hitherto used in our Church Hymnals is now made available. It has been sought to make the so varied, full, and rich, both in hymns and tunes, that it would commend itself to all Evangelical Churches.

Special thanks are due to William H. Clark, D.D., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Bay City, Mich., Edward A. Collier, D.D., of Kinderhook, N. Y., and Rev. Frederic M. Bird, of South Bethlehem, Pa., for constant assistance in preparing the work and for many valuable suggestions. To their critical taste and judgment, as well as to their painstaking labor, the compiler is under many obligations.

The is published both with and without the, a topical arrangement of the best Psalms for Responsive Reading, prepared by the Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, or with the Psalter following the Revised Version prepared by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D.D., pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N. Y. It is believed that the increasing number of Congregational and Presbyterian Churches, in which Responsive Reading forms a regular part of Public Worship, will welcome this new Psalter designed especially to meet their needs, and arranged so as to make its use easy and helpful.

Permission to use hymns and tunes has been freely granted, and the compiler desires to express his appreciation of their courtesy to Houghton, Mifflin & Co., for the use of the hymns of John Greenleaf Whittier and Oliver Wendell Holmes; to Charles Scribner's Sons, for the use of No. 928 (from "Saxe Holm Stories," Vol. I.); to Denis Wortman, D.D., for the use of Nos. 702, 713, and 971 (the last from "Reliques of the Christ"); to U. C. Burnap, Richard Storrs Willis, George E. Oliver, Frederick W. Mills and many others—Authors, Composers, and Publishers, whose names appear in the body of the book.

If the shall be accorded by the Church at large some measure of the favor with which, in a more limited sphere, much of it has already been received, the compiler will feel thankful for the opportunity of making this contribution to the promotion of the Service of Sacred Song.

, September 1, 1890