New Hymn Books by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

New Hymn Books

By Editor

JUST as we are closing up this paper, we are in receipt of the new Hymn Book, published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. We have hastily looked it through, that we may give a brief notice for the benefit of those coming to the camp-meeting, where it will be on sale. The book contains 640 pages, 6x8 inches in size, well printed on clear, white linen paper. Among the good things which we have noted are the following: 1. The hymns are all indexed by number. 2. There is no hymn that has not music provided for it. 3. Hymns which have heretofore been divorced from their original music, have to a great extent been restored. 4. Quite a number of old melodies that were favorites years ago, but have fallen into disuse among our people because the new generation of singers never saw the music, have been collected and placed in the book. This feature will please very many. 5. Some of the best “gospel hymns” of modern date have been inserted.

It would be impossible to get up a hymn book which should contain no hymns or tunes with which no one would be displeased; but we are certain that in this large collection of hymns (there are over fourteen hundred) there is enough variety to suit everybody. The book contains a goodly number of pieces suitable for the Sabbath-school; and small companies of believers, who may not be able to procure many books, can use this one both for church service and Sabbath-school. We sincerely hope that all our people will at once provide themselves with the new book, so that there may be uniformity in the singing, and that all may join with their voices as well as with their hearts in making melody to the Lord.