THE PEOPLE'S HYMNAL.

"He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might
make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs. He beautified
their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they
might praise His holy Name, and that the temple might sound from morn-
ing."- Ecclus. xlvii. 9, 10.

SIXTH EDITION.

LONDON:

J. MASTERS AND CO., 78, NEW BOND STREET.

MDCCCLXXVII.

THE PEOPLE'S HYMNAL has been compiled in the hope of supplying two wants hitherto widely felt.

First that of a volume of devotional song successfully blending the stern simplicity and clear doctrinal teaching of ancient hymns with the more emotional and personal type which later ages have produced.

Secondly the adequate provision for Festival, Eucharistic, Children's, and Mission Hymns, as also for all the special occasions of Supplication and Thanksgiving contemplated by the Book of Common Prayer.

It has thus, on the one hand, been drawn from a wider induction of sources than any of its predecessors, and the only rules which have guided the selection are ancient liturgical use, doctrinal clearness, choral effect, or literary merit.

No hymn has been excluded because of the private views of its author, where those views do not lessen the value of his work, and a very wide range of choice has thus been laid open.

It follows, of course, that the several living writers who have most courteously permitted the insertion of their hymns are in no degree respon. sible for the teaching contained in any pieces save their own.

As a rule, exact conformity to the genuine texts has been adopted, and where deviations occur in the case of living authors, their consent has, when practicable, been sought and obtained. It has not been deemed necessary to apply this rule to centos made up of various translations from the same original.

On the other hand, the defectiveness of previous Hymnals, under the different heads specified above, has led to the insertion of much new and previously unpublished matter, with the aim of filling blanks hitherto universally found.

The order of the Hymns is alphabetical under their various divisions, with the exception of those placed first, and marked with one or other of the following letters: E., M., P., S., which severally denote that the Hymn so distinguished is for use after the third collect of Evensong or Matins, as a Processional, or as a Sequence.

"Amen" is printed at the close of such Hymns only as end with a prayer or doxology. It ought not to be sung in other cases.

In a few instances the Editors have failed to ascertain the authorship of recent Hymns. They desire to apologize for any infringement of copyright which they may thus have unwittingly committed.

Fuller particulars as to the sources of the contents are given in the Preface and Index to the larger edition.

London, Easter, 1867.

THE PEOPLE'S HYMNAL.

Processional.