PREFATORY NOTICE. In making this experiment, I am aware that I expose myself to the charge of needlessly adding, and perhaps very presumptuously, to what is said. to be the already superabundant stock of Church Hymnals. I fear also that I run some risk of incurring the displeasure of my good friends the compilers of " Hymns Ancient and Modern." But, while I gratefully and heartily acknowledge the valuable labours of the "Ancient and Modern" Committee, as well as those of other compilers, and congratulate them on their success, I venture to think that there is yet room for many other attempts to construct a Hymnal more dogmatic in its composition, and more harmonious with the structure of the daily Service of the Church. The Hymnal Noted" seems, I freely confess, to fulfil very well the Church ideal of a Hymnbook. Yet, the objection against the universal adoption of that book is, that it not only excludes the compositions of the great Eastern Hymnwriters, but of the faithful men in modern times who have so vastly enriched the treasury of the Church's song. I beg, therefore, very humbly, to submit that a "Daily Service Hymnal" is still a desideratum amongst us. And if I am too bold in offering such unworthy help as mine-at best but the help of a compiler-towards the attainment of it, I must beg leave to plead this apology: 1. That the "perfect" Hymnal-still in the future, and for which this generation can only at best prepare the way-requires that no attempt, devoutly made, shall be discouraged. 2. That the necessities of my own parish and collegiate institution of poor, with daily and constant Services, require some immediate provision which I cannot find ready to my hand. 3. That the Hymns, to be sung at certain Services daily, and on certain days and certain hours, demand as absolute and positive an appointment as the Collects to be prayed, and the Psalms to be chanted, and the Lessons, Epistles, and Gospels to be read. 4. That there is no place for private and subjective Hymns in the public worship of the Church. As Dr. Canon Wordsworth has said, in his very beautiful "Holy Year," "a hymn is the collective voice of the whole congregation speaking to God and singing His praise, or supplicating His grace." "The Hymns of Holy Scripture are free from egotism. The angels forget themselves in worshipping God." 5. That St. Augustine has laid down the true COMMEMORATION DAYS APPOINTED IN THE Kalendar of the Church of England. **NOTE that the Days which have an 66 prefixed to them are days of obligation," which the clergy and people of the English Church are as much bound by law to observe, and, according to the practice of the Church, to celebrate "Divine Service," that is, the HOLY COMMUNION, as on Sundays throughout the year. The remaining Days are minor festivals, on which certain persons or events are only to be remembered in the ordinary daily prayers of the Church; but these days have also been appointed by the Reformers of the English Service Book, and are, therefore, also established by the law of the land. The following are the days appointed in the Kalendar of the English Church to commemorate the Birth, Life, Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Doctrine of GOD, our SAVIOUR, the MAN CHRIST JESUS : The following are the days appointed in the Kalendar of the English Church to commemorate the Incarnation of our Blessed LORD through the person of His Blessed Mother, Mary the Virgin :*The Purification of St. Mary the Virgin............ Feb. 2 *The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 25 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.. The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary................... Dec. 8 ... ............ July 2 The following are the days appointed in the Kalendar of the English Church to commemorate the APOSTLES upon whom the Church is built, "JESUS CHRIST being the chief corner-stone": |