by
WILLIAM J. HART, M.A., D.D.
Member of the Hymn Society of America, author of
“Unfamiliar Stories of Familiar Hymns”
With a Foreword by
BISHOP W. EARL LEDDEN, D.D., LL.D.
Publishers W. A. WILDE COMPANY Boston
Copyright, 1948
By W. A. Wilde Company
All rights reserved
Made in the United States of America
Dedicated
to
The Churches I Have Served as Pastor
The most important musical feature of any service ofworship is the singing of hymns by the congregation.When voices are united in Christian song, hearts mayreadily be joined in common worship. Then it becomesmuch more than a musical feature. It becomes an act ofworship. And all who thus sing are builders of a Templeof Tone wherein their own hearts become the altar, highand lifted up.
Before this great thing can come to pass, there must bea familiarity with the hymns—an appreciation of these“crown jewels of the church.” Anyone, then, who directsattention to Christian hymns and stimulates interest inthem is adding to our resources for private and publicworship.
The author of this volume is continuing and extendinghis Christian ministry by calling attention to the use ofhymns and gospel songs on various occasions and exhortingus all to sing. He is a retired member of the NorthernNew York Conference of The Methodist Church, honoredfor his long and fruitful ministry, and beloved for hisunfailing devotion to the spreading of the gospel throughthe still wider use of Christian hymns.
W. Earl Ledden.
Syracuse, New York