HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY FROM THE ESTATE OF MAY 24, 1939 Entered according to Act of Congress, A. D. 1874, By E. P. DUTTON & CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. COPYRIGHT 1881 E. P. DUTTON & CO. M ·2125. J. W. TAYLOR, MUSIC ELECTROTYPER & STEREOTYPER, 15 VANDEWATER ST., NEW YORK. CLAREMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, PREFACE. THE distinctive merit of this book, if merit it have, lies in the two points,—simplicity of arrangement, and variety of contents. The twelve forms of opening service are all of them identical in structure, while yet each differs wholly from the rest in the make up of its several parts. By having the music of the Anthem printed in its proper place in the Service, instead of putting it, as is often done, in another part of the book, it is hoped that the introduction of chanting, now a rare feature in Sunday School worship, will be made easier and more natural. In schools where the impossibility of chanting is a foregone conclusion, the Anthem can of course be omitted. The Service may be still further shortened, if necessary, by leaving out the Lesson. In framing the liturgical portions of the book, the editor has aimed rather at catching, if possible, the spirit of the Common Prayer, than at merely echoing its phraseology. Paraphrases of the Bible written down to the capacity of children are apt to have the effect of blunting that sharp distinctness with which the actual language of Holy Scripture ought to be photographed on the mind; and it is to be feared that a Service-book for Sunday Schools which should be a mere mosaic of the words and phrases of the Prayer Book would exercise a similarly confusing influence over children's memories, without at all quickening their affection for the Prayer Book itself. In selecting the hymns, regard has been had chiefly to the simplicity and purity of the language, and to its fitness to be sung. No attempt has been made to meet the taste supposed to inhere in a child's mind for namby-pamby sentiment and jingling rhythm. The editor doubts whether, in point of fact, children of average intelligence have such a taste. If they have, there can be no doubt that the bad appetite ought to be checked rather than stimulated. The high authority of Mr. Patmore and of Mrs. Alexander may be cited in support of this view.* In making acknowledgment of his indebtedness to friends for valuable aid, the editor would mention, first of all, Mr. I. N. Metcalf, the Choir-Master of All-Saints Church, to whose kind and painstaking oversight the credit of whatever is good in the musical portion of this book may be attributed. Cordial thanks are also due to the Bishop of Central New York, and to the Rev. Dr. Henry Potter, for contributions to the liturgical services; to Mr. C. P. Morrison of Worcester, for two of the most beautiful tunes in the book, never before printed ; and to Mrs. Henry Whitman of Boston, for the first sketch of the * See the Prefaces respectively of The Children's Garland, and The Sunday Book • Poetry. design upon the cover. Needed assistance of various sorts has also been rendered by many other friends. The tunes “Wavertree," "Hodges," "Neeley," and "Jerusalem,” from The Hymnal with Tunes, Old and New; "Vespers," "When Christ was born." "Gentle Saviour," and "McCabe," from The Parish Hymnal; "Ovio," "Indus," and "Emmanuel," from The Song Garden; and "Addison," from The Jubilate, are used with the permission of the publishers to whom the copyrights belong. Books as well as persons claim a place in this list of the sources of help, and more especially the following, which have been freely used in compiling the prayers; Vaughan's Confirmation Lectures: Bright's Ancient Collects; Miss Whitmarsh's Prayers of the Ages; How's Pastor in Parochia; Alford's Year of Prayer; and the exquisitely worded little manual entitled Prayers and Meditations for the Holy Communion, edited by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. W. R. H. WORCESTER, Midsummer, 1874. In connection with the issue of a new and enlarged edition of the CHURCH PORCH, the compiler desires to express his thanks for valuable assistance, rendered by friends other than those mentioned in the original preface, namely to the Rev. Frederick B. Allen, Assistant Minister of Trinity Church Boston, Mr. J. W. Green, one of the organists of the same parish, and Miss Emma A. Pratt of Wor cester. Sept., 1881. |