Preface to Third Edition

PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION

It is of course a matter of deep thankfulness to me that the Eastern Church should now be more and more widely brought before ordinary congregations by means of some of the following versions. God grant that this may be one little help towards the great work of Reunion.

I have been more than once asked to what tunes any of the hymns contained in this little book may be sung. The following is a list of all the settings with which I am acquainted:--

"Peace! It is I!" by the Rev. T. Helmore, M.A. Second Edition. Novello. 1863.
"The Day of Resurrection:" by the Rev. T. Helmore, M.A. Novello. 1863.
"The Day is past and over:" by the Rev. T. Helmore, M.A. Second Edition. Novello. 1865.
"The Day is past and over:" by Arthur Henry Brown Organist of Brentwood. Second Edition. Masters.
"Fierce was the wild billow:" by Edith Kerr. Novello.
Fortitude: a Sacred Song. [i.e., "Christian, dost thou see them?"] Music by M. E. H. S. Novello.
Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church; set to music for four voices by Edmund Sedding. London, Masters. [This contains five.]
Hymns of the Eastern Church. In competent score for four voices. Second Edition. London: Novello. Leicester: Crossley and Clarke. [This contains six. As it has no distinguishing title, it is referred to in the following page as H.E.C.]

In the Church Hymnal of the Rev. J. F. Young, which having appeared in Philadelphia is reprinting in London, eleven of these hymns occur: the Greek being given as well as the English.

Each of the above melodies will be found noticed at the end of the Hymn which has been set to it.

And so once more I commit this attempt to further the cause of English Hymnology to God's blessing, and I cannot do it better than in the quaint old words of a forgotten poet:--

"I long have longed to do some little good,

(According to the best I understood,)

By Thy good grace assisting, which I do

Most humbly beg for: O adjoin it to

My longing ardent soul; and have respect

To this my weak endeavour, and accept

(In Thy great mercy) both of it and me,

Ev'n as we dedicate ourselves to Thee."

Sackville College,
April, 1866.