Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts STEREOTYPED BY A. B. KIDDer, 7 cornhilL, BOSTON. REMARKS. THE Compiler of this Collection of Hymns and Tunes would not conceal the fact that he has never been fully satisfied with any work of the kind that has fallen under his observation. Nor is he vain enough to think that this will please all who have tastes of their own, and are entitled to the right of being reasonably fastidious, as regards the means of securing their gratification. He can only say that unwearied pains have been taken to combine simplicity with utility; to find Tunes adapted to the purposes for which these are intended: and Hymns calculated to awaken such emotions as are congenial with a rational piety, and a pure, elevated, and undefiled religion. Light and trivial pieces, and poetry of a similar character, which, in sorrow be it said, have been too much in vogue, have been unhesitatingly rejected; while an effort has been made, to furnish our denomination with the means for cultivating a correct taste, rather than intentionally to administer to the gratification of a bad one The tunes, with but few exceptions, are arranged with only two parts. The considerations which led me to prefer this plan are both weighty and obvious. In Conference ineetings, and Sabbath Schools, it is desirable that all, or nearly all should unite in singing-this being a most important part of the exercises. In congregational singing, it is next to impossible for the voices to be perfectly harmonized. In proportion to the number of parts, is the nicety and intricacy of the harmony, and, consequently, the difficulty of performing the piece. It is not to be expected, therefore, that any congregation can be made to sing more than two parts, with any degree of accuracy. Aside from the inconve nience of arranging two parts on one staff, and the perplexity necessarily occa sioned by such an arrangement, it is by no means desirable to have any attempt made to sing more than the Air and Bass. The Responses in this collection are designed to be sung as the exercises of the meeting proceed, to occupy the moments which might otherwise be allowed to pass away in unprofitable silence. A moderate degree of familiarity with the work will enable the leader of the singing to find something suited to al most any subject under consideration, without difficulty or loss of time. I take pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to the Editors, and Authors, from whose works selections have been made. Should this collection add any thing to the interest, pleasure, or profitableness of those social meetings which have been found so eminently conducive to the moral and spiritual welfare of the denomination of Universalists, I shall be glad. L. 8. E. 3576 41-1 |