American Unitarian Hymn Writers and Hymns

American Unitarian Hymn Writers and Hymns

In the first edition of Julians Dictionary of Hymnology (1891) F. M. Bird[1] wrote, The Unitarianspossessing a large share of the best blood and brain of the most cultivated section of Americaexhibit a long array of respectable hymnists whose effusions have often won the acceptance of other bodies, (pp. 58-59). And in this century Louis F. Benson[2] in his classic book The English Hymn (p. 460) wrote, It is not surprizing that a body including the best blood and highest culture of Massachusetts shared in the Literary Movement [of the 19th century] and succeeded in imparting to its hymn books a freshness of interest in great contrast to those of the orthodox churches and that from their [the compilers] hands there proceeded a series of hymn books whose literary interest was very notable (p. 462). This succession of Unitarian hymn writers over a period of approximately 150 years can best be traced in the nearly 50 hymn books compiled by individuals or committees for use in Unitarian churches.[3] The editors of these books were among the best educated men of their time, who knew where to look for fresh lyrical utterances of a living faith. The earliest of them lived in the period when the traditional metrical psalms which, for more than two centuries, had been almost the only worship-song of the English speaking world, were being slowly superseded by 2 the songs of a new age. These songs they chiefly found in the various hymn-books published for use in English Non-conformist chapels when the Church of England still generally adhered to the Old or New Versions of the Psalms. It was from these sources that Jeremy Belknap first introduced to Americans the hymns of Anne Steele, and included in his Sacred Poetry (1795) hymns by Addison, Cowper, Newton, Doddridge and other English contemporaries. When, in 1808, the vestry of Trinity Church, Boston, impatient at the delay of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in getting out a hymnal, issued one for their own use, they drew heavily upon Belknaps collection, saying in their preface In this selection we are chiefly indebted to Dr. Belknap, whose book unquestionably contains the best expressions of sacred poetry extant. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 53833
Author: Foote, Henry Wilder
Release Date: Dec 30, 2016
Format: eBook
Language: English