2x2's Review of Hymnal: Hymns Old & New

A 2x2s review of hymns Old and New published by RL Allan and Sons. I repeat, this is not my review, but a review by a 2x2. It gives insight into how they've chosen hymns to support the cult.

A hymn might be briefly described as: The poetic echo of our hearts in praise or prayer to God, blended with the melody that pours forth from our lips. Someone once wrote: "It is a voice that speaks from the soul a few words that may represent a life."

The composition of a good hymn represents, or entails, much more than can be considered here as also in the composing of a hymn that will meet the requirements of filling a useful place in a hymn book.

A hymn can, sometimes, be the product of perspiration, almost as much as inpsiration, as one writer has suggested in the following lines;

"Tis not stringing rhyme together
In a pleasant one accord,
Not the music or the meter,
Not the happy fancies, sweet
Than a flower-bell honey-stored.

Tis the essence of existence
Rarely rising to the light,
And the songs that echo longest,
Deepest, fullest, truest, strongest,
With your life blood you will write

There must be the tightest tension
Ere the tone be sweet you ring
Learning long before your teaching
Listening long before your preaching,
Suffering before you sing."

Not many have the gift of expressing themselves in such poetic language. It was the same person who wrote:

"And wing my words that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart."

Hymns have apparently been sung from the earliest days in some form or another, judging by the many psalms and allusions to singing in the scriptures. Musical instruments are also referred to as being in use before the flood.

Our hymn book (Music Edition) was first issue in 1914., with some 256 hymns; then about 1922 a supplement of 27 hymns was added. The next edition was issued in 1928, with 301 hymns and an appendix of 12 additional tunes. In 1935 another supplement of 73 hymns was added.

In 1951 a complete revision was made. , because of the type had become so work and the book bulky; this necessitated many old favorites being left out so that room might be found for new ones.

Of the many hymns submitted, few were considered suitable, as most of them were lacking in poetic value, character and rhyme, or were merely repetitions of thoughts already far better expressed by those who knew something of the three "R's" of poetry: Rhyme, Rhythm, and Reason.

When writing a hymn, one looks for the theme, a thought, or a text as a background to give it body, or character, and then a suitable tune to express the sentiment. What would be welcomed for future editions would be soul-stirring hymns set to similarly inspired music. Unfortunately, many hymns in our present edition instead of being "tailor made", have had to be set to ready-made tunes.

Again, quite a few good hymns have had to be left out as they were only suitable for solo singing, whereas, the need of our book is for hymns that can be sung by all the congregation in either fellowship or gospel meetings.

One often notices hymns that are seldom sung because of the tune that does not take, and vice-versa. A suitable tune considerably enhances the value of an hymn.

For the purpose of our study we will divide the writers into two groups-- those written by our friends and those written by people unknown to us. We will consider first the hymns set to tunes composed by the author or authoress taking our friends first.

Glen Smith wrote nine hymns all to his own music; Nos 104, 212, 214, 218, 227, 228, 229, 230 and 251.

Sam Jones wrote a few tunes to some of his numerous hymns; Nos 126, 225(?), 250, 265.

Hugh Roberts, a Canadian worker from Enniskillon, wrote No 198 and Geoffrey Bowdler of Wolverhanpton wrote No 155.

We will next consider hymns written by our friends, taking their names in alphabetical order.

Winnie Adams wrote No 224. She was a worker in the Maritime provinces of Canada and later become Mrs. W. Cresswell and lived in Prince Edward Island until her death.

Jack Annand wrote Nos 164, 241, 283, 316, 321. There is some nice poetry in most of them.

Mrs. Rene Beattie, a worker in New Zealand, wrote Nos 36, 50, 77 and 264. No 36 was written after she and her husband were walking some time on the road looking for a place in which to hold Gospel Meetings. At last they got the use of a barn and it was there that Mrs. Beattie sat down anad penned the first two verses. She afterwards added a third and then later another verse (not included in the hymn that reached us) wich was as follows:

"Come follow Him to mountain height
And learn His way and will for thee
Look past the world and keep in view
Eternity - - - Eternity."

No 165 waw written by a friend in Australia, H.C.Berrett.

Robert Blair, who also laboured in New Zealand, was born at Otokia, near Dunedin in 1873 and died in 1942. After selling some property left to him in Scotland, he started out in the work in England and remained about two years before going to New Zealand where he was for several years. he was for a time in Fiji, Samoa and Norfolk Isles and returned to Queensland where, after eleven years, he died. He wrote Nos. 185, 195, 235, 274, and 277. When he was in Exeter on one occasion, he pulled out a scrape of paper from his waistcoat pocket and asked another worker he met there if the verse he had written on it would do for a hymn. It was No. 274.

William C Carroll, (born 1876, died 1953) went forth into the Harvest Field in 1903. He spent the latter years of his life in Australia. He wrote Nos. 140 and 142.

Blanche Chappell, from Debenham, Suffolk, who has laboured for quite a time in Eastern Canada, wrote Nos. 232 and 284. Both are inspiring hymns.

James Craig (brother of Jack Craig) wrote Nos. 17, 263 and 334. He was a chiropractor in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was an intense sufferer himself toward the end of his life. The first verse of no 265 was borrowed from Redemption song 457, which was composed by Eli G Christy.

James Fawcett, from Fermanagh, who has been a number of years in the States, wrote Nos. 173, 215, 221, 239 and 326.

Harry Fleming, another USA worker wrote No 63.

Tom Holmes (born 1877, died 1930) wrote a number of Hymns, but never cared to show them. No. 45 is one of them. He lived near the Niagara Falls. He died in the home of one of the friends, soon after a meeting.

Charlie Hultgreen was a Chiropractor in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) now dead. He wronte No. 20.

Willie Hughes labours in New Zealand. He went there in 1906. He wrote Nos. 62, 66, 114, 116.

Adam Hutchinson was born in Lauder, Berwichshire. For a time he worked with his father as a blacksmith and then went out as a colporteur under the Faith Mission until he met George Walker and his companion. He came to Carnteel in 1903 and was a pioneer of the work in India, where he died of smallpox in 1924. He wrote hymn Nos. 199, 237 and 330.

James Jardine went into the work in 1905. He laboured for some time in Germany, but for the past number of years has been in the states. He has quite a few hymns to his credit. The following are found in this latest edition: Nos. 3, 6, 27, 28, 51, 61, 76, 98, 105, 128, 161, 184, 222. 233, 244, 269, 279, 315, 219, 324 and 333.

The next one is our old and esteemed friend, Sam Jones, who was born in Portadown, N. Ireland in 1877. He went forth to preach in 1902, and in 1908 went to South Australia. He move to Western Australia abut 1909, and from there to Tasmania, where he spent about 20 years. He had not been home for thirty years when he came back to England, in 1938. He returned to Australia and eventually went to East Rockingham, the first village he set foot on after landing at Fremantle, and where soon after, his companion left him, being discouraged. Sam let him have what little money he had and went on alone. Getting worn out with the journey he took shelter in an empty house. The next day he found himself so weak that he could not walk, and he stayed there for 18 days and might have died had not gypsies found him and gave him food. It was about this time that he wrote the hymn "I cannot now go back". He loved to study nature, as he did also the scriptures, and it was on Sunday April 14, 1946, that he went out for his usual morning walk and did not return, having collapsed and died of heart failure. He had suffered from heart trouble for a long time. Sam Jones might well be called "The sweet psalmist of Israel" of our day because of the number of hymns he wrote, and their fragrance and spiritual thought. He wrote on a variety of subjects and loved to dwell much on the theme of Redemption and God's will and purpose to conform us to His image. We surely are indebted to him, and yet even more to the Lord who moved him to write such inspiring hymns. The following is a list of his hymns found in our present book. Nos. 16, 18, 19, 21, 30, 34, 41, 46, 47, 49, 52, 53, 55, 57, 60, 65, 67, 71, 74, 75, 79, 84, 85, 87, 89, 93, 97, 99, 106, 107, 117, 124, 126, 129, 130, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 146, 147, 150, 151, 157, 159, 217, 220, 225, 226, 234, 238, 243, 248, 249, 250, 254, 255, 256, 257, 266, 267, 271, 273, 292, 295, 300, 301, 302, 303, 314, 325, 331. The four numbers underlined have already been referred to in the section dealing with hymns with words and tunes combined.

Jack Leech, who lived in Shropshire, wrote No. 110.

Mrs. Lindley professed in some of Willie Webb's meetings in his early days in the States, and has been herself a number of years in the work there. She wrote Nos. 306 and 307.

Robert Marshall was born in Co. Antrim and after a short time in the work in Ireland went to several countries in Europe, wrote No. 191 while in Italy. He is now in Morrocco.

Our old friend and brother, John Martin, went forth in 1916 and from his home in Co. Slige and for a few years was in the work in Ireland before going to Scotland. He was writing hymns before he went into the work. Although we have only two of his in this issue - Nos. 149 and 328. No. 149 is considered by many to be one of the best and most useful hymns in the book, because it embraces so much that is dear to the heart of all God's children.

Charlie Morgan, who died a few years ago in the States, came from England. He wrote No. 278.

Mary McGregor came from Bonnie Scotland. She wrote a number of helpful hymns - Nos. 153, 210, 258, 310 and 329. No. 153 was written after hearing Jack Carroll speak of the different offerings. No. 210 was written to help a young couple who had newly professed. She wrote No. 258 when she head she as to go to the States. Originally the hymn began "I've opened my mouth to Jesus". The thoughts of the years passing, prompted No. 310; 329 was written at the suggestion of a sister worker who asked for a hymn on "Going On"

James Patrick wrote No. 148.

Gladys Porteous, a worker in the States, wrote Nos. 82 and 90. The former is a useful hymn i missions. It was written before she went out in the work in 1923, on the thoughts of Jack Carroll, who spoke of Jesus living, dying, interceding and coming for us again. Some years later, when laid aside with illness, she wrote No. 90 on a message of Jack Carroll's on the Kingdom of God.

Mabel Pryor, also a USA worker, wrote No. 33.

Eustance Radford wrote No. 262 after the death of his beloved wife. Conventions have been held at his home in Australia for a number of years.

Tom Robers, an Irishman, labouring in the States, wrote No. 287.

Mrs. Schultz (nee? Carroll) of Melbourne, Australia has written a great many hymns. From her collection we have the following: Nos. 203, 219, 280 and 290.

Some of her hymns make very nice solos, but as already mentioned, these are not included.

Sandy Scott has also written a number of hymns besides those in the book. We are indebted to him for the following: Nox. 68, 73, 101, 127, 167, 188, 242, 245, 304, 323, 327, 335. No. 245 has been sometimes mistaken for a similar hymn by John Oxenham.

Robert Skerritt was in the work in the early days and wrote No. 80.

Mrs. Reid Smith was also for a time in the work. She wrote Nos. 286 and 332. A worker in a little meeting after the funeral of a sister wondered if that person could speak from eternity, what message she would give them, and suggested it would be "fight on-'tis not in vain"; this was the thought which prompted hymn No. 286, which is even more conspicuous in the chorus which is omitted in our present edition to shorten the hymn. No 332. was written in the hope of helping one that she heard was fighting a losing battle, and this hymn, no doubt, has helped many others since.

Milne Stouffer wrote Nos. 123 and 183. He was born and lived in Ontario Canada; and in his early days was a shoemaker, during which time he decided. He later went into the work, and continued for several years, in Canada and the U.S. Later his health failed and for some time he worked with his hands in Wisconsin, hoping to regain his health. Later he came to his father's home in Ontario, and after some time, went with him to the extreme north on a trapping expedition. He had to make the rounds of the traps, which are often set on the banks fo rivers and streams. It is thought that while doing this, he crossed a river and had fallen through the ice at some soft spot, as it was near spring; and as far as is known, his body was never found. He had a poetic nature and loved to get away alone. As well as having written the hymns mentioned, he also wrote a poem entitled "The two Ways"; following this thought throughout the Bible. It is told that Milne and his companion once had been looking for an opening for a mission and they were told of a very religious man who they went to see, but he would have nothing to do with them. They went back to the road and took off their boots to ease their feet, and found they were bleeding. It was soon afterward he wrote hymn No. 183.

John Sullivan was born in Dunmanway, Co, Cork in 1874. He died in Australia in 1924. For a time he was a school teacher in Co. Tipperary where he heard and readily embraced the Truth. He soon afterward went into the work (1900). He is the author of one of our special favorites, No 13. The story is told of his sister whose husband died leaving her in distress; John felt he ought to help her, so with the work of his hands he built her a house and put her on her feet. Then the thought came, if he could to this for another he could do it for himself. A battle went on in his heart and mind until one day he went out to meditate and pray under a bush opposite the house and there he got the thought for this hymn. He finally put them into hymn form on the ship on his way to his native shores.

Roy Taylor was quite a young worker in the States when he wrote No. 181, which has since become quite a favorite with many.

Thomas Turner came from Northern Ireland. He was a school teacher in Co. Galway when he heard the Truth. He went forth to preach in 1900 for a time in Ireland, and then was one of the first to go out to Australia. He wrote Nos. 202, 236 and 265. With regard to No. 236 at one convention someone said that "The approval of God" would be a good subject for a hymn. Within a short time, during the convention, the hymn was produced and sung.

Alex Walker, who married Queenie Higgins of Avoca, wrote No. 72. He was for a time in the work in New South Wales (Australia) and is now living in New Zealand, and has a daughter in the work in Malaya.

(Two more pages to go)