METHODIST HYMN BOOK

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 12

METHODIST HYMN BOOK

CONFLICT BETWEEN OLD AND NEW IDEAS The Wesleyan Methodist Church is much perturbed concerning the preparation of a new hymn book winch is now under consideration. In view of Methodist Union the Primitive Methodist and "Unitcii Methodist Churches have been invited to send representatives to the committee which has been formed upon tho subject, and a preliminary survey of the situation is to be undertaken (says the church correspondent of the ‘ Sunday Times ’). Wesleyan Methodists generally seem to bo at “ sixes and sevens ” upon the subject. Theii present hymn book was issued a quarter of a century ago, and many Methodists consider that it is out of data by the inclusion of hymns that have lost their theological significance and the omission of others of considerable literary charm and appeal. The present book does not include, for instance, Tennyson’s ‘ Strong Son of God, Immortal Love,’ Jean Ingclow’s ‘ And Didst Thou Love the Race That Loved Not Thee? ’ Ebenezer Elliott’s ‘ When Wilt Thou Save the People?’ and Sir John Bowring’s ‘ln the Cross of Christ I Glory.’ DRASTIC REVISION URGED. There is naturally a largo number of Charles Wesley’s hymns in the present hymn book. The majority, even under present conditions, ought to be included, it is admitted, but several do not appear to meet the views of the modern critics. They would like, therefore, a drastic revision without reference to the sentiment of the past in order to accommodate the literary taste and culture of, the new generation of younger and more cultured Wesleyan Methodists. Tho modern critic abhors the bad theology reminiscent of many hymns of the eighteenth century. As long as people sing these hymns to fervour-inspiring tunes, so long will it be imnossible (he states) to exercise the out-of-date ideas which have been buried under the research of the later theologians. D is clear, however, that modernists have not captured the Methodist hymnbook citadel. Probably tho majority of n misters and clergy—espe j those in the rural areas of Methodism—will not accept these newer ideas. A great gulf is fixed between the Methodism of the towns and that of the rural areas. Any attempt to delete wholesale the old-fashioned Wesley hymns would create one of the biggest < roversies that has ever arisen in Metbo,. in. As an indication of the feeling on this subject it has been stated that the decline in Wesleyan membership and fellowship was not altogether unconnected with the publication of the last hymn book in 1904. A large amount of work hits yet to be accomplished before the new hymn book will be ready, and in the meantime agreements and compromises must be reached in order to accommodate the two main stream* of Methodist opinion upon the subject.