MODERN HYMN BOOKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 6

MODERN HYMN BOOKS.

(To the Editor.) i Sir,—After reading “Churchgoer’s” letter in to-night’s issue of the “Manawatu Standard,” one can only have mingled feelings of astonishment and disgust. Of astonishment, that in times like the present any churchgoer dan find time or has the desire to indulge or encourage criticism of hymn j books; and of disgust to think that any person can presume to call themselves a child ol God and have the ignorance and audacity to thus pass judgment on those noble Christian writers to whom, under Cod, we are indebted for such a heritage as we possess in our present-day hymn books. To refer to one or two points. Hat! “Churchgoer” ever read those portions of the Bible written by that sweet singer, David, he would have found unlimited evidence to show that we are indeed “frail children of the jdust,” and that we certainly arc passdug through a “vale of tears.” Comj pared with heaven can earth ever be j anything else? Also, has he never read the Scripture, “dust thou art and to dust shalt thou return?” Has he never read Paul’s statement, “For we know that the whole creation groancth and travailoth in pain together until now?” and again, “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven?” These instances cited are only a few out of very many, proving that our hymn writers have Scriptural authority for expressing the sentiments to which “Churchgoer” so strongly objects. In general your correspondent appears to be suffering from a strange and complicated malady. He would do well to ask himself the question, is “Churchgoer” truly a child of God by the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ? lo any lover of God’s Word and our many choice collections of hymns it appears incredulous and unthinkable that one should presume to sit in judgment over the saintly men who have composed these many rich, beautiful and Scriptural hymns suited by their variety to every possible occasion and need. No, “Churchgoer,” do not worry, no “purge” is necessary, hut rather a paying heed to the sentiments expressed in our hymnology which, with very lew minor exceptions, fully accords with Holy Scripture.—l am, etc., C. H. LEWIS. 559 I'erguson Street, 30/4/41.