THE preparation of such a volume as this is surrounded by problems. The writer makes no claim to have solved all of them, or to have escaped mistakes and errors. He has had the advantage of following a host of diligent workers in such fields, and to them he is under deep obligation. The Dictionary of Hymnology has been constantly at his side, and to that unapproached masterpiece he owes a debt on every page. Mr. G. J. Stevenson's Methodist Hymn-Book has often suggested an illustrative incident; Mr. S. W. Duffield's English Hymns: their Authors and History, kindly lent him by an old friend, the Rev. John Reacher, and the Rev. Dr. A. E. Gregory s fascinating Fernley Lecture, The Hymn-Book of the Modern Church, have been of great service. The writer would also acknowledge his obligation to Mr. F. A. Jones's Famous Hymns and their Authors; the Rev. John Brownlie's Hymns and Hymn-Writers of 'The Church Hymnary' and other books, to which reference is made in the following pages.
Mr. W. T. Brooke, the expert in hymnology, began the preparation of such a volume as this, and his notes have helped the writer in various ways, epecially in dealing with the problems of the text and authorship of some well-known hymns.
The plan of the present work was fixed by the desire to make it a Companion to the Hymn-Book. The introductory sections on 'Wesley Hymns and Hymn-Books' and 'The Hymns of the Christian Church' will, it is hoped, be found useful to those who wish to gain fuller information on these subjects than it was possible to give under individual hymns. The area covered is so wide that it has been necessary to deny oneself the luxury of extended exposition or comment. Any corrections, facts, or hints as to famous uses of hymns will be welcomed by the writer.
January, 1906.
