anywhere of the religious body for which the book was intended.[1] It is a handsome duodecimo containing 917 hymns, which, according to the preface, are mostly derived from the hymn-books of the "Bohemian Brethren", though there is an appendix containing some of the best hymns of the Lutheran and Reformed churches. The preface is scholarly and the arrangement admirable. There is a three-fold index, of melodies, festivals and first lines. The index of hymns arranged according to the festivals not only indicates hymns proper to be sung on every Lord's Day in the year, but also for many saints' days which are not ordinarily observed by Protestants, and for six annual days of fasting and prayer. * * * Notwithstanding certain imperfections, the Schwenkfelder hymn-book is, in our opinion, a publication of a very superior order, and a credit to the community that produced it."
The scholarliness of the preface of said hymn-book is owed to Rev. Christopher Schultz, while the orderliness of its arrangement is in some measure to be placed to his credit. In a sketch of his life and literary activity ("Lebenslauf von Vater Christoph Schultz, Sr.")[2] written by David" Schultz, his son, are included these few words relative to the authorship of the preface of this hymn-book: "Die Vorrede im alten Gesang-Buch, ist audi mehrentheils sein Werck". We print below a letter of Christopher Schultz, which not only attests the fact that he, as editor, drafted the preface of the hymn-book in question, but which betrays also the editor's concern that the hymn-book should set a high standard as to*both orderliness and Christian doctrine, and should be serviceable as a text-book of uncolored Christian faith. The letter follows in full:[3]
- ↑ This is an oversight. The Schwenkfelders were early called "Bekenner der Glorien Christi," "Confessors of the Glory of Christ." This name the full title of the hymn-book includes.
- ↑ A copy of this sketch of "Vater" Schultz was furnished me by H. W. Kriebel.
- ↑ The original is in the possession of Rev. E. E. S. Johnson.
