Chapter II

THE PURPOSE AND VALUE OF HYMNS 40
I THE IMPULSE TO WRITE HYMNS.
II PURPOSE IN WRITING HYMNS.
The Influence of Purpose.
The Purpose Must Affect Only the Practical Aspects.
III PURPOSE OF THE USER OF HYMNS.
IV PURPOSES SERVED BY SINGING HYMNS.
Hymns Unite Christians in Worship and Christian Activities.
Hymns Concentrate Interest and Attention.
Hymns Afford a Means of Expression for the Congregation.
Hymns Provide Help and Comfort in Dark Hours.
Hymns Afford Clear Expression of Christian Truth.
Hymns Give Opportunity for Active Participation by All.
Hymns Provide Variety.
Hymns Create a Religious Atmosphere.
Hymns in the Home.
Hymns in Personal Work.
V REASONS FOR THE MINISTER’S APPRECIATION OF HYMNS.
Hymns Are Evidence of the Effect of the Bible.
Hymns and Psalms Affected the Life of Church.
Hymns in Personal Christian Experience.
Hymns as Stimulating the Spiritual Life of the Minister.
Hymns Approved by Paul.
Hymns in the Early Church.
Hymns Prepared the Church for Periods of Marked Progress.
VI STRANGE INDIFFERENCE TO HYMNS.
The Minister’s Indifference.
Indifference of the Congregation.

CHAPTER III
THE LITERARY ASPECT OF HYMNS 53
I WHAT MAKES THE HYMN LITERATURE?
Its Character as a Transcript of Life.
Its Wide Distribution.
Its Acceptance Through Many Generations.
Its Profound Influence.
II OBJECTIONS TO RECOGNIZING ITS LITERARY CHARACTER.
Due to Narrow Definition of Literature.
Due to Failure to Realize Limitations of Hymns.
Some Critics and Their Criticisms.
III THE WRITING OF HYMNS.
The Handicap of Thought and Diction.
The Handicap of Meter.
IV LITERARY QUALITY NOT TO BE OVERESTIMATED.
Literary Quality Not the Supreme Consideration.
Literary Quality Should Be Subconscious.

CHAPTER IV
THE EMENDATION OF HYMNS 63
I THE CHANGES IN OUR HYMNS.
Early Changes.
The Abuse of the Editorial Revision.
The Return to the Originals.
II PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY INVOLVED IN THESE CHANGES.
The Rights of the Original Writer.
The Limits of the Author’s Rights.
III EFFECT OF CHANGES ON QUALITY.
Loss of Original Writer’s Vision.
Biblical Precedent.
IV ANALYSIS OF CHANGES MADE.
The Omission of Verses.
Reconstructing and Rewriting Faulty Hymns.
Minor Felicitous Changes.

CHAPTER V
THE CONTENT OF THE HYMN 76
I ITS RELATION TO GOD.
Thanksgiving.
Prayer for Future Blessing.
Adoration.
The Hymn of Communion.
II RELATION TO THE SINGER.
The Hymn of Emotion.
The Hymn of Inspiration.
The Hymn of Personal Experience.
The Hymn of Meditation.
The Hymn of Exhortation.
The Didactic Hymn.
The Doctrinal Hymn.
The Homiletical Hymn.
The Hymn of Propaganda.
Hymns of the Social Gospel.
Special Hymns.
The Great Hymnic Themes.