been had to the rich stores of Charles Zeuner's music, of most of which this firm is proprietor and publisher. Acknowledgments are due also to the editors of several of these collections, for their kind assent to such use of their own compositions; and to the proprietors of the "National Church Harmony," for the use of "Woodland," and other tunes from that collection.

A few words may be allowed here respecting the conditions of success in congregational singing. The first is a hearty and devout spirit in the people, rendering them alive to the object of the exercise, and leading to a general participation in it. The second, and hardly less indispensable, is practice. Choirs do not expect to sing well without careful practice; why should a congregation? Some regularly organized plan to secure general musical culture, and stated rehearsals, should be a part of the working apparatus of each church. It will conduce much to its success also, if the book is made a familiar companion in the home circle, for which it is well adapted. It is also well to have a number of practised and able singers so grouped in the church, whether as a choir or in a central part of the room, that they may serve as leaders, and give assurance to other and less skilful singers.

Where such efforts are not made, congregational singing is very likely to run out into the lifeless and at last tedious repetition of a very few tunes, which, though they may be the best, become stale and repulsive by such disproportioned and hard usage; so that both the music and the worship suffer wrong. For this reason, it is desirable that the general practice should be to use with each hymn one of the tunes which accompany it, on the same or opposite page, though this is not a necessary result of the plan of the book.

It is devoutly hoped that this work, which has been prepared with great labor and expense, may add to the enjoyment of our Christian worship both at church and at home; may quicken, warm, and

elevate the feelings; and pour into all hearts new tides of joy and gladness in the worship of the all-wise and good Father; or, if so need be, exercise a soothing and comforting influence in the seasons of sorrow. With this hope, it is commended to the blessing of God, whose high praises it is the noblest privilege of man to sound forth.