Hymn

him, a religious ode or poem. In a somewhat narrower sense, a hymn is a rhythmical production expressive of praise, adoration, or spiritual meditation, and designed to be sung by a company of worshipers. The word hymn is Greek. It was used by the ancients to signify a song in honor of gods, heroes, or famous men, sung or recited on some solemn or joyful occasion. There are two collections of Greek hymns known as the hymns of Homer and the hymns of Pindar. The Zend-Avesta, the scriptures of the Persians, and the Rig-Veda of the Hindus consist almost entirely of hymns.

Christian hymnody has its origin in Hebrew sources. The most noted collection of hymns in existence is that known as the Psalms of David and forming one of the books of the Old Testament. The word psalm, formerly used as synonymous with hymn, is now restricted for the most part to this collection. The book consists of 150 psalms or hymns. In the original Hebrew these were metrical compositions. They formed the hymn book of the Jewish nation, under the common name of "The Book of Praises." Doubtless these hymns formed an important part of Hebrew worship. In the New Testament we read of the apostles singing a hymn at the institution of the Lord's Supper. St. Paul and Silas sang in prison at Philippi. The singing of hymns is mentioned in several of the epistles.

The Psalms have been translated into English verse and in this form have been long in use in the Scottish church. The great hymns of the early Christian church are in Greek or Latin. The Roman Catholic church, in particular, is the custodian of a series of hymns accompanied by music of equal merit. Perhaps the most celebrated is the "Te Deum," so called from the first line "Te Deum laudamus," we praise thee, O God. The authorship is unknown but is ascribed often to St. Ambrose. This hymn is still sung in the Roman Catholic church, and the English translation forms a part of the regular morning service in the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal churches of America. Another celebrated Latin hymn is "Dies Irae."

Luther, the leader of the German Reformation, was a lover of music. He wrote thirty-seven hymns. The best known is a paraphrase of the forty-sixth psalm, "Ein Feste Burg is Unser Gott," A mighty fortress is our God. Carlyle says it is a "sound of Alpine avalanches"; Heine calls it the "Marseillaise of the Reformation." The Church of England has contributed noted hymns. Like those of the Roman Catholics and the Lutherans, they are too numerous to mention. The Presbyterians, the Methodists, and other denominations have done their full share. Some of the best known names of hymn writers are those of Cardinal Newman, Henry E. Lyte, Frederick Faber, Horatius Bonar, Charles Wesley, John Wesley, Isaac Watts, William Cowper, Thomas Moore, Bishop Doane, Richard Baxter, Reginald Heber, Sabine Baring-Gould, Reverend John Keble, and Sarah F. Adams. It seems fitting to mention in this connection the tunes to which favorite hymns are sung. Many of these are so closely associated with the words that the one invariably suggests the other. The fitness of the music to the sentiment of the hymn itself has been, doubtless, an important factor in making permanent the popularity of many hymns.

Although the word hymn is defined as a religious song, a distinction is noticeable in the common use of the words hymn and song as applied to metrical compositions of a religious character. The word hymn designates those songs only which are of a serious nature, which express depth of feeling, and possess a certain majesty of movement. Bishop Doane's "Ancient of Days" is a hymn in the best sense of the word, and the older songs, "Nearer, my God, to Thee," "Lead, Kindly Light," Abide with Me," are also hymns. But we give the name of songs instinctively to "Yield Not to Temptation," "Work, for the Night is Coming," and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."