One community joining in worship throughout the world with one hymn book as their aid is an ideal which should need no pleading f or. It is also a practical need, the more so when modern travel brings so much interchange between members of ecclesias in different lands. The Christadelphian Hymn Book, 1964, has been prepared as the crowning symbol of the unity attained in recent years among Christadelphians formerly divided. While two hymn books remained in use there was an unhappy reminder of division which had existed for seventy years.
The reason behind the production of the New Hymn Book was never, as has been suggested, “A local issue between two ecclesias” and there was no “capitulation” by Birmingham Central Ecclesia. Nor is Suffolk Street Ecclesia as such responsible for omissions or additions. Nor was there any question of “foisting” a Central Hymn Book on Suffolk Street Ecclesias or a Suffolk Street Book on Central or any other book on anybody. Nor did it in any way rest between the two ecclesias. When reunion was effected it was a matter of mutual agreement that a new book would be desirable, especially as there were so many differences between the two existing books in words and music even in hymns which they had in common. The time was opportune in every way. The Suffolk Street Book was running out of supply and though the Christadelphian Office had (and still has) considerable stocks of the Pocket Edition of the 1932 book, the large edition was nearly exhausted.
The act of blending two hymn books into one gave perhaps the last opportunity of making the collection more adequate for all the varied needs of spiritual and ecclesial life. It can be said with confidence that this new book does give a fuller choice for all the various occasions for which hymns are needed than any predecessor in Christadelphian use.
A few hymns were added from the Christadelphian Youth Hymnal, and these are mainly the original work of brethren or sisters in Christ. Others have been in use in leaflet form, and there were a great many suggestions for selections from other books. All had to be studied for suitability, and the frequency with which “and compilers” is to be found in the acknowledgments is evidence of the care with which hymns new and old were examined, and where necessary amended to bring them more in accord with Bible teaching. In most cases the “compilers” represent the Hymn Book Committee. These comprised representatives of the Committee of the Christadelphian Publishing Association, with the addition of sound brethren and sisters with literary and musical qualifications.
For the Publishing Committee: Brethren John Carter, C. Cooper, A. Dagg, E. W. Newman and R. Smalley: additional members: Brethren H. S. Dorricott, A. Hill and A. H. Nicholls. Later, Sisters G. Blake and E. Ladson (Brother Robert Roberts’ daughter) were added. All were of long experience and established in the Truth. Bro. Carter gave particular attention to matters of doctrine, and his successor in the editorship of The Christadelphian, on filling the vacancy on the Committee caused by his death, endeavoured to follow his example.
There was no question on the Committee of “Central” or Suffolk Street” exercising an influence as to what hymns were included or excluded: the Committee acted on their judgment to produce what they felt to be a suitable hymn book having regard to the needs and tastes of users of both books. It is a complete misrepresentation to speak of the Suffolk Street Fellowship “segregating itself”. They went on using the book they were used to until the new one was produced: then they gladly adopted the new one which the Central and Suffolk Street Ecclesias are now both using. Although the 1932 Hymn Book served the ecclesias of the Central Fellowship well for thirty years, it was so surrounded with controversy when it was published that the Committee made a deliberate effort to avoid offence and provide a book which should be widely acceptable in our community.
A measure of their success has been found in the readiness with which the book has been taken up in Great Britain and overseas. The first order for binding was for 14,000, and this was almost swallowed up by orders received before publication. Successive orders for binding had to be given to meet continual demands. Sales already amount to 25,000 copies, and orders now placed will leave very few unbound out of a first printing of 30,000. For a community of our size this is phenomenal.
In general, praise has been high: in spiritual, literary and musical standards it is widely regarded as the best Christadelphian Hymn Book that there has ever been. No hymn book that could be produced could fulfil the ideal of every user, and differences of judgment and taste are bound to occur both in omissions and inclusions. The Committee of the Christadelphian Publishing Association, when they received the work of the Hymn Book Committee, adopted it with a few amendments and gave it their full support.
One feature which has aroused diverse views has been the acknowledgment of authors of words and composers of tunes on the page with the hymns. Many feel that this is an honest recognition which is long overdue. We have from the start drawn our hymns and music from many sources, only a small proportion being original work. In this, however, the hands of the Committee were forced by requirements of copyright owners. We were informed that use of copyright work could not be negotiated unless we conformed to modern practice in acknowledgments. Refusal of copyrights would have had a serious effect, as it would have deprived us not only of eleven hymns but of 30 tunes, many of admitted excellence, and a number already in use in earlier books, while for others there were many requests. How great would have been the disappointment if the book had not included the now familiar Rimington or Cwm Rhondda or Blaenwern!
Whatever its human imperfections, the book is put before the Brotherhood as a sincere effort, and in the words of the Preface, “permeated throughout by ‘the faith in the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ’ “, which “must ever be the foundation of true worship”.
To quote further: “Like the first collection of hymns for Christadelphian worship . . . the latest book is designed for a people holding a faith in one God, and one Lord, His Son Jesus Christ; a people realizing man’s mortality and need of salvation from sin and death; a people offering a devout response to God’s love revealed in the life and death of Christ and in his glorious resurrection; and a people firmly assured of the coming Kingdom of God on earth at the Lord’s return from Heaven.”
Fellowship with the Maker and Brethren