List of Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1801--1825

Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1801--1825

• A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, adapted to public worship, Thomas Westlake, Bristol: Biggs and Co., 1801
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Composed on various Texts of the Holy Scriptures, Jonathan Franklin, London: C. Whittingham, 1801
• Hymns Doctrinal and Experimental, for the Free-Born Citizens of Zion, W. Augustus Clarke, London: W. Justins, 1801
• A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Intended for Public and Social Worship, 2nd ed., Lemuel Burkitt, Halifax, NC: A. Hodge, 1802
• The Christian’s Pocket Companion: Being a Collection of the Newest and Most Admired Spiritual Songs, Now Made Use of by the United Baptists of Virginia, John Courtney, Richmond, VA: Dixon and Courtney, 1802
• Hymns Particularly designed for the Use of the Congregation meeting together in Grafton Street, Soho, 6th edition, Richard Burnham, London: J. Whiting, 1803
• A Collection of Hymns, Appropriate to the Domestic Chaplain, John Stanford, New York, NY: T.  and J. Swords, 1806
• A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, Archibald Maclae, New York, NY: William A. Davis, 1806
• Sion’s Harmony; or, the United Praises of Ransomed Sinners: a Complete Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, W. W. Horne, London: G. Auld, 1806
• The Latest Collection of Original and Select Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christian societies, New York, NY: John Tiebout, 1806
• A Selection of Evangelical Hymns, William Staughton, Philadelphia, PA: 1807
• A Selection of Free-grace Hymns: Carefully Chosen and Revised by Eben-Ezer Baptist Church, Under the Pastoral Care of John Inglesby, in the City of New-York: To which are Added, Some Original Hymns: Also, a Copy of the Church Covenant, John Inglesby, New York, NY: T. & J. Swords, 1807
• A Selection of Hymns and Psalms from the Most Approved Authors, Daniel Dodge, Wilmington, DE: Matthew R. Lockerman, 1808
• A Selection of Hymns, including also Some Original Hymns never before Offered to the Public, John Stevens, London, 1809
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, on Various Subjects, Ebenezer Jayne, Morristown, NJ: Jacob Mann, 1809
• The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns, and Sacred Poems, Jesse Mercer, 1810, et al. (3^rd edition published in Philadelphia, PA)
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, Starke Dupuy, Frankfort, KY: W. Gerard, 1811
• A New Selection of Hymns: designed for the use of Conference Meetings, Private Circles, and Congregations, as a supplement to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, William Collier, Boston, MA:  Samuel T. Armstrong, 1812
• Daniel's Selection, Robert Thomas Daniel, Raleigh, NC: Thomas Henderson, 1812
• Original Hymns for Sunday Schools, Josiah Conder, Ann and Jane Taylor, London: J. Conder, 1812
• An Appendix, from the Olney Hymns, with Additional Hymns, original and selected, William Staughton, Philadelphia, PA: W. W. Woodward, 1813
• Sion's Melody: a Selection of upward of Six Hundred Hymns for Social and Public Worship, with some originals, never before published, John Bailey, London: E. Justin, 1813
• A Collection of Divine Hymns from Various Authors, by Elder George Elliot, Pastor of the Free Baptist Church in Canajoharry, State of New York, Geo. Elliot, Sangerfield, NY: J. Tenny, 1814
• A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Public and Family Worship, Elisha Battle, Raleigh, NC: Minerva Press by A. Lucas, 1814
• A Hymn Book Containing a Copious Selection of Hymns and Songs, from the Best Authors, Silas M. Noel, Frankfort, KY: Gerard and Berry, 1814
• A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, Manchester, 1814 (Oxford: Gospel Standard Society, 1977)
• Collection of Hymns Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, James Upton, London: James Upton, 1814
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Composed on Various Subjects, in a Plain Style, with the Author’s Experience, Reuel Lothrop, Concord, NH: I. & W. R. Hill, 1814
• The Nazarene’s Songs: Being a Composition of Original Hymns, William Gadsby, Manchester: Wardle and Bentham, 1814
• A Collection of Hymns, adapted to Public Worship: designed principally as a Supplement to the Larger Hymn Book, used in the General Baptist Churches, Joseph Jarrom, Wisbech, UK: Printed by J. White, 1816
• Pawtucket Collection of Conference Hymns, David Benedict, Boston, MA: Lincoln and Edmands, 1819 (first published in 1817)
• Selection of Hymns, From the Best Authors, Paul Himes and Jonathan Wilson, Greenfield, MA: Ansel Phelps, 1817
• A Selection of Hymns adapted for Divine Worship, Christopher Anderson, Edinburgh: Balfour and Clarke, 1818
• A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs in two parts (3rd edition), William Parkinson, New York, NY: John Tiebout, 1818
• Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, or Family Devotion, Benjamin Beddome,  London: Burton and Briggs, 1818
• A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, including a Number of Originals, William Williams, London: J. Davy, 1819
• The Discipline of the United Freewill Baptist Church: together with Hymns and Spiritual Songs, for the use of its members, John Elliott and Samuel Stevens, Philadelphia, PA: D. Heartt, 1819
• An Arrangement of the Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D.D., James M. Winchell, Boston, MA: Lincoln & Edmands, 1821
• A Missionary Hymn Book: or, Hymns Adapted to Missionary Subjects, and Designed for the Use of Christians of All Denominations, John Lawson, Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press, 1821
• A Selection of Hymns for Conference and Prayer Meetings, Thomas Ripley, Portland, ME: Thos. Todd & Co., 1821
• Selection of Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs, Silas M. Noel, with Jeremiah Vardeman, 2nd edition published in Frankfort, KY, 1821
• The Free-will Baptist Hymn Book: Compiled for the Lord’s New Church, Philadelphia, PA: T.S. Manning, 1822
• A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, In Two Parts, John Purify, Raleigh, NC: Bell and Lawrence, 1823
• Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected for the Use of the United Churches of Christ, Commonly called Freewill Baptist, and for Saints of All Denominations, John Buzzell, Kennebunk, ME: James K. Remich, 1823
• A Selection of Hymns, including many Originals, for the Use of the Church and Congregation meeting for Divine Worship in Meeting-House Walk, Snow’s Fields Borough, George Francis, London: Poplett and Sons, 1824
• The Baptist Hymn Book: being a Select Collection of Hymns and Psalms, for Public Worship; With some originals, never before published, James Fenn, London: for the author, 1824
• The Nazarene’s Songs: in Two Parts, the Second Part never before Published, William Gadsby, Manchester: Henry Smith, 1824
• Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs, including some never before in Print, Absalom Graves, Frankfort, KY: Amos Kendall, 1825
• The Baptist Hymn Book: in two parts, William B. Biddle, & William J.  Newborn, Washington City, DC: Columbian Office by John S. Meecham, 1825
• The Baptist Sabbath-School Hymn Book, Joseph F. Winks, Loughborough, circa 1825

List of Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1684--1800

Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1684--1800

• Spiritual Hymns upon Solomons Song: or, Love in the right channel, Wherein that divine part of scripture is paraphras’d, and the dark places expounded; and may be vocally sung in the ordinary tunes of the singing Psalms, John Reeve, London: printed by John Hancock Senior, 1684
• Spiritual Melody, Containing Near Three Hundred Sacred Hymns, Benjamin Keach, London: John Hancock, 1691
• A Banquetting-House Full of Spiritual Delights: or, Hymns and Spiritual Songs on Several Occasions, Elias Keach, London: Benjamin Harris, 1696
• Hymns in Commemoration of the Sufferings of Our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ compos'd for the celebration of His Holy Supper, Joseph Stennett, London: J. Darby for Andr. Bell, 1697
• Spiritual Songs, being the Marrow of the Scripture, in Songs of Praise to Almighty God, from the Old and New Testament, with a hundred Divine Hymns on Several Occasions; as now practised in several congregations in and about London, Benjamin Keach, London: John Marshal, 1700
• Hymns Compos'd for the Celebration of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism, Joseph Stennett, London: J. Darby, 1712
• A Narration of the Wonders of Grace, in verse ... To which is added, a poem on the special work of the Spirit in the hearts of the elect; As also, sixty one hymns composed on several subjects, Anne Dutton, London: for the Author, 1734
• Divine Songs, Hymns and Other Poems, Daniel Turner, Reading: S. Blackman, 1747
• A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, William Sinclair, Keiss, Scotland, 1750
• Evangelical Hymns and Songs, in two parts: the first, composed on various views of the Christian life and warfare; the second, in praise of the Redeemer: published for the comfort & entertainment of true Christians, Benjamin Wallin, London: John Ward, 1750
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Edward Trivett, London: for the Author, 1755
• Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional: In Two Volumes, Anne Steele, London: J. Buckland and J. Ward, 1760
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Collected from the Work of Several Authors, (aka “The Newport Collection”), Newport, RI: Samuel Hall, 1766
• Hymns for Enquirers after Jesus, Andrew Gifford, London: John Cater, 1766
• Hymns Devotional and Moral, on Various Subjects, John Needham, Bristol: S. Farley, 1768
• A Collection of Hymns adapted to Public Worship, John Ash and Caleb Evans. Bristol: W. Pine, 1769
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, mostly collected from various authors; with a few that have not been published before, Dan Taylor, Halifax: E. Jacob. 1772
• Hymns on Believers Baptism, John Fellows, Birmingham: For the author, 1773
• Hymns in a Great Variety of Metres, John Fellows, Birmingham: For the author, 1776
• Hymns adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion, John Fawcett, 1782
• A Choice Collection of Hymns, from Various Authors, adapted to Publick Worship, [Elhanan Winchester], Philadelphia, PA: Enoch Story, 1784
• A New Composition of Hymns and Poems, Samuel Deacon, Leicester: for the author, 1784
• New Hymns on Divine Love, Richard Burnham, London: W. Smith, 1785
• A Collection of Christian Hymns and Songs in Three Books: I. translations and paraphrases of Scripture texts, II. on a variety of divine subjects, III. on the peculiar institutions of the kingdom of Christ, Glasgow: D. Niven, 1786
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Henry Alline, Boston, MA: Peter Edes, 1786
• Hymns for a Believer's Baptism, Maria De Fleury, London: W. Justins, 1786
• A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, John Rippon, London: T. Wilkins, 1787
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, John Dracup, Bolton: B. Jackson, 1787
• Hymns, By the Rev. S. Medley, of Liverpool, Samuel Medley, London: George Nicholson, 1789
• A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association, Samuel Jones and Burgis Allison, editors, Philadelphia, PA: R. Aitken & Son, 1790
• Collection of Sacred Ballads,  Richard and Andrew Broaddus, n.p., 1790
• A Three-fold Alphabet of New Hymns...to which is added a Supplicatory Supplement, Charles Cole, London: Morgan and Scott, 1792
• Hymns on Different Spiritual Subjects, In Two Parts, Benjamin Cleavland, Anna Beeman and Amos Wells, Norwich CT: John Trumbull, 1792
• Walworth Hymns, Joseph Swain, London: J. Matthews, 1792
• A Collection of Evangelical Hymns, John Stanford, New York, NY: Thomas and James Swords, 1793
• Hymns and Anthems, Composed on Divine Subjects, Agreeable to Sacred Scripture. Inspected and Approved by the Rev. Isaac Backus, Thomas Nichols, Albany, NY: Charles R. & George Webster, 1793
• Hymns and Spiritual Songs, selected from Several Approved Authors, Recommended by the Baptist General Committee of Virginia, Eleazar Clay, Richmond, VA: John Dixon, 1793
• Union Harmony, Oliver Holden, Boston, MA: Isaiah Thomas & Ebenezer Andrews, 1793
• Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of religious assemblies and private Christians, Joshua Smith, Norwich, CT: Thomas Hubbard, 1794
• Poems, Devotional and Moral: in Two Parts, Daniel Turner, Henley: G. Norton, 1794
• Barton Hymns: a New Composition of Hymns and Poems; Chiefly on Divine Subjects, Designed for the Amusement and Edification of Christians of all Denominations; more particularly to those of the General Baptist Persuasion, Samuel Deacon, Coventry: Luckman and Suffield, 1797
• Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs from the Best Authors, Andrew Broaddus, Richmond, VA: Samuel Pleasants, Jr. 1798
• A New and Large Collection of Hymns and Psalms, John Deacon, London: H. D. Symonds, 1800
• Hymns, the Public Worship and Private Devotions of the Christians Assisted, in Some Thoughts in Verse: Principally Drawn from Select Passages of the Word of God, Samuel Medley, Published by Luke Hansard, 1800

Spiritual Melody, the first Baptist hymn book

Baptist hymnologists Music and Richardson describe Benjamin Keach as "the seminal figure in congregational singing among Baptists" writing that he "was the first to establish the practice of singing hymns, as distinguished from psalms, in the regular worship of any English church." ("I Will Sing the Wondrous Story": A History of Baptist Hymnody in North America, David W. Music, Paul Akers Richardson, p. 12)

Keach was born in Stokehaman, Buckinghamshire, February 29, 1640. He was raised an Anglican, and as a young man worked as a tailor. He was baptized as a Baptist at the age of 15. He started preaching at age 18. Keach became pastor of a General Baptist church at Winslow in 1661. While there he wrote The Child's Instructor, which brought on persecution from the established church. In 1668 moved to a church in Southwark where he remained until his death, 36 years as pastor. Unlike the church in Winslow, this was a Particular Baptist congregation. From this church Keach represented in the 1689 General Assembly which formulated the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.

Keach was married twice, first to Jane Grove, and after her death to Susanna Partridge. He died January 18, 1704 and is buried at the Baptist Burial Ground in Southwark, London, England.

Keach's Spiritual Melody, published in 1691, is considered the oldest or first-known Baptist hymn book. Prior to this most English Baptists, both General Atonement Baptists and Particular Atonement Baptists, were opposed to congregational hymn singing. Benjamin Keach advocated hymn singing as a scriptural practice, and instituted it in his church in the early 1670s -- first at the Lord's Supper and eventually in weekly worship meetings. He published The Breach Repaired in God's Worship, or Singing of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs Proved to be an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ to promote hymn singing and answer objections (particularly those of Isaac Marlow's 1690 A Brief Discourse concerning Singing in the Publick Worship of God in the Gospel-Church). This was released the same year as Spiritual Melody. Keach was providing polemic to promote congregational singing, as well as material to use in its conduct. In The Breach Repaired Keach declared, "Singing is not a simple heart singing, or mental singing; but a musical melodious modulation, or tuning of the voice. Singing is a duty performed always with the voice, and cannot be done without the tongue." He considered singing ordained of God, and to neglect the ordinance a "breach" of God's law.

Keach wrote over 40 books, hundreds of hymns and published three collections of hymns -- Spiritual Melody, A Feast of Fat Things (1696), and Spiritual Songs (1700). Poetry by Keach is also included in some of his prose works. In comparing Spiritual Melody and Keach's book Tropologia: a Key to Open Scripture Metaphors (1681), Barry Vaughn (Public Worship and Practical Theology in the Work of Benjamin Keach) "concluded that many of the hymns were developed to coordinate with coordinate with Keach's sermons." (Sounds exactly like something a hymn-writing preacher would do!)

The general consensus is that Benjamin Keach was effective in promoting hymn singing, while not especially effective in writing good quality hymns. His Spiritual Melody stands as the first-known attempt of a Baptist to produce a hymn book for use in his church's worship, and serves as a foundation to all the Baptist hymn books and hymnals that follow after.

--

1. Break out ye Saints with joy and sing,
to the Eternal King;
The Angels do blest Tidings bring,
Hosannah in the highest.

2. In Bethlehem the Babe is born,
cease, cease, your bitter Mourn,
Your Sorrow now to Singing turn,
Hosannah in the highest.
From "The Song of the Lamb, Part 1," by Benjamin Keach (In Spiritual Melody, 1696)

List of Baptist Hymn Books and Hymnals

Over several years I have been compiling a list of Baptist hymn books and hymnals. Solomon said "of making many books there is no end." I’ve decided that his admonition also applies to making lists! I have tried to put together a fairly extensive listing of hymnals hymn books – but the possibilities seem endless. The sheer magnitude of books published by and for Baptists makes it practically impossible to collect a comprehensive list.

Over the next week or so I am going to publish my list on this blog. The list includes (mostly) English language hymn books, song books and hymnals. These books are compiled and published by Baptist denominations and/or Baptist individuals. I make no judgments beyond this – either the editor/compiler was a Baptist at the time, or the book was published by some Baptist group. I try to cover the spectrum from Arminian to Calvinist, Liberal to Fundamentalist, Progressive to Old School.

The list will be published over nine days because it is lengthy. The divisions hopefully will make it is easier to take in. Books will be listed chronologically from oldest to newest, and then alphabetically by title within the chronology. Books without publication dates are inserted chronologically best as possible, or at the end of the list. For example, the publication date of Golden Harp Hymns by Lawrence Rice is unknown. It is inserted in 1967, the year of Rice’s death. Some other books of unknown date with little or no information on the compiler are placed at the end of the list. The list draws from the published works of others (e.g., Burrage, Drummond, Music, Reynolds), as well as personal knowledge and information from friends and colleagues. If you see books that were left off or books that should not be included, please let me know (and give your proof/reasons).

The Anabaptist hymnal The Ausbund is possibly the oldest Christian song book in continuous use. First printed in 1564, it is still used by the Amish. Spiritual Melody (1691), by London Baptist preacher Benjamin Keach, is believed by some scholars to be the oldest or first Baptist hymn book. Prior to this many, if not nearly all, English Baptists of both the General and Particular persuasions were opposed to congregational hymn singing. Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1766), also known as “The Newport Collection,” is considered the first Baptist hymnal published in America [e.g., cf. I Will Sing the Wondrous Story, Music, pp. 8-17, 119-120; The Newport Collection (1766): the First Baptist Hymnal in America, Music, pp. 88-90].

It is hoped to be as accurate as possible, but inability to locate many of these books creates some dependence on second- and third-hand knowledge. For example, library holdings list A Missionary Hymn Book by John Lawson, a Baptist Missionary in India, as an English language book, but no copy was examined to confirm that. Seven dual language hymn books – English/Choctaw, English/Creek, English/German, English/Hungarian, English/Muskokee and English/Welsh – are included in the above list, especially to remind us that a list of English hymnals and hymn books does not exhaust the list of languages in which Baptist print hymns.

[It is worth acknowledging that some of these hymn books and hymnals by Baptists have had little impact on the Baptist fold, often considerably less than some published by non-Baptists.]

• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1691--1800
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1801--1825
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1826--1850
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1851--1875
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1876--1900
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1901--1925
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1926--1950
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1951--2000
• Baptist hymn books and hymnals 2001--2025

The Pilgrim's Hymnal

While working on a list of Baptist hymn books and hymnals, I have researched The Pilgrim's Hymnal: a Book of Choice Songs for All the Services of the Churches by William H. Crouse. Since I found little information online, I decided to post a bit of what I found and make an available record.

William Harlan Crouse was born in Randolph County, Indiana, February 23, 1874. He was baptized by the Nettle Creek Church, and ordained as a Primitive Baptist elder in 1899 in Indiana, He served churches in Indiana, then pastored in Kentucky from 1904 until he moved to Georgia in 1907. W. H. Crouse spent the rest of his ministry there. He pastored Primitive Baptist churches, edited Primitive Baptist periodicals called The Pilgrim's Banner and The Primitive Herald (which he founded in 1916)[1], wrote several books and compiled The Pilgrim's Hymnal. Crouse followed the Progressive division of Primitive Baptists and became a leader thereof.[2] His Pilgrim's Hymnal was the primary song book of the Progressive Primitive Baptists until eventually replaced by Hymns of Grace.

Crouse was the son of Charles and Pheriba Jane Crouse of Randolph County, Indiana. He married Lefa Lanning in Indiana in 1901. They had six children. W. H. Crouse died April 2, 1941. He and his wife are buried at the Eastside Cemetery in Statesboro, Bulloch County, Georgia.

The Pilgrim's Hymnal was first published in 1908. The first edition was published while Crouse resided in Graymont, Georgia, and (according to the listing at Pitts Library) was printed by the Armstrong Printing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Armstrong was a leading shape-note printer/publisher in that time. They also printed The Sacred Harp by W. M. Cooper. Crouse's book appeared in an upright SATB format with shaped notes.

In The Banner Herald's History (in Word and Picture) of the Progressive Primitive Baptists, John D. Durden wrote that The Pilgrim's Hymnal was "the first song book generally accepted by all our churches." The Pilgrim's Hymnal went through at least 8 editions, and the eighth edition through at least 3 printings. J. Walter Hendricks and John D. Durden bought the rights to the book in 1941 and took over publication after Crouse's death. In 1964 Robert G. Dickerson and Fred Bethea became joint owners and publishers with Durden. Robert D. Conner and George R. Daniel became owners and publishers in 1969. The Pilgrim Publishing Company, Inc. was formed by Conner, Daniel and others in 1977 and acquired the rights to the hymnal. The corporation was dissolved in 1994. Several elders involved in the production of The Pilgrim's Hymnal left the Progressive Primitive Baptists and went over to the Old-Line Primitive Baptist (e.g. Fred Bethea, Robert D. Conner, Robert G. Dickerson) -- possibly seriously undercutting its future.

Without access to several editions of the book, it is hard to determine some details about it. Based on library listings at WorldCat, apparently the first edition in 1908 had 176 pages (or more likely 176 songs). Another 1908 printing is claimed to have 205 pages, and the Primitive Baptist Library in Carthage, Illinois says their second edition holding has 245 hymns (and that hymns 1-203 have tunes and hymns 204-245 do not have tunes). Library holdings for 1936 and 1964 list 274 hymns (or 274 pages). In 1955 John D. Durden said "the present book" (copyrighted 1953) contained 359 songs, "a topical index as well as an index of titles and of first lines of the songs." His statement calls in question the accuracy of some library catalog information. The current extent of use of The Pilgrim's Hymnal is unknown to me -- except that I know of one church in Louisiana that uses it, plus the Primitive Baptist Church in Brooklet, Georgia uses it at their hymn sing (W. H. Crouse organized the Brooklet Church in 1914).

If anyone knows more details about this book, please let me know.

Sources:
An Open Letter to All Primitive Baptists, by Bob G. Dickerson
"Elder William H. Crouse: Primitive Baptist Pastor and Religious Writer," Emerson Proctor, in Viewpoints: Georgia Baptist History (Volume 22, 2010, pp. 21-36)
History (in Word and Picture) of the Progressive Primitive Baptists, J. Walter Hendricks, J. Harley Chapman, Paul B. Bullington, et. al, Statesboro, GA: The Banner Herald, May 1955 (unpaged)
The Pilgrim's Hymnal: a Book of Choice Songs for the Home and All the Services of the Churches, William H. Crouse, Pilgrim's Hymnal Publishing Co., [n.d, but after 1977]
William H Crouse on Find-a-Grave
WorldCat.org

[1] Now combined as The Banner Herald
[2] "Progressive Primitive Baptists are a Christian denomination comprising 95 churches located in nine US states and one church in Haiti." This division beginning about 1910, with the main dispute being over the use of instrumental music in worship. The largest group of Progressives are in Georgia (possibly about 70%). Crouse didn't agree with all points of the Progressives, but disagreed with the Old-Line decision to disfellowship churches over these points.

Without the Spirit, and other quotes regarding music and worship

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

"The entire church suffers when attempts are made to drag private devotional practices into corporate worship." -- Michael Kearney

"Jesus Christ is the tuning fork by which we pitch the Psalms correctly.  We will find Him in them in various ways, not just in a few psalms, but in all the psalms.  The believer’s union with Christ, the true David, is the key to unlocking the treasures of the Psalter.  It is also the reason that these songs have a special place in the New Testament church and are so frequently quoted." -- Rowland S. Ward

"Without the Spirit it's just singing; with the Spirit it's worship to an almighty God." -- Tim Dalton

“A theology that cannot be sung is not worth having...Authentic Christian faith is not merely believed. Nor is it merely acted upon. It is sung - with utter joy sometimes, in uncontrollable tears sometimes, but it is sung.” -- (perhaps by) Reggie M. Kidd

"Worship is an inward feeling and outward action that reflects the worth of God." -- John Piper

"That’s the problem of self-centered worship again.  Let’s say that I am personally blessed by listening to Latin masses written by Haydn while burning incense.  What if I were to say, “Since it blesses me, I should bring it into church”?  We’d be back in Rome!" -- James D. Oord

"Sacred Harp Singing is emotional weight training." -- Steven T. Schmidgall

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." -- Bob Marley

"Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us." -- Martin Luther

"The music of the Gospel leads us home." -- Frederick W. Faber

"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." -- Walter Savage

Old-Line Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book: First Impressions

Old-Line Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for All Lovers of Truth in Sacred Song. Jason R. Fruit, Fox Lake, WI, USA: Jason R. Fruit, 2016. $9.00, hardcover, 446 pages.  I recently received a copy. Here are my first impressions

Jason R. Fruit is a Primitive Baptist, computer programmer Sacred Harp singer and composer -- among other things. These interests join in producing this newly-introduced song book for Primitive Baptist churches..

I am very favorably impressed. It seems to be much in the spirit and style of Durand and Lester's Hymn and Tune Book. The book is nicely bound in an upright SATB format, with black and gold hard cover. It contains 847 hymn texts and 201 tunes (some of which appear more than once, with at least two by the compiler). The tunes are set in seven-shape-notes.

The arrangement is topical, divided into 12 major sections -- such as "Glories of God" or "Ordinances, Institutions and Occasions" -- and one "Miscellaneous" section. The topical headings appear in the top center of each page. Within the sections the arrangement proceeds by hymn meter (Long Meter, Common Meter, etc.). Each tune and each hymn is labeled appropriate to its meter. Often a short hymn tune will occupy the top quarter of the page, with the rest of the page filled by hymns that match that meter. Longer tunes may fill a half page or even the whole page. The printing of notes and words is clean and clear, making it easy to read. (There are a few occasions where the type font is reduced for space considerations, making the reading a little harder on old eyes.) The back of the book provides two indices, by first lines of the hymns and by the tune names.

There are a few printing errors of the shapes that have been discovered, and the compiler asks that you contact him if you notice errors -- so that they may be corrected in future editions.

The tunes are mostly early American, folk tunes, Sacred Harp and reform music of the Hastings/Mason style (as far as I am able to judge). There is a wide range of Christian hymns, in which the compiler "tried to ensure that its texts are sound in doctrine and express true Christian experience." The book rises from within and is intended for the use of Old Line Primitive Baptists -- so the doctrinal beliefs will reflect that -- but a majority of conservative Christians will agree with most of the sentiments found therein.

The book is an excellent buy at $9 per hymnal. The author is not trying to make a profit, but rather provide a service for churches. Discounted pricing is available on larger quantity orders. It can be purchased from the compiler, Jason R. Fruit of Fox Lake, Wisconsin (see Hymn Book web page), and The Primitive Baptist Library of Carthage, Illinois.

Some sample pages from the Old-Line Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book can be found HERE.

I like the book and recommend it to you. If you like metered hymns and fine tunes you will like this book. Libraries should have a copy. Hymnal collectors should obtain one. The title will probably limit its use to those churches who find themselves in the name "Old-Line Primitive Baptist," but few will hurt from hymning the Lamb with the hymns and tunes provided here!

Great God of grace, forgive the lays,
That fall so far beneath thy praise;
By grace we hope to sing ere long,
Eternal love in sweeter song. (#421 John Kent)

Mark them which cause division

“Mark Them Which Cause Division,” written by Lamar Denby, Jr., pastor of Highway Baptist Church, Huntington, Texas

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple,” Romans 16:17-18.

In the above portion of Scripture, we are warned against certain devilish troublemakers that seem to pop up in just about every church generation, seeking to cause contention and division in the Lord’s work. How do they do this? By bringing in new doctrine contrary to the doctrine which we have learned. This new doctrine I speak of is teaching which is different from God’s Word. This bunch comes in introducing their strange beliefs to those among us who are unlearned and without conviction, by sugar-coating their rotten lies with good words and fair speeches. By the way, nowadays it seems that a large number are more concerned about good words and fair speeches than with truth!

Brethren, we must hold to the truth! If we desert truth, unity and peace will not last long because true unity and peace rest on the foundation of truth. If truth was truth yesterday, it’s still truth today! Truth never changes! What we need is more great defenders of the faith, men who will rise up and speak out against those who seek to bring in their strange doctrine causing division. We seemed to be plagued with “soft-soapers” and “walk-aways” who will not speak up and take a stand for truth! Why? Is it because they just don’t have the courage to make waves? Or, is it because they had rather go against conviction than lose out politically? The Bible tells us to mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which we have learned and avoid them. If I understand this correctly, this means we are to expose them and brand them for whom and what they are, and then get away from them! And we must not let them preach at our meetings!

From The Baptist Waymark, August 1986, Vol. 1 No. 3, p. 1

Worship or Worshiptainment, and other music links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• “Bye-Paths In Baptist History: About Singing” by J. Jackson Goadby -- "Of course the mayor was not pleased thus to be baffled in seizing his prey; but “brother Terrill tould him Singing of Psalms was not contrary to ye Liturgies of ye Church of England” — for which ready speech brother Terrill was declared a ringleader, and threatened with imprisonment."
• I. T. Saunders, Hymnist -- "And speaking of God's truth, it's hard to find a hymn that expresses the Christian's gratitude for the Scriptures, but I. T. Saunders wrote one."
• Making Full Use of the Hymn Book -- "It is a pity that a congregation should never know such noble tunes as “St. Catherine,” “Miles Lane,” “Anglia,” or “Sanctuary,” merely because the choir-leader must spend all the time working over some elaborate anthem..."
• Old-Line Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book -- " I've tried to ensure that its texts are sound in doctrine and express true Christian experience, and to make the book complete enough to be used without supplement. I've also done my best to provide appropriate, varied, and singable music for every hymn."
• Singing from one book: Why hymnals matter -- "...just as Bibles in pew racks give worshipers the opportunity to study the lessons of the day in context, so physical hymnals perform a comparable function for sung texts."
• The 2008 Baptist Hymnal: Initial Impressions -- "My heritage is one of the most tradition-sensitive movements in American Evangelicalism, while still being large enough to not be completely marginalized."
• The heresy of worshiptainment -- "The great heresy of the church today is that we think we’re in the entertainment business."
• We Glorify Thy Name…Available Again --"To view or download the volume, check out the Historical Society’s webpage"
• We Shall Sleep, But Not Forever -- "One challenge of arranging a tune from one singing is that each person, and each congregation, ornaments a tune in their own way."
• Worship or Worshiptainment -- "The lights begin to dim and the crowd around you is energized as they all stand to their feet amid the laser lights, mood setting fog, and colorful swirling graphics on the walls. The music is a pounding force that begs your attention."

I heard Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

"I heard Donald Trump describing a country I don’t recognize, and I heard Hillary Clinton writing checks we can’t possibly cash." -- Gary Johnson

"There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other." -- John Adams

"The words of Jesus on the cross, ‘it is finished’ (John 19:30) capture the theology of Hebrews." -- Thomas R. Schreiner

"Separation from the world is the grand distinguishing mark of vital godliness." -- J. C. Philpot

"I believe it might be accepted as a fairly reliable rule of thumb that the man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader." -- Aiden Wilson Tozer

"Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence with them." -- J. Hudson Taylor

"A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon

"Heresy of method may be as deadly as heresy of message." -- A. W. Tozer 

"The great heresy of the church today is that we think we’re in the entertainment business."  -- Mike Livingstone

"We believe if men are worthy and called of God, God will impress his people with the needs of his servants and make the necessary provision or, in other words, simple faith in God." -- George W. Orser

"To baptize before that which is required for baptism, namely faith, is found is as if one would place the cart before the horse, to sow before plowing, to build before the lumber is at hand, or to seal the letter before it is written." -- MennoSimons (415b; II:211b)

"I remind you that there are churches so completely out of the hands of God that if the Holy Spirit withdrew from them, they wouldn't find it out for many months." -- A. W. Tozer, The Tozer Pulpit [Often cited this way, but I haven't found an original source for it: "If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."]

"The king was dead. But Isaiah...saw another king, the Ultimate King, the One who sat forever on the throne of Judah." -- R. C. Sproul