The Book of Hymns
The Book of Hymns was the official
There is a dispute as to the proper title of this book. The cover has the title The Book of Hymns but that is the only place in the book where that title appears. The title page has The Methodist Hymnal: Official Hymnal of the United Methodist Church.
The Book of Hymns was approved unanimously by the 1964 General Conference. The 1960 General Conference authorized the Commission on Worship to appoint a hymnal committee to revise the official hymnal. The 29 member committee, chaired by Edwin E. Voigt, had a dozen consultants, with the hymnal edited by Carlton R. Young. The book contains 539 texts with 402 tunes of which 122 texts and 119 tunes which previously had not been included.[4] The hymnal has been described as a prescriptive as opposed to a descriptive hymnal, meaning that the hymns and liturgy were meant to shape and mold worship and prescribe what is sung and done.
It contains most, but not all, of the section in The Book of Worship for Church and Home titled Acts of Praise. Musical settings for parts of the Lord's Supper, the worship service and for the canticles were included. The book was noted for adding the word Amen to the end of most of the hymns.
See also
References
- ^ The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 1972, ¶1023.6
- ^ The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 1984, ¶1214.3
- ^ McIntyre, Dean "Why were there two names for the 1966 Methodist Hymnal?", General Board of Discipleship. www.GBOD.org
- ^ Methodists add a favorite hymn: 'Old Rugged Cross' to be included in new volume, New York Times, 30 April 1964, pg. 17.
- The Book of Hymns: The Methodist Hymnal: Official Hymnal of the United Methodist Church (Nashville, Tennessee: The Methodist Publishing House, 1966)