PREFACE.

FEW, if any, of the higher class of schools, whether public or private, enter upon the duties of the day, without a previous act of united worship of some kind or other. In most cases, this consists of a portion of the Liturgy read by the Master, the scholars silently listening or responding. Sometimes a chapter in the

Bible is also read.

But from some cause or other, (which need not be traced here,) these devotions, excellent in themselves, are evidently not entered into with that hearty earnestness, on the part of the scholars, which could be desired.

The Master, too, however earnest, cannot but feel the warmth of his own devotion chilled by the evident want of sympathy on the part of those assembled with him.

It may be urged that it is absurd to expect from boys in general, that lively perception of religious truths, and glad participation in acts of worship, which are gifts bestowed, for the most part, on the matured and advanced Christian alone. But surely it is at least equally absurd to deny to them the power of realizing, according to their measure, what God has done for them, what He looks for from them, and how serve Him with reverence and godly

they may

fear."

These remarks contain the substance of a conversation which the writer held some few months ago with the Rev. C. H. LOWRY, M.A., the present Head Master of the High School, who, at

the same time, expressed his belief, that previous chanting or singing might be a means of throwing more life and heartiness into the School Prayers. But a manual of Hymns distinctively adapted to the use of Schools was not to be met with; and it is in the hope of supplying, in some degree, this deficiency, that the "Scholar's Hymn Book" has been issued. It is, in the main, a compilation from a great number of sources. Following what appears to be the allowed practice in such cases, I have altered and adapted freely, sometimes rewriting almost "de novo." The few that are original were written to supply such as the collections of others did not yield; and, as most of the others are by authors whose names I have no means of ascertaining, the names of authors are entirely omitted. The greatest care has been taken to select such as are at once devout and earnest,

and, at the same time, sound in doctrine, chaste in expression, and reverent in spirit.

The arrangement is as follows:-A large section at the beginning is devoted to Hymns for Morning and Evening, as being especially required in Schools. Those which come next refer successively to the parts of Christian Worship. The third section comprises Hymns on the Rule of Faith, and first and foremost on the Sacred Scriptures; secondly, as expressly designed to guide the Christian Scholar in Scriptural truth, on the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. To these are added a few on Confirmation and the Sacraments, as means of grace on which it is highly important that correct notions should be devotionally imparted. The fourth section follows the course of the Christian Seasons, directing the Scholar's thoughts to the suffering