Snt,—May I, as a Methodist minister, reply to Mr. P.
A. Shaw's letter? He has made a slip in the date of " the Collection of Hymns " ; he intended to write 5875, not i885.
I agree that, generally, the " old familiar " hymns should be sung to tunes which have become firmly associated with them. But there are exceptions, when the tune is obviously unsuited or inferior to the hymn. Whatever may be the popular taste, there are surely limits to the demands of the vox populi! And this bogy of " decline in attendance " may be due to the vociferous, obstinate insistence in perpetuating poor tunes which are intolerable to the majority of the congregation ; they quietly absent themselves while an unprogressive minority have their way.
And what are we to do about the new and excellent hymns and tunes which are constantly appearing, and are as much inspired as many of the " old familiars " ? Are the " die-hards," with their very limited number of " favourites," to remain in control, and so hinder poetical
and musical progress for the glory of God? If not, these new com- positions must be introduced to the people even if it involves education —the very thing which some refuse either from preachers or choirs!
ALBERT H. WALKER.
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