The original texts of German hymns found throughout the _Handbook_, especially in the section of Chorales, Book IV, are the versions used in one or more of the following works: _Gesangbuch mit Noten_, (Berne, Ind., 1890); _Gesangbuch der Mennoniten_, (Canadian, 1942); _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_, (Concordia Pub. House, 1942); _Gesangbuch zum gottesdienstlichen und häuslichen Gebrauch in Evangelischen Mennoniten-Gemeinden_, (Konferenz der süddeutschen Mennoniten zu Ludwigshafen a. Rh. 1910); and Knapp, _Evangelischer Liederschatz_. Many variations occur in the texts as found in these versions, the explanation of which would require a much greater knowledge of German hymnody than the author possesses. An effort has been made to bring the spelling into conformity with the modern German practice of omitting the “h” where it was formerly used with the “th”; the use of “ss” instead of “sz”; and printing the initial letter of the pronouns referring to Deity, in lower case rather than with capitals. AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR HYMNS AND TUNES With Illustrations From the _Hymnary_ 1. Definition of a Hymn. 2. The Beginnings of Christian Song. 3. Hymns of the Eastern Church: Greek and Syriac. 4. Hymns of the Western Church: Latin. 5. Hymns of the Bohemian Brethren. 6. Hymns of the Reformation: The German Chorales. 7. Hymns of the Reformation: The Metrical Psalms. 8. Psalm Versions. 9. English Hymnody. 10. American Hymns. 11. The Gospel Songs. 12. Women Hymn Writers. 13. Mennonite Hymnody. 14. Antecedents of the _Mennonite Hymnary_. 15. The Translation of Hymns. 16. Church Unity in the Hymn Book. 17. Hymn Meters. 18. Hymn Tunes. 19. John Wesley’s Rules for Singing. 1. Definition of a Hymn. St. Augustine, 354-430, gave a definition of a hymn, which has been widely accepted: A hymn is the praise of God by singing. A hymn is a song embodying the praise of God. If there is merely praise but not praise of God it is not a hymn. If there be praise, and praise of God, but not sung, it is not a hymn. For it to be a hymn, it is needful, therefore, for it to have three things—praise, praise of God, and these sung. A recent definition, accepted by the Hymn Society of America, is that of the late Carl F. Price: A Christian hymn is a lyric poem, reverently and devotionally conceived, which is designed to be sung and which expresses the worshiper’s attitude toward God, or God’s purposes, in human life. L. F. Benson, America’s foremost hymnologist, defines a hymn in these simple words: The Christian hymn ... is a form of words appropriate to be sung or chanted in public devotions. A hymn is to be sung _by a congregation_. Its message must be simple, not subtle. It must read well and sing well. In modern usage, the hymn is not limited to the praise of God but includes other moods of worship such as resignation and consecration.