The first English Lutheran hymn book used in America was the “Psalmodia Germanica” of 1725, 1732, and 1756. It came to America from London, England. It contained 122 hymns, several by Luther and Paul Gerhardt. In 1795 Dr. John C. Kunze of New York published “A Hymn and Prayer Book, for the use of such Lutheran Churches as use the English language.” Its 240 hymns were gathered from German Lutheran, Moravian, English and American sources. In 1797 Rev. George Strebeck issued “A Collection of Evangelical Hymns, made from Different Authors and Collections, for the English Lutheran Church in New York.” This was a rather un-Lutheran hymn book. Rev. Strebeck and his New York congregation went over to the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1806 Rev. Ralph Williston published “A Choice Selection of Evangelical Hymns from Various Authors, for the Use of the English Lutheran Church in New York.” While this hymn book met with popularity within the New York Ministerium, it was not a Lutheran hymn book. Most of its hymns were taken from Watts and Charles Wesley. Rev. Williston and his New York congregation also went over to the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1815 appeared “A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.” Published by order of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the State of New York. The editors were Drs. Quitman and Wackerhagen. This book contained 520 carefully selected hymns. A number of English hymn books were published before 1850, but they were found more or less unsatisfactory. Some of them were quite un-Lutheran. In 1863 the Ministerium of Pennsylvania decided to issue a new English hymn book. A hymn book committee was appointed, which did very thorough work. This resulted in the publication of the Church Book by the General Council in 1868. This is undoubtedly one of the best English Lutheran hymn books of the American Lutheran Church. It has been highly praised by prominent hymnologists of Europe, and it has remained a very popular English hymn book throughout the American Lutheran Church for over fifty years. It has passed through several editions. Rev. Justus Falckner (1672-1723) wrote what may be called the first American Lutheran hymn. He is said to be the first German Lutheran pastor in America and was ordained by the Swedish Lutheran pastors in Gloria Dei Church at Wicaco in 1703. This was the first Lutheran ordination in America. We quote here the first two stanzas of Rev. Justus Falckner’s beautiful hymn. The hymn was originally written in German—“Auf, ihr Christen, Christi Glieder.” Rise, ye children of salvation, All who cleave to Christ the Head! Wake, arise, O mighty nation, Ere the foe on Zion tread: He draws nigh, and would defy All the hosts of God Most High.