The materials contained in this volume have been gathered from sources too numerous to mention here. The author feels a special sense of gratitude for information drawn from David R. Breed's "The History and Use of Hymns and Hymn-Tunes," Edward S. Ninde's "The Story of the American Hymn," and John Julian's monumental work, "Dictionary of Hymnology." No claim is made to originality, except in the manner of presentation and interpretation. A popular style has been adopted in order to appeal to the lay reader. Thus we send forth this book with the earnest prayer that it may inspire many hearts to sing with greater devotion the praises of Him who redeemed us with His blood and made us to be kings and priests unto God. Ernest Edwin Ryden. St. Paul, Minnesota, November 14, 1930. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: EARLY CHRISTIAN HYMNODY The Early Christian Chants 13 Greek and Syriac Hymns 19 The Rise of Latin Hymnody 25 An Ancient Singer Who Glorified the Cross 31 The Golden Age of Latin Hymnody 35 PART II: GERMAN HYMNODY Martin Luther, Father of Evangelical Hymnody 43 The Hymn-Writers of the Reformation 53 Hymnody of the Controversial Period 59 The King and Queen of Chorales 65 Hymns of the Thirty Years' War 69 A Hymn Made Famous on a Battle Field 77 The Lutheran Te Deum 81 Paul Gerhardt, Prince of Lutheran Hymnists 85 Joachim Neander, the Paul Gerhardt of the Calvinists 93 A Roman Mystic and Hymn-writer 99 Hymn-writers of the Pietist School 103 The Wuerttemberg Hymn-writers 111 How a Great Organist Inspired Two Hymnists 117 Gerhard Tersteegen, Hymn-writer and Mystic 123 Zinzendorf and Moravian Hymnody 127 Two Famous Hymns and some Legends 131 Hymnody in the Age of Rationalism 135 Hymns of the Spiritual Renaissance 141