We have good news for you. The new evangelistic songbook, Gospel Melodies, is now ready. Throughout the world field our evangelists have been awaiting this news with keen anticipation. We regret the undue delay which has resulted from war conditions. With 238 gospel songs, choruses and hymns, all of which have been selected and recommended from the field, this excellent songbook contains a number of entirely new contributions, and will, we feel, meet the needs of the whole English-speaking world.
In compiling this book, musicians, song leaders, evangelists from many parts of the world field have co-operated. Every number included finds its place in the book because many have requested its inclusion. The most popular gospel songs are there, together with a large number of favorite hymns. The great Wesleyan revival was carried on the wings of song, and some of those solid, evangelistic hymns which have lived through two centuries have been included, bringing to this book a richness that will be appreciated.
In Gospel Melodies will be found a greater number of favorite gospel songs than in any other book of its kind. When our selections were made and we discovered how many valuable copyrighted numbers were on the list, it became a question as to whether we could secure anything like the quantity we desired.
We were not disappointed. The Rodeheaver and Hope Music Companies, who own so many of the popular numbers, both revealed a willingness to co-operate. Under normal conditions their policies would not permit them to give more than three or four of their most valued songs to anyone outside publishing firm, but we were able to secure more than forty from the Rodeheaver Company and almost twenty from the Hope Company. This, we feel, is evidence of the Lord's leading. Dr. Homer Rode-heaver and Mr. Sanville, the manager, and Mr. B. D. Ackley, the music editor, all took a personal interest in our project. This counsel, backed by so many years of experience, was invaluable.
When the angels sang over the Bethlehem hills, "Peace on earth among men of good will," they were not only announcing the new dispensation, they were giving to the Christian message its first inspiration. Someone has said that Christianity is the only religion in which music plays a vital part. And it will play an even greater part in the closing days of the gospel. Those of us who have had the privilege of having a part in compiling this book feel a special confidence in recommending it. The back page of this issue of the Ministry contains a special announcement regarding the book, and we urge all our evangelists and song leaders to examine it and place their orders as early as possible. We predict that the first edition of so,000 will not last long.
Years ago the Latvian people, robbed of their liberty, were not permitted to gather for education or recreation. In fact, they were practically serfs. One thing, however, was granted as a privilege. They could gather as groups and sing. Their conquerors, not knowing the language, cared little about what these groups were singing, but they were singing the songs their poets had given them—songs of liberty and freedom. And when at last amid the fires of revolution, opportunity came, in 1916, these singing serfs marched out of semi-slavery into national existence. They had sung themselves into freedom. As this new book becomes the evangelistic spearhead for those who bear the advent message, we trust that many in the slavery of sin will sing themselves into the marvelous light and liberty of the gospel. God bless Gospel Melodies.
R. A. A.
