1893 From the Library of P.ot. A. P, PEABODY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, BY JAMES MILLER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York, RENNIE, SHEA & LINDSAY, STEREOTYPERS AND ELMOTROTYPERS, C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER. 15 Vandewater-street, New York PREFACE. In response to many calls, the Vesper Service as arranged in our volume of "Christian Worship," is here separately published, for the use of such churches as may desire to have it apart from the other liturgical services, which that contains. From the Preface of the original work,* we reprint the following paragraphs, as especially referring to the contents of the present publication, and showing its plan. "We have here given an extended and careful order of service for Vespers, and have added a full selection from the Psalms for responsive reading, and of Hymns especially adapted to this service. The idea of course is not new, for Vespers are as old as the Christian Church, if not older, and all of the great churches of Christendom, Rome at the head, have their Vesper ritual. Our order is wholly Protestant, and in fact in some respects more bold and progressive than any other of our services; yet it retains much of the severe beauty of the ancient rule, and will be found to wake echoes between the old and new ages. Our esteemed brother, Rev. Samuel Longfellow, formerly of Brooklyn, has been the pioneer in this movement, and we can recognize his labors without sacrificing our own judgment. The Service here given will be found to afford opportunity for the highest art of music, and at the same time to be within the reach of the simplest congregational worship. In fact, the musical portion is so full and varied as to be capable of being sung by any tolerable choir, and may moreover more easily dispense with a choir, and be wholly congregational, than the usual order. The responsive psalms are printed in a new way, so as to be easily used; and this is the first. time, within our knowledge, that they have been so arranged as to be read by our people according to the original intention, and it is evident * Christian Worship. Services for the Church: with Order of Vespers, and Hymns. that this method will soon be universal. These psalms, together with the hymns for congregational singing, contribute towards a more sympathetic and edifying worship in our churches, and tend to do away with the coldness and isolation that are so often complained of. Strange it is that principles so large and genial as ours should be so commonly set forth inadequately, and the most meagre of rituals should attend so rich a faith. "The Vesper Service may admit of the accustomed evening or afternoon sermon, although it is more compatible with an extemporaneous address or exposition. We believe that it meets a decided and general want in our churches, and attracts and impresses many who do not care to attend an evening service on the old plan, or to hear two regular sermons with much the same accompaniments. The want of something like this has led several churches to discontinue the second service. It is a very serious and devout mode of worship, and only by a monstrous perversion can it be made the occasion of musical vanity and operatic artifice. It is in great part scriptural, and calls for constant and devout attention from the audience. Thus far, wherever held, it has won the favor of all classes of hearers, and is ranked among the fixed institutions of religion with us as with the ancient Church." We need not say much to illustrate the great breadth and richness of the materials which the Scriptures furnish for this Service, and which are here presented, it seems to us, more fully than in previous manuals, old or new. The associations, for example, that gather around the New Testament Hymns, as here given, are most quickening and edifying. The Magnificat brings before us the young Hebrew maiden who was to bear the hope of the world and be the type of all consecrated womanhood. The Nunc Dimittis exhibits old age as the memento of the past.and the precursor of the future, and the venerable Simeon sings to us the swan song of the old dispensation and the cradle song of the new. The Gloria in Excelsis opens to us the angelic world, and summons the hosts of heaven to join in our evening prayer. The Son of God and Son of man himself speaks to us in the Venite ad me and the Beatitudes, and gives his offer of rest to the weary laborer, and his benediction to all the blessed children of God. The Te Deum closes the list, and gives voice to the praise of the whole family of the faithful on earth and in heaven. Surely these images and words well become the peaceful hour of Sabbath evening worship, and unite in themselves and the wealth of music that so many ages have been accu mulating about them, a world of comfort, instruction, and inspiration. God grant that such affluence may not be in vain, and our churches may enjoy this precious heritage as never before. We only add, in conclusion, that if any congregations object at present to the responsive parts of this Service, the objection may be met by the Minister reading the Introduction, and the choir singing a Psalm or Anthem in place of the responsive Psalm. NEW YORK, March 21, 1862. S. Q.ad F. A. F. ORDER OF SERVICES. I. Voluntary on the Organ. II. Introduction: read by Minister and People standing, and followed by the "Gloria Patri," said or chanted.* III. Vesper Hymn, from the collection at the end of the book. Not read. People sit. IV. Prayer. V. Sacred Melody. Not announced. People sit. VI. Selected Psalms. Read by Minister and People standing. Ending with the Doxology, "Now unto the King Eternal," &c.* VII. Reading from Old Testament. VIII. Chanted Psalm, or corresponding Hymn, as in pages 15 to 21. Other Psalms may be used at discretion. Not announced. People stand. IX. Reading from New Testament. X. Chanted Hymn from New Testament, or one of the versified Hymns, as in pages 21 to 30: 1. Magnificat; 2. Nunc Dimittis; 3. Gloria in Excelsis; 4. Venite ad me; 5. Beatitudes; 6. Te Deum; or, one of the corresponding versified Hymns. Not read. People stand. XI. Exposition or Address. XII. Silent Prayer,—closed by XIII. Chanted Prayer,—usually the Lord's Prayer. XIV. Congregational Hymn. Congregation stand and sing. XV. Benediction, the AMEN chanted. * See p. 7 of the Preface. |