The present Hymn 243, being more suited to a meeting for prayer, takes its place, somewhat curtailed, among the compositions of that class; and No. 30 of the Appendix is its substitute. A new worship hymn replaces 244, which in fact is not quite appropriate to either position; and a hymn of J. G. D.'s, new to many, appears as 245: so is 246, the old one following later. As the old 247 is for dismissal, it goes among a few such hymns, and one of praise succeeds: so it is with 248, replaced by a new thanksgiving. For 249, which is objectionable for more than one reason, we have No. 14 of Appendix. But the old 250 is made rather better to express communion, as it contains nothing wherein the simplest cannot join. Hymn 251 goes later like its companion by the same author, and a simple strain of praise is inserted, valued by many; but 252 appears nearly as before, and 253 improved, it is trusted. As 254 is in the Good Tidings' Hymn Book, there is a new worship hymn, and the old 255 follows a little simpler and shorter. Hymn 256 holds its ground, save stanza 5; and for the gospel hymn that follows, a worship one is now given; while 258 is as nearly as of old.
It has been already explained that the old 240 belongs to 259 as its beginning; they are here combined. Then for 260 which is by no means a hymn of adoration, and for 261, which is in the Good Tidings' Hymn Book. we have Mr. Deck's two fine hymns—2 and 3 of Appendix. Next for another inappropriate piece comes a new 262; but 263 keeps its place, and a new one replaces 264 which goes later. For 265 there is now No. 9 of the Appendix, but 266 remains, followed by a new hymn of praise for Fawcett's one reserved for elsewhere. So 268 is a hymn new to most, as is 269; but 270 abides. For the paraphrase in 271 is another hymn not here before; but 272 is only a little modified, and 273 less still. Hymn 274 is also here more suitably. A new worship hymn displaces the old 275 which is not up to the mark; 276 remains, save stanza 2; and a hymn of praise not known generally is now 277. The old 278 goes later, and one of Mr. Deck's modified comes in; and a new one for 279, which is reserved. But 280-285 stand in rather better form. Hymn 286 is really the close of 109 and goes there; but 287 being now in the Good Tidings' Hymn Book, we have a new worship hymn, and for 289 No. 25 of the Appendix.
The old hymn 290 is still kept in its place; but 292 is new and more in keeping; 293 as before; and 294 cleared of some blots, especially in its last line, which in its previous shape is a grave offense against truth and reverence. How it passed muster hitherto is a marvel, save by violently accommodating bad words to a more decent sense: a demoralizing expedient on which in other people we have little mercy. Will is a blind guide. Hymn 295 is an old hymn revised instead of one hardly in place; but 296 is the old one here, as is 297 abridged to its good, 298 is a new piece, the former postponed; as 299 loses its middle stanza, and 300 abides. For the old 301 (reserved) comes 334; but 302 remains. Hymn 304 is an anonymous hymn, but more adapted for praise than the old one; and so the present 305. For 306 we have the old 333, but 307-310 remain, the last relieved of its needless titles. For 311 which goes later we have 337, and the old 312 in its place. But 313, which is scarce worth remedial measures, gives way to an appropriate hymn; and 314 retains its position. As 315 is in the Good Tidings' Hymn Book, we have a hymn of one well known and sufficient for worship, and the old 316 in its place; also 317 (omitting stanza 5) and 318. As 319 goes later, there is a hymn not familiar to most and shorter for it, Hymn 320 is the old hymn, but abridged. As 321 is a gospel hymn and in the Good Tidings' Hymn Book, we have here a new worship hymn, and for 322 a hymn of J. G. D.'s; but 323 is the same with stanza 3 omitted, as 324 also. Hymn 325, being below par, yields to a foreign hymn translated and shortened; but 326, 327, and 328 stand but little touched. An anonymous thanksgiving takes the place of 329 and a new one of the vacancy caused by moving 330 to an earlier position (210). Next come a few hymns for the burial of Christians, 331, 332, and 333. The remaining ones (334-340) are hymns of dismissal, and do not call for particular remarks.
It remains to notice the later hymns which are more characterized by the expression of individual experience and prayer. This may follow D.V.