This 1898 book is the result of a survey of 107 hymn-books. The thirty-two hymns are ranked in order of popularity. The texts in this recording are said only, not sung, along with a few explanatory notes for each hymn (some footnotes, not all, here recorded). The texts are preceded by two essays concerning hymns and their standards. Benson (1855-1930) was an American Presbyterian minister who edited several hymnals. - Summary by David Wales
Chapters
1 Preface 2 min 2 Introduction 1: What Are The Best Hymns? 14 min 3 Introduction 2: What Is Today The Standard Of The Best Church Hymns? 16 min 4 1: Rock of ages, cleft for me; 2: When I survey the wondrous cross; 3: Jesus, lover of my soul 8 min 5 4- All praise to thee, my God this night; 5: Jesus, I my cross have taken; 6: Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear 6 min 6 7: Awake, my soul, and with the sun; 8: Hark the herald angels sing; 9: Abide with me, fast falls the eventide 7 min 7 10: Jerusalem, my happy home; 11: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds; 12: Nearer, my God, to thee 6 min 8 13: From Greenland's icy mountains; 14: Our God, our help in ages past; 15: Jerusalem the golden 6 min 9 16: Lo, he comes with clouds descending; 17: Jesus shall reign where'er the sun; 18: Glorious things of thee are spoken 7 min 10 19: Hark, the glad sound, the Saviour comes; 20: Come, let us join our cheerful songs; 21: All hail the power of Jesus' name 5 min 11 22: Hail to the Lord's anointed; 23: O worship the King all glorious above; 24: Christ the Lord is risen today 6 min 12 25: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah; 26: Just as I am, without one plea; 27: God moves in a mysterious way 5 min 13 28: Jesus, the very thought of thee; 29: Children of the heavenly King; 30: There is a land of pure delight 5 min 14 31: Thou, whose almighty word; 32: Brief life is here our portion 3 min
