14. The Antecedents of the Mennonite Hymnary.
The story of the hymn books antedating the Hymnary may be briefly summarized by listing the following books:
1565. The first German Mennonite hymn book was published in 1565 or 1566 (date omitted from title), entitled, Ein schön Gesangbüchlein Geistlicher Lieder, zusammengetragen aus dem A. und N. Testament durch fromme Christen und Liebhaber Gottes, welcher hiefür etliche getrucht sei gewesen, aber noch viel dazu gethan, welche nie im Truck aussgangen seindt, in welchen auch ein recht Leben und Fundament dez rechten Christlichen Glaubens gelehrt wirdt. Coloss. 3.
A second edition, 1570-1583, (date not given), adds to the above title the following:
Jetzo von neuem widerum übersehn, an vielen Orten gebessert und mit etlichen newen Liedern vermehret. Coloss. 3.
Of the 133 hymns in the book, 9 had been in use among other churches. Many of the others were by Mennonite authors, among them Johann Schütz, Thomas Ducker, Gerhard Siebenakker von Sittart, and Heinrich Krenen von Breidtbock. Many of the hymns are of a controversial nature and have no literary value; for example, this on infant baptism:
Die Schrift sagt nicht von Kindertaufe
Davon hab ich nicht gelesen.
Wer nach Gottes Wort getauft soll sein
Der musz gläubig wesen.
Es ist ein Bad der Wiedergeburt,
Ein Bund eines guten Gewissens
Ein’ Verneurung des heiliges Geistes
Davon keine Kinder wissen.
Most of the hymns were set to secular melodies popular at the time. Very little of this first hymnal survives.
1570—Ausbund, Das ist: Etliche schöne Christliche Lieder, wie sie in dem Gefängnis zu Passau in dem Schlosz von den Schweizer-Brüdern und von andern rechtglaubigen Christen hin und her gedichtet worden.
At least twelve editions have been printed in Europe, the last one in Basel, 1838. Its use was confined to the South Germans and Swiss Mennonites. Reprinted in America and still in use by the Amish, the Ausbund has the distinction of being the oldest hymn book officially in use by any church in America.
1780—Geistreiches Gesangbuch zur öffentlichen und besonderen Erbauung der Mennonitischen Gemeinde in und vor der Stadt Danzig.
The book has had long use in Danzig. A revised edition appeared in 1908.
1803—Das Kleine Geistliche Harfe der Kinder Zions. Germantown, Pa. The first Mennonite hymnbook printed in America. It was the official hymnbook of the Franconia Conference of Mennonites of which John H. Oberholzer, founder of the General Conference of Mennonites, was a member. Seven editions were printed, the last in Elkhart, Ind., 1904.
1804—Unpartheyisches Gesangbuch, Lancaster, Pa. The official hymnbook of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference for almost a century. Fourteen reprints were made, the last in 1923 for the Amish.
1843—Gesangbuch in welchem eine Sammlung geistreiche Lieder befindlich. 9th ed. Elbing. The hymnbook of the Prussian Mennonites. It was taken by the Prussians to Russia where it was republished in Odessa, 1844.
1856—Gesangbuch zum Gottesdienstlichen und haeuslichen Gebrauch in Evangelischen Mennoniten Gemeinden. Worms.
Published by the churches of Baden and the Palatinate. The hymnal committee was fortunate in securing the assistance of the eminent German hymnologist, Albert Knapp. The book contains 600 hymns and an appendix of prayers. A book of melodies was also provided. This collection holds an important place in Mennonite hymnody. It was reprinted in Danzig, 1873, for use by the Danzig Mennonites, and in Philadelphia, 1873, for use in the General Conference of Mennonites. The excellent qualities of the more recent Gesangbuch mit Noten may be traced, in considerable measure, to this work.
1869—Gesangbuch in Mennoniten Gemeinden für Kirche und Haus. Published for the churches of West Prussia, this work went through at least four editions, the fourth in 1901. The book was republished in Danzig, 1873.
1873—Gesangbuch zum Gottesdienstlichen und häuslichen Gebrauch in Mennoniten Gemeinden. Philadelphia. Ordered by the sixth General Conference of Mennonites held at Wadsworth, Ohio. The main body of the book is the same as that published in Worms, 1856, but with the appendix of prayers omitted, and an appendix of 22 hymns added, the latter the contribution of the Mennonites in Pennsylvania. The book was intended to form a closer bond of union between the Mennonites in the East and those west of the Mississippi.
1890—Gesangbuch mit Noten. Herausgegeben von der allgemeinen Conferenz der Mennoniten von Nord America. Berne, Ind. The book passed through 15 editions, the last in 1936. A noteworthy collection of hymns and tunes that met with wide approval in the General Conference churches.
1894—Mennonite Hymnal, A Blending of Many Voices. Berne, Ind. An A. S. Barnes publication adopted, practically unchanged, by the General Conference of Mennonites. Our first official English hymnal, though many collections from other sources were finding wide use in our churches. The book has nothing of distinctiveness or distinction.
1927—The Mennonite Hymn Book. Berne, Ind. Published by the General Conference of Mennonites. Compiled and edited by a committee appointed by the Conference. The book was more satisfactory than the Mennonite Hymnal of 1894, but never became very popular. Total sales of three editions were less than 5,000 copies.
1940—The Mennonite Hymnary. Published by the General Conference of Mennonites of North America, Board of Publication, Mennonite Publication Office, Newton, Kansas, 1940. Now in its sixth edition.