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.