Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

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10 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
Bourne's life, there was no man who had more influence with, and over, him than
the quiet, sagacious, forcible-speaking farmer and surveyor of Chorley.
We must now proceed to chronicle some of the more important transactions of the
Bemersley Book Committee. First in order among these, were those relating to the
Hymn Book. It seems gradually to have been borne in upon the mind of Hugh Bourne
that the Revival Hymn Book was a valuable property worth preserving. Therefore,
in 1821, he resolved to copyright the book. To enable him to do this he himself
composed some original hymns, and Poet Sanders was asked to do the same for a consideration.
There exists a curious document, worth giving in eztenso, in which William
Sanders, in precise legal form, contracts to furnish twenty-five original hymns
same number of
shillings.
for the
"Received March 1821, of Hugh Bourne, the sum of twenty-five shillings, for
twenty-five hymns, which by contract were composed by me for his use, and which
I have made over to him in the fullest sense of the word, and which from this
time become and are in every sense his own absolute property. The first line and
metre, and number of verses of each are as follow : 1st. C.M., four verses,,
beginning 'Alas ! soon the body dies ' : arid so it continues to the 25th, P.M.
'
eight verses Camp-meeting Farewell Dear Brethren and Sisters in Jesus,
Farewell.' I say received by me,
"\VILLIAM SANDERS."
"Signed in the presence of C. J. Abraham."
The wisdom of the protective measures taken was seen in 1823, when a printer at
York named Kendrew, who had infringed the copyright of the Hymn Book, was
to his knees. The law was set in motion, but Kendrew capitulated before the
brought
case went into court, and signed an agreement pledging himself not to repeat the
offence, to pay all the costs incurred, and to surrender all copies of the unauthorised
edition in his possession. The Committee having gained its object, which was to
vindicate its rights and safeguard the interests of the Connexion, could now afford to
be generous. Hence the stringency of the last condition was somewhat relaxed, and it
was agreed to pay Kendrew a certain sum on each surrendered copy of the Hymn
Book. The Conference held at Leeds this same year (1823) directed that "a large
standard Hymn Book should be prepared and printed at the Book-Room, for the general
use of the Connexion." Evidently it was felt that even the improved edition of 1821,
with its one hundred and fifty-four hymns, was inadequate to meet the growing
demands of church-life. A book was called for which should " contain Hymns for the
sacraments and for the general varieties of meetings and worship." The Minutes of
1823 go on to say that "the new book is expected to be got ready by the close of the
With 1824, then, began the reign of the Large
present year, or early in the next year."
ai.d Small Hymn Book (bound together) which served the uses of the Church until
1853, when John Flesher was instructed to compile a new Hymn Book. The Preface
to the Large Hymn Book claims that it has been
" compiled from the best authors, and
enriched Avith original hymns," and that " the original hymns were of a superior cast."
With his eye on this alleged "superior cast" a friendly critic has written evidently
with regret
:
"
We look in vain among the original hymns ... for one that has survived