PREFACE.

"Is there a heart that music cannot melt?"-BEATTIE.

THE

HE Temperance Movement owes much to the power of Song. It has itself produced Song-writers of no mean order, specimens of the compositions of the majority of whom appear in this collection. No effort has been made (even in the section which is devoted to the Temperance Question) to limit the selection to the writings of those who are identified with the cause, for we do not, as Abstainers, forfeit our right to share in the entire heritage of Poetry. Wherever, therefore, a piece of sufficient merit has appeared, and which has seemed to us to be in harmony with our principles, it has been gladly appropriated.

Among the earliest Temperance Singers must be named the Rev. Paxton Hood (who is still happily spared to us, and several examples of whose sparkling verses we have given); the Rev. Jabez Tunnicliffe, who is said to have written the first Band of Hope melody; Dr. Jabez Burns, whose pen was also very fertile; Edwin Morris, of cherished memory; The Rev. R. Grey Mason, whose voice reached almost every hamlet of the land; and many Scotch authors. In Parts II. and III. will be found some of the choicest compositions-for singing-in the English tongue. We trust they will be enjoyed at many a fireside, will be helpful to noble aspirations and efforts, and prove

"An amulet

That may be worn o'er hearts that toil and plod."

We desire to pay a tribute of thanks to former collectors for their labours and also to acknowledge with gratitude the kindness of authors in so generously placing their

writings at our service. Among these may be named Dr. Horatius Bonar, Rev. Dawson Burns, M.A., Charles Mackay, LL.D., Dr. W. C. Bennett, John Anderson, Rev. Dr. Maguire, M.A., Rev. Charles Garrett, J. H. Raper, Joseph Malins, G.W.C.T., C. Sheard, Benjamin Gough, Samuel Bowly, Thomas Knox, Rev. G. M. Murphy, Lawrence Gane, W. J. Harvey, T. H. Evans, C. J. Havart, Mrs. Tomkins (“Hymns for Quiet Hours"), Mrs. Townsend, Miss Hankey, Marianne Farningham, Frederick Sherlock, and Robert Semple.

Publishers, also, have given us their cordial co-operation, and we offer them our heartfelt thanks-specially Messrs. Hatchard, Messrs, Morgan & Scott, Messrs. C. Kegan Paul & Co., Messrs. Jarrold & Sons, Messrs. Richardson, Messrs. Boosey & Co., the Publisher of the "World's Minstrelsy," Mr. Guest, the British Temperance League, the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union, the Sunday School Union, Messrs. Nicholson & Sons, and others.

The Principal Librarian of the British Museum has afforded us more than official attention, and has helped us in our efforts to verify original editions and accurate versions.

If in any case, through oversight, any copyright has been infringed, respectful apologies are tendered, and due acknowledgment will be made in future editions.

That the Master may accept this little effort, and that the Cause may be greatly helped by it, is our special desire.

Bedford, 1878.

T. BOWICK.

SING we a song of praise to-dayies won,

For strength vouchsafed upon our way,
And noble work our cause has done-
For joy that cometh after tears,

And harvests reaped for fifty years.

2 The God of love we praise and bless,
For lives endangered that are saved,
For homes no longer comfortless,

For strong, true hearts that ill have braved-
And for devoted lives well given,

To works of mercy and to Heaven.
3 We bless the Christ, the children's friend,
For thousands in the hopeful bands,
Who will the Temperance cause defend
With youthful vigour in all lands—
And live through coming years to prove
What conquests may be gained by love.
4 Much yet remains; O God of grace,
Pity the drunkards and their homes!
Send sunshine to each darkened place,
And hope where each poor creature roams--
Till all the world shall sober be,

And spend all life in serving Thee.

MARIANNE FARNINGHAM.

A

(Specially Contributed.)

THERE'S a glorious work before us,

A work both great and grand;

Every man at once should join us,
And help with heart and hand;
There are homes now full of sadness,
Whence peace and love are flown ;
We must fill those homes with gladness,
And make the Saviour known.
We shall do it by and by.

2 There are drink-bound slaves around us,
Who writhe in hopeless woe;

3

We must snap the bonds that bind them,
And lay the tyrant low:

There are wives and mothers weeping
Whose hearts are cold and sad ;
We must give them joyous greeting,
And bid them yet be glad.

We shall do it by and by.

There are crowds of little children

Deep sunk in sin and night;

We must raise them from their darkness,

And lead them up to light;

There are good men filled with sorrow
O'er seed they've sown in vain;
We must show them the destroyer
And urge them to abstain.

We shall do it by and by.

4 There's the huge and cursed system
Of drink, and sin, and fraud;
We must cast it forth with loathing,
Abhorred by man and God;
Let us, then, gird on our armour,
And God our strength will be ;
He our hosts is onward leading
To certain victory.

We shall do it by and by.

CHARLES GARRETT.