Yesterday, I attended a sectional entitled "Emerging Scholars Forum" where we heard recent doctoral students share about their research. One young woman told us about a seven year project she started in college, looking closely at the original Foundry Hymnal, produced I believe in 1742. She talked about various interesting aspects of the tunes and words. But there is one thing that baffles her. Although we do not know who the editor was, we do know, as any of the other documented printed works at this time tell us, that John Wesley was the ultimate editor. He had control over every Methodist-produced written work that was printed at the time. However, this hymnal has many errors in it---key signatures that are not consistent; bar lines at the wrong place; words misspelled, and on and on. She can't figure out how the usually meticulous Wesley could have allowed this to happen.
I suggested to her that it might be that Wesley saw the great need that the burgeoning classes and bands had for the hymns, and that because of this need to have this important instrument for worship of the Lord, the hymnal was produced very quickly. As I have thought about this more, in fact, not all of the disciples being drawn to the Wesleyan movement could read. Much was taught by rote. The most important work of ministry for Wesley was offering Christ to those who did not know Christ. Perhaps, again, like in the field, Wesley "submitted to be more vile" by expediting the printing instead of delaying in order to meticulously correct and correct again.
This also offers me an excuse when I don't spellcheck enough. Wesley did it; so can I. The problem is I know that folks don't NEED my blog, especially when it doesn't sing!!!
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