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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by

ABEL TOMPKINS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

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PREFACE.

THE want of a Ritual, at once simple, direct and impressive, has long been felt by those connected with Sunday Schools. This little volume has been prepared to meet that want. If the object the author aims to secure, be attained, he will feel amply rewarded for his labor.

This LITURGY is designed to be used in the following manner:

At the opening of the School, after the Superintendent or leader of the devotions, shall have read the first part of the introductory sentence, and the teachers and children the succeeding part, the Superintendent will then read the EXHORTATION. The brief prayer following, together with the LORD's PRAYER, will be said in concert by all present.

The PSALMS or RESPONSES, will be read alternately by the Superintendent, and the teachers and children together.

When a short SCRIPTURAL LESSON is read, it should follow the PSALM.

The longer PRAYER preceding the CLASS LESSONS, is designed to be read in distinct passages, as indicated by the marks of separation. Each passage

to be read first by the Superintendent alone, and then repeated by the teachers and children together. The CONCLUDING PRAYER should be read by the Superintendent only, at the close of the School.

By observing this simple form, order, dignity and impressiveness will mark the devotional exercises of the School.

Those who would secure the best results, should adopt one service, and adhere to it, varying the Psalms and Prayers, only when occasion requires. In this way the children will become familiar with the service, and learn to love it. Experience has deepened the author's conviction that one "form of sound words" is a better devotional exercise than varied spontaneous utterances, however excellent. It more easily engages the attention, especially of the young, and seldom fails to inspire a feeling of devotion.

For important suggestions in preparing the work the author is indebted to many valued friends, and also to eminent divines, who have most cordially approved his labors.

In collecting and arranging the Hymns, he is happy to express his indebtedness to Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs. E. Oakes Smith, Mrs. Sigourney, Alice Čary and Grace Greenwood, Revs. R. C. Waterston, C. T. Brooks and John Pierpont, and Messrs. Theodore Tilton, R. F. Fuller, and W. C. Bryant.

The Hymns marked with an asterisk, are either original, or revised and furnished by the authors for this work. These are protected by the copyright. UTICA, OCTOBER 1st, 1859.

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INDEX.

HYMN.

A little word in kindness said,.

Again the Lord of life and light,..........

All hail to the day when our fathers arose,.

Another day its course has run,.

57

96

100

81

Another hand is beckoning us,

72

Anthems of gladness uniting to raise,.

29

Another year comes from above,.

56

2

Approach not the altar,.

Assembled in our school once more,.
Away from home, to school we come,

Blessed be Thy name forever,..
Brothers, sisters, when the morning,.

Calm on the bosom of thy God,.
Calm on the listening ear of night,.
Children, hear the melting story,.
Come, don't delay, haste away,
Come Parents, Teachers, Friends,

Dear Father, take me to Thy love,..

Fair the Sabbath sun appears,.
Father, grant us now Thy blessing,.
Father in heaven, Thy ceaseless love,.
Father, in Thy love awaking,

Father, Thou who art in heaven..

Father, while here, once more we raise,
For all Thy saints, O God,

From all that dwell below the skies,.

12

8

30

34

77

50

40

14

86

31

10

128

19

93

69

78

131

HYMN.

Gladly now in childhood,

From Greenland's icy mountains,.

Feeble, helpless, how shall I,.

Give me thy heart, O thoughtless youth,.

122

45

123

37

Good-bye, Old Year! a fond good-bye!..

54

God is in His holy temple,.

1

God is love, His mercy brightens,.

25

God might have made the earth bring forth,

114

God is so good that He will hear,

God of our salvation, hear us,.

129

Go when the morning shineth,..
Gracious God, our heavenly Father,.
Great God, and wilt Thou condescend.

32

3

5

Hark! hark! with harps of gold,.
Hark! the angels singing,.

51

49

Hark! the solemn pines are sighing!.

He who walks in virtue's way,
Holy Bible! book divine!...

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I'll awake at dawn, on the Sabbath day,
I would not live alway,..

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour,......

Let praise to the Lord, who made us, ascend,
Lift your glad voices in triumph, on high,
Like a fresh rose some hand has torn,.

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