Boyden, John, Jr. The Eastern Harp. A Collection of Tunes and Hymns, Original and Selected: for the use of Sabbath Schools bound with The Sunday School Liturgy. Boston: James M. Usher, Universalist Sabbath School Depository, 37 Cornhill, (1848). First Edition. [11311]
Poor condition. Cloth spine with printed paper over card, most of the paper rubbed off, boards weakly attached, cloth separating from the binding, 6 x 3 3/4 inches. Two books bound as one. Lacks all free end papers (blanks). [i]-iv, [5]-238; [1]-54. Second book has separate title page and page numbers. Shaken, with nothing detached; counted and complete. Some leaves starting to separate, old stains, corner tips creased. "Universalist S. S., Northville" inside front cover. Poor. Hardcover.
"Stereotyped by George A. Curtis, Boston," on the copyright page.
The hymnal has 257 selections and a "Pic-Nic" Hymn as well as one called "Morning and Evening Praise." All but these last two have music in two or three parts with round notes. There is an index for the hymnal.
The Liturgy is a series of 28 lessons followed by 31 Hymns for the Sunday School (words only) and 13 Prayers for Opening Sunday School.
John Boyden, Jr. (1809-1869), b. Sturbridge, Massachusetts. He was a convert to Universalism under the preaching of Hosea Ballou, and lived with is family while studying for the ministry. Boyden was a leading Universalist minister, temperance reformer, abolitionist, politician, and homeopathic medical practitioner. He was for many years the pastor of the First Universalist Church of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
