Hamilton, John [compiler]. A Pocket Hymn Book, or A Selection of the best Hymns And Spiritual Songs, designed as A Companion for Christians; Collected from various Authors, by John Hamilton, Minister of the Gospel. Harrisburg: Printed by Francis Wyeth, 1829. First Edition. [11183]
Full brown leather, brown leather spine title label, binding is edge-worn yet with fine joints and tight, 10.5 x 6.3 cm (4 1/8 x 2 1/2 inches). "Catherine Walker's Book" in black ink on the ffep. Page edges stained yellow. [i]-[iv], [5]-452 pages, complete. Short tear on title page with no loss of text. Many hymns begins with a large first letter, simply decorated. Good. Hardcover.
542 selections, words only, with an index of first lines.
A few more unusual categories, such as Alarming and Awakening; Penitential; Class-meeting and Experience; Missionary & Spread of the Gospel; Backsliding...&c. The hymns are not attributed.
Spine title: Hamilton's Selection.
A possible candidate for the compiler is a John Hamilton who was the first English-preaching minister of the Evangelical Association, at the time a German-speaking denomination. He was popular on the Virginia circuits but preaching in English met with disfavor and John eventually joined the Lutherans.
We find that a John Hamilton published a sermon preached at Shippensburg, Pa, in 1831, on the subjects and mode of baptism, with "A few brief remarks on washing of feet." Also an 1829 sermon, King Saul reproved by Samuel, catalogued as "controversial literature of the Evangelical Assocaition." Lastly, "The Pacificator: Saying to the troubled sea of religion," published in Winchester, Virginia (1835) and held by Krauth Memorial Library, United Lutheran Seminary. This is the circumstantial evidence that we have regarding John Hamilton and the Evangelical Association.
The Pocket Hymn Book is rather scarce,
The printer, Francis Wyeth, was the son of John Wyeth, who was a well-known music publisher and printer. In 1827 John took over some of his father's printing business in Harrisburg, PA.
With a signed provenance card from the music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.
