Parkinson, William. A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. In two parts. Part I. containing the Hymns. Part II. containing the Songs. Designed (Especially the Former Part) for the use of Congregations, as an Appendix, to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns. New-York: Printed for John Tiebout, By D. & G. Bruce, 1809. First Edition. [8624]
Full calf, boards bowed, front detached, rear joint good with flaked leather to board, 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. Pages are not numbered; they have the hymn numbers rather than pagination. Appx. 550 pp. WorldCat calls for a portrait, not present here. Lacks the front blanks. Fair.
The first part contains 420 hymns; the second part contains 150 spiritual songs. Words only, no music.
"William Parkinson (1774-1848), a Maryland native who, after serving as chaplain to the United States Congress, was pastor of First Baptist Church, New York City, from 1805 until 1840...In his preface, Parkinson acknowledges the excellence of Watts, but, echoing Rippon's argument, notes that hymns on other subjects are needed. Rippon's anthology is acknowledged as the best of its kind, and the Philadelphia Collection is also mentioned approvingly. Parkinson then states the purpose of his book, namely, to include texts not found in Rippon's Selection (about half of the London pastor's choices are included), to supplant books containing hymns with erroneous doctrine, and to provide worthy spiritual songs." - Music & Richardson, "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story", p. 159.
With a signed provenance card from the collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.