The Latin Hymns in the Wesleyan Hymnbook. By Frederic W.
Macdonald. (Charles H. Kelly. 2s. 6d.)—The original Wesleyan hymn-book contained no hymns from the Latin, though Charles Wesley had paraphrased the Te Deum. The Supplement of 1831 contained this paraphrase and a translation of the Veni, Creator Spiritus. In 1876 the enlarged hymn-book, now in use, contained eight more,—" Veni, Sancte Spiritus," "The strain upraise of joy and praise," " Jean, the very thought of thee," " Brief life is here our portion," " 0 come, 0 come, Emmanuel," " Once more the sun is beaming bright," "Christ is our corner-stone," and the "Dies Irae." To this another may be added, though it is not ancient, " Supreme, quales, Arbiter," the work of De Santeuil (1630-97). The first stanza runs :- " Supreme, quales, Arbiter Tibi uthilstros
Toss open gtil vlItbus
Vasil nurse corumittere I"
Mr. Macdonald gives an interesting account of the origin and history of these compositions, in their originals and their versions.' He would gladly see the hymnody of his Church further enriched from this source ; nor could he have well found a better means to this end.
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