pro TIM EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In reference to Dr.
Watts's fine hymn, "Our God, our help," I agree with your correspondent of last week in lament- ing the mutilation of the original text, and in this case there is much to be said in favour of the original from a meditative standpoint ; but we must remember that these hymns were written to be sung, and those of us who are responsible for the musical part of a service know how euphonius "0 God, our help," is compared with "Our God, our help." In fact, to attempt to sing the latter is distressing. No doubt John and Charles Wesley saw this point before making the change. Dr. Bickersteth in his notes on this hymn says :—" The opening word 'Our' has been with very general consent changed into '0.'" Dr. Julian in his great work, of course, gives the original text ; but he mentions the change by John Wesley without any special comment. Hymnaries compiled in the earlier part of the nineteenth century without tunes, such as Home's, Montgomery's, Dr. Parker's, and the Congregational Hymn-book, give the original text; but recent musical editions, such as "Ancient and Modern," "The Hymnary," "The Methodist Tune Book," "The Congregational Hymnal," "The English Hymnal," &c., give Wesley's rendering, which is certainly grateful to those who sing the grand old hymn.
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