24 OCTOBER 1925, Page 17

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your interesting article on

Hymn-books in last week's Spectator reminds me of a conversation I had with one of the Editors of The English Hymnal while that excellent hymn- book was in the press. He remarked that they had included in their book all the best Low Church and Nonconformist hymns and also the best of the High Church and mediaeval hymns, so everybody would be satisfied. But when the hymn-book appeared it was met by an outcry from both parties : the High Church said that some of the hymns were quite impos- sible, while the Low Church said, " Nothing will induce us to use the book. Why, it actually contains hymns addressed to the Virgin Mary !"—I am, Sir, &c., T.