{"id":3917,"date":"2021-09-21T18:35:03","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T23:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/?page_id=3917"},"modified":"2021-09-21T18:41:52","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T23:41:52","slug":"a-century-of-great-songs-e-l-jorgensons-remarkable-hymnal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/exhibits\/a-century-of-great-songs-e-l-jorgensons-remarkable-hymnal\/","title":{"rendered":"A Century of Great Songs: E. L. Jorgenson’s Remarkable Hymnal"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Century of Great Songs<\/em>: E. L. Jorgenson\u2019s Remarkable Hymnal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

The story begins in rural Nebraska, hardly a stronghold of the Restoration Movement, with Danish immigrants Christopher and Lena Jorgenson.\u00a0 Despite their limited capacity with the English language they enthusiastically embraced the reform plea of the Churches of Christ.\u00a0 Their son Elmer Leon Jorgenson (1886-1968) employed his great musical ability and Christian devotion to compile the most enduring hymnal used among Churches of Christ and Christian Churches. Great Songs of the Church,<\/em> ten years in the making, debuted in May 1921.\u00a0 Seventy years and millions of copies later it was still in print–surpassing the astonishing sixty-year print run of Alexander Campbell\u2019s hymnal.\u00a0 Advertised as the \u2018Golden Book of Sacred Song,\u2019 and affectionately known as \u2018Old Blue,\u2019 Great Songs of the Church<\/em> was used by congregations, schools, colleges and universities, and singing assemblies around the world.<\/p>\n

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged. <\/em><\/strong>E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921.<\/strong> Green cover with round notes. Right, 1935 printing of the second edition with shaped notes, red cover.<\/p>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921. Green cover with round notes. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921. Green cover with round notes. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1935 printing, red cover with round notes. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1935 printing, red cover with round notes. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. <\/em><\/strong>E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1937.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With this major revision Jorgenson built upon the Great Songs <\/em>tradition by adding many songs and expanding the reach of the round note edition.\u00a0 In 1940 Standard Publishing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio) began widely marketing the round note edition among Christian Churches. This joint venture reflected Jorgenson\u2019s devotion to unity within the Restoration Movement and opened a door for that edition (which also included responsive readings) to be used by several Protestant groups over the next two decades.<\/p>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1937. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1937. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Light blue cover with round notes (pictured above) is a first printing (1937) of \u2018Number Two.\u2019\u00a0 The red cloth continued to be used for the shaped note editions throughout the 1940s. The dark blue printing (1952, below) is one of the last editions issued under Jorgenson\u2019s ownership.\u00a0 The baby blue edition (1976) was apparently due to shortage of dark blue cloth at the bindery.\u00a0 The deluxe red leather edition, with gold page edges, was a favorite choice of song leaders.<\/p>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1952. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1952. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Hammond, Louisiana, 1976. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Hammond, Louisiana, 1976. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. Great Songs Press: Chicago, 1955. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. Great Songs Press: Chicago, 1955. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Formation of Great Songs of the Church<\/em>, 1900-1920<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Jorgenson\u2019s were devout Danish Lutherans who were compelled by the love they experienced at the Church of Christ in Boone County, Nebraska when Elmer was a boy.\u00a0 They were also musically talented and steeped in the hymnic tradition of the Protestant Reformation.\u00a0 As teen Elmer, center, served as \u2018Song Evangelist\u2019 for preaching tours such as the one described in this poster.\u00a0 These tours deepened his convictions about the formative power of song and the need for improved hymnody among Churches of Christ.\u00a0 After a short stint teaching music at Western Bible and Literary College in Odessa, Missouri, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1910 where he spent a decade sifting tens of thousands of songs from across Christian hymnody to compile Great Songs<\/em>.\u00a0 His co-workers in this 1906 tour, Claud Francis Witty and William John Campbell, and the faculty and most patrons of the Odessa school, and his associates in Louisville were all committed to acapella music in Christian worship.\u00a0 Elmer shared this conviction and contributed his time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of congregational singing, the teaching it reflected, and the devotion it inspired.<\/p>\n

Poster<\/em><\/strong>. September 1906. On loan from M. Ice, Director of Special Collections<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Poster.

Poster. September 1906. On loan from M. Ice, Director of Special Collections<\/p><\/div>\n

Alexander Campbell believed a united people should share a common hymn book which accurately reflected Biblical teaching.\u00a0 His book was the most widely used among Restoration congregations in his lifetime and remained in print for just over twenty years following his death.<\/p>\n

Jorgenson followed Campbell\u2019s lead and attempted to fulfill J. W. McGarvey\u2019s wish for a single hymnal that combined the best selections from all books.\u00a0 He drew inspiration from some of the more popular hymnals used among Restoration congregations in the post-Campbell years.\u00a0 The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book<\/em> included many examples of the emerging \u2018gospel song\u2019 genre while W. E. M. Hackleman, on the other hand, attempted to elevate Disciple hymnody with a wide selection of stately hymns.\u00a0 Jorgenson aimed to compile a book with the breadth of use enjoyed by Campbell, which joined the best popular gospel songs to the stateliest hymns from the broad Christian tradition.\u00a0 He published his results on May 16, 1921 under the title Great Songs of the Church.<\/p>\n

The Christian Hymn Book: A Compilation of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected.<\/em><\/strong> 5th<\/sup> ed. Printed and Published by A. Campbell: Bethany, 1860.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The

The Christian Hymn Book: A Compilation of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected. 5th ed. Printed and Published by A. Campbell: Bethany, 1860. Covers.<\/p><\/div>\n

The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book: A Selection of Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship<\/em><\/strong>. Fillmore Music House: Cincinnati, 1887.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The

The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book: A Selection of Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship. Fillmore Music House: Cincinnati, 1887. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book: A Selection of Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship. Fillmore Music House: Cincinnati, 1887. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book: A Selection of Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship. Fillmore Music House: Cincinnati, 1887. Rear cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

Gloria in Excelsis, A Collection of Responsive Scripture Readings, Standard Hymns and Tunes, and Spiritual Songs for Worship in the Church and Home.<\/em><\/strong> William E. M. Hackleman, Compiler. Hackleman Music Company: Indianapolis and Christian Board of Publication: St. Louis, 1905.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Gloria

Gloria in Excelsis, A Collection of Responsive Scripture Readings, Standard Hymns and Tunes, and Spiritual Songs for Worship in the Church and Home. William E. M. Hackleman, Compiler. Hackleman Music Company: Indianapolis and Christian Board of Publication: St. Louis, 1905. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gloria

Gloria in Excelsis, A Collection of Responsive Scripture Readings, Standard Hymns and Tunes, and Spiritual Songs for Worship in the Church and Home. William E. M. Hackleman, Compiler. Hackleman Music Company: Indianapolis and Christian Board of Publication: St. Louis, 1905. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hymni Ecclesiae, or Hymns of the Church<\/em><\/strong>. W. E. M. Hackleman and E. O. Excell, Compilers. Hackleman Music Company: Indianapolis, 1911.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hymni

Hymni Ecclesiae, or Hymns of the Church. W. E. M. Hackleman and E. O. Excell, Compilers. Hackleman Music Company: Indianapolis, 1911. Front cover. ACU copy lacks the title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photograph, Elmer Leon Jorgenson<\/em><\/strong>. 1930.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Missionary

Missionary Messenger, December 1930, photographs of E. L. Jorgenson, F. B. Shepherd, John T. Glenn, and R. S. King.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Missionary

Missionary Messenger, December 1930, detail photograph of E. L. Jorgenson<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs<\/em><\/strong> in the 1920s-1940s: A breakthrough achievement and a compiler\u2019s dreams come true<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jorgenson\u2019s organizing principle was simple: \u201cNo song can enter there unless it is indispensable<\/em>, or at least so very excellent<\/em>, so scriptural, so beautiful, so useful in saving sinners, or in edifying saints, so true and tried\u2026that if we knew the song, we simply would not want to do without it.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, he soon faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge.\u00a0 Since some hymnal compilers were also composers, they paired their compositions to a few select copyrighted songs then filled the remainder of their books with popular public domain material.\u00a0 But competition stiffened and hymnals grew in size as publishers amassed larger copyright holdings.\u00a0 They escalated rivalries by refusing to allow their holdings to appear in a competitor\u2019s book.\u00a0 Edwin Othello Excell (who owned E. O. Excell Publishing Company), Homer Rodeheaver (and Rody-Tabernacle Publishing Company), Charles Alexander, and Hope Publishing Company (which acquired Bigelow and Main Company) all competed fiercely for market share among hymnal compilers in the early 20th<\/sup> century.\u00a0 Jorgenson went to Chicago to negotiate with Excell but was pick-pocketed just before the meeting. Excell welcomed him into his home for a few days while they sorted out the recovery of his identification and funds.\u00a0 This broke the ice and he relented, allowing Jorgenson to use any of his songs along with those of any other publisher.\u00a0 Other publishers followed suit and for the first time in modern Protestant hymnody the works of competing copyright holders appeared together in the same book. This 1930 printing of Great Songs<\/em> opened to #422 and #423 illustrates how providence, a pick-pocket, and E. L. Jorgenson made the impossible commonplace.<\/p>\n

Photographs. <\/em><\/strong>E. O. Excell and Charles M. Alexander from George C. Stebbins: Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories. <\/em>George H. Doran Company: New York, 1924.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photograph.

Photograph. E. O. Excell, from George C. Stebbins: Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories. George H. Doran Company: New York, 1924.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Photograph.

Photograph. Charles M. Alexander, from George C. Stebbins: Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories. George H. Doran Company: New York, 1924.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hymns and Sacred Songs. <\/em><\/strong>E. O. Excell, Editor. Hope Publishing Company: Chicago,1918.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hymns

Hymns and Sacred Songs. E. O. Excell, Editor. Hope Publishing Company: Chicago,1918. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Hymns

Hymns and Sacred Songs. E. O. Excell, Editor. Hope Publishing Company: Chicago,1918. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Notice the similarity in appearance between Excell\u2019s book and the first printing of Great Songs<\/em>, which was produced on Excell\u2019s factory presses.<\/p>\n

Alexander\u2019s Gospel Songs. <\/em><\/strong>Charles M. Alexander, Compiler. Fleming H. Revell Company: New York, 1908.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Alexander\u2019s

Alexander\u2019s Gospel Songs. Charles M. Alexander, Compiler. Fleming H. Revell Company: New York, 1908. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Alexander\u2019s

Alexander\u2019s Gospel Songs. Charles M. Alexander, Compiler. Fleming H. Revell Company: New York, 1908. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Excell and Alexander side-by-side in Great Songs of the Church<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Excell

Excell and Alexander side-by-side in Great Songs of the Church<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisements and photographs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

These ads illustrate the rapid and sustained sale of Great Songs<\/em> throughout the 1920s into the 1950s.\u00a0 In them Jorgenson routinely named the congregations and colleges which used his hymnal.\u00a0 The strategy encouraged wider use but drew the ire of his critics. By the late 1940\u2019s many of the largest congregations, and all schools and colleges, among Churches of Christ used Great Songs.<\/em> The photographs below show it in use at daily chapel at Harding College (Searcy, Arkansas) and Abilene Christian College.<\/p>\n

\u2018Since last month\u2026,\u2019 Word and Work,<\/em> back cover October 1933.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\u2018Since

\u2018Since last month\u2026,\u2019 Word and Work, back cover October 1933.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018What Some have Said\u2026,\u2019 Christian Leader,<\/em> back cover, March 1, 1938.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\u2018What

\u2018What Some have Said\u2026,\u2019 Christian Leader, back cover, March 1, 1938.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018In gratitude to God\u2026,\u2019 World Vision,<\/em> back cover January-March 1944.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\u2018In

\u2018In gratitude to God\u2026,\u2019 World Vision, back cover January-March 1944.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018At Harding We Sing,\u2019 Twentieth Century Christian, <\/em><\/strong>undated special singing issue, ca. 1950.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\u2018At

\u2018At Harding We Sing,\u2019 Twentieth Century Christian, undated special singing issue, ca. 1950.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photograph of daily chapel in Sewell Auditorium, Abilene Christian College, ca 1955.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Photograph

Photograph of daily chapel in Sewell Auditorium, Abilene Christian College, ca 1955.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs<\/em><\/strong> in the 1930s-1960s: Its Prominence Contested but its Circulation Enlarged<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jorgenson was an unashamed proponent of premillennialism. \u00a0He believed the return of Jesus Christ would precede a literal thousand-year term of bliss and peace across the earth. He likely arrived at this conclusion through his association with R. H. Boll and others in Odessa, Missouri and Louisville, Kentucky.\u00a0 However, this view was not widely held and debates about the nature of prophecy, the book of Revelation, and the end-times raged hot and fierce among Churches of Christ from 1915 into the 1950s.\u00a0 By 1935 his association with Boll and the popularity of Great Songs<\/em> combined to make him and the hymnal a target for critics.\u00a0 Churches of Christ had no central governing body which could adjudicate doctrinal disagreements about premillennialism, much less authorize or prohibit the use of a hymnal.\u00a0 Rather, consensus on these and other matters was achieved by persuasion through the church-related periodicals.<\/p>\n

The Firm Foundation<\/em> article below is one of the first such criticisms.\u00a0 Its author questioned the content of the hymnal and suggested its proceeds\u2014which he claimed must surely be significant\u2014funded R. H. Boll\u2019s paper Word and Work <\/em>thereby underwrote the promotion of premillennial doctrine. Years earlier Jorgenson anticipated such criticisms of a few of his selected hymns and removed them from the second edition in 1922 and the 1937 revision.\u00a0 He also responded to the charge that his publishing efforts even turned a profit, much less a substantial one.\u00a0 By means of publishing this certified audit he admitted Great Songs Press in fact turned a profit\u2026a total of $9.38.<\/p>\n

However, Wallace\u2019s charge retained traction in some circles and proved to be an enduring criticism.\u00a0 In 1948 World Vision Publishing Company issued an edition without Jorgenson\u2019s name on the title page to allow those who desired to distance themselves from him personally to still enjoy the benefits of the hymnal.\u00a0 As these ads demonstrate, when Jorgenson sold the rights to the shaped note edition to Christian Chronicle <\/em>in 1953 (later acquired by Abilene Christian College Bookstore by 1957) it was heralded across the main stream of Churches of Christ as a significant coup against \u2018the premillennials.\u2019\u00a0 Perhaps this is most clearly and succinctly articulated in the Gospel Guardian<\/em> ad displayed below.\u00a0 Though his book remained unchanged, Jorgenson\u2019s name was again dropped from the title page. Many congregations which formerly would not use it ordered hundreds of thousands of copies through its new publishers.<\/p>\n

Foy E. Wallace, Jr. \u201cGreat Songs of the Church,\u201d Firm Foundation<\/em>, September 29, 1936.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Foy

Foy E. Wallace, Jr. \u201cGreat Songs of the Church,\u201d Firm Foundation, September 29, 1936.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Foy

Foy E. Wallace, Jr. \u201cGreat Songs of the Church,\u201d Firm Foundation, September 29, 1936.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement, \u2018Let\u2019s Suppose\u2026\u2019 Christian Leader<\/em>, December 15, 1939.<\/strong>\u00a0 Jorgenson utilized the rhetorical force of the recommendations of church leaders and publishers such as Marion Davis, N. B. Hardeman, G. A. Klingman, James L. Lovell, and B. K. Sommer to commend Great Songs<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018Let\u2019s Suppose\u2026\u2019 Christian Leader, December 15, 1939.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement, \u2018Music Typography,\u2019 Christian Leader<\/em> March 1, 1940.<\/strong>\u00a0 In this ad Jorgenson details the laborious processes employed to produce a hymnal of the highest mechanical quality, which he sold basically at cost to ensure its widest possible use.<\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018Music Typography,\u2019 Christian Leader March 1, 1940.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement, \u2018Certified Audit,\u2019 Christian Leader<\/em>, May 15, 1940.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018Certified Audit,\u2019 Christian Leader, May 15, 1940.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement, \u2018An Old Story Never Told,\u2019 Christian Leader<\/em>, September 15, 1940.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018An Old Story Never Told,\u2019 Christian Leader, September 15, 1940.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Gospel Songs for Tent and Tabernacle<\/em><\/strong>. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1943.<\/strong>\u00a0 This slim paperback of only gospel songs was for revivals, gospel meetings, and other occasions where the full (and heavier) hymnal was unneeded.<\/p>\n

\"Great

Great Gospel Songs for Tent and Tabernacle. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1943. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs of the Church<\/em><\/strong>, 28th<\/sup> edition, World Vision Publishing Company: Nashville, ca. 1948.<\/strong>\u00a0 The publisher marketed this as the \u2018Nashville Edition\u2019 to appeal to congregations in the Middle Tennessee area, where Boll and Jorgenson had many friends but many more critics.<\/p>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church, 28th edition, World Vision Publishing Company: Nashville, ca. 1948. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church, 28th edition, World Vision Publishing Company: Nashville, ca. 1948. Title page.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018Chronicle Buys Plates, Publications Rights of \u2018Great Songs,\u2019 Christian Chronicle<\/em> October 7, 1953.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\u2018Chronicle

\u2018Chronicle Buys Plates, Publications Rights of \u2018Great Songs,\u2019 Christian Chronicle October 7, 1953.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement, \u2018The Most Widely Accepted Hymnal in the Church,\u2019 Christian Chronicle<\/em>, June 23, 1954.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018The Most Widely Accepted Hymnal in the Church,\u2019 Christian Chronicle, June 23, 1954.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Advertisement, \u2018At Last,\u2019 Gospel Guardian<\/em>, February 7, 1957.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Advertisement,

Advertisement, \u2018At Last,\u2019 Gospel Guardian, February 7, 1957.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs<\/em><\/strong> in the 1970s-1990s: Twilight Years of the Pace-Setting Hymnal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jorgenson was largely successful in what he attempted: a single book that joined the long tradition of the richest hymns to the best of the newer popular gospel songs, and which was used by a significant cross-section of Churches of Christ.\u00a0 That it endured in print for nearly seventy years\u2014longer than Alexander Campbell\u2019s hymnal\u2014is itself remarkable.\u00a0 Later hymnals not only adopted Jorgenson\u2019s approach and mirrored his selections, but in some cases actually copied pages from his book.\u00a0 Through the body of songs he assembled, the arrangements of them he produced, and the sheer volume of use of his hymnal, Elmer Leon Jorgenson left an indelible mark on hymnody among Churches of Christ in the twentieth century.<\/p>\n

The acquisition of the shaped-note edition by Abilene Christian College possibly gained for Great Songs <\/em>a wider and longer exposure than it might have otherwise enjoyed. \u00a0Displayed here are artifacts and promotional materials from the decades when ACU published Great Songs<\/em>.\u00a0 To address the changing landscape of hymnody in the postwar decades, the university issued a supplement in 1974 (with accompanying LP albums) then a wholesale revision in 1986.\u00a0 In 1997 ACU English Professor Forrest McCann completed his magnum opus which details the remarkable story of Jorgenson\u2019s hymnal and the selections it contains.\u00a0 It is displayed here with Great Songs of the Church, Revised <\/em>in a boxed-set edition in the ACU President\u2019s Circle Books series.<\/p>\n

Printing block used for advertisements for Great Songs of the Church, ca. 1950s-1970s.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Printing

Printing block used for advertisements for Great Songs of the Church, ca. 1950s-1970s.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advertisement for Great Songs of the Church <\/em>using the printing block above. Christian Chronicle, September 17, 1957.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Advertisement

Advertisement for Great Songs of the Church using the printing block above. Christian Chronicle, September 17, 1957.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs of the Church<\/em>, 50th Anniversary Edition.\u00a0 <\/strong>This deluxe blue leather edition was printed in 1971.<\/p>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church, 50th Anniversary Edition.<\/p><\/div>\n

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church, Alphabetically Arranged. Great Songs Press [Abilene, Texas], 1974. Front cover.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Supplement

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church, Alphabetically Arranged. Great Songs Press [Abilene, Texas], 1974. Front cover.<\/p><\/div>Abilene Christian College issued two LP albums which reflected the content of Jorgenson’s hymnal.\u00a0 The Choralaires, under the direction of Harry Fierbaugh,<\/span> issued a selection of songs from “Great Songs #2”.\u00a0 In about 1975 Jack Boyd oversaw production of a set of albums designed to assist congregations in learning the selections issued in the 1974 Supplement.<\/p>\n

Choralaires LP Album<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Choralaires

Choralaires LP album cover<\/p><\/div>\n

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church LP album<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Supplement

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church LP album cover<\/p><\/div>\n

Forrest M. McCann,\u00a0Hymns and History: An Annotated Survey of Sources<\/em>. ACU Press: Abilene, 1997. ACU Presidents’ Circle Edition with Great Songs of the Church, Revised<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Forrest

Forrest M. McCann,\u00a0Hymns and History: An Annotated Survey of Sources. ACU Press: Abilene, 1997. ACU Presidents’ Circle Edition with Great Songs of the Church, Revised.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Forrest

Forrest M. McCann,\u00a0Hymns and History: An Annotated Survey of Sources. ACU Press: Abilene, 1997. ACU Presidents’ Circle Edition with Great Songs of the Church, Revised.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Forrest

Forrest M. McCann,\u00a0Hymns and History: An Annotated Survey of Sources. ACU Press: Abilene, 1997. ACU Presidents’ Circle Edition with Great Songs of the Church, Revised.<\/p><\/div>\n

Great Songs of the Church Centennial Celebration Edition, 1921-2021.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 This paperback was produced for use at special sessions at Christian Scholars Conference, Nashville, TN in June and at Restoration Day, Abilene, September, 2021.<\/p>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church Centennial Celebration Edition, 1921-2021.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Great

Great Songs of the Church Centennial Celebration Edition, 1921-2021.<\/p><\/div>\n

For further study:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Links below should open in a new tab.<\/p>\n

Great Songs of the Church: A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the First Class, Suitable for all Services of the Church, Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First Edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921.\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/greatsonchur00jorg\/mode\/2up<\/a> and the list of texts and tunes available at: https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymnal\/GSoC1921<\/a><\/p>\n

Great Songs of the Church: A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the First Class, Suitable for all Services of the Church, Alphabetically Arranged.<\/em> E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Second Edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1926.\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_books\/194\/<\/a> and the list of texts and tunes from the 1935 printing available at: https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymnal\/GSoC1935<\/a><\/p>\n

The New Alphabetical Hymnal. Great Songs of the Church Number Two. A Treasury of Six Hundred Sacred Songs Suitable for All Services of the Church. <\/em>E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1937. 39th<\/sup> printing, 1961. Available at: https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/newalphabeticalh00jorg\/mode\/2up<\/a> and the list of texts and tunes available at: https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymnal\/GSC1937<\/a><\/p>\n

Great Gospel Songs for Tent and Tabernacle<\/em>. Great Songs Press: Louisville, 1943. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_books\/316\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Forrest M. McCann, Hymns and History: An Annotated Survey of Sources<\/em>. ACU Press: Abilene, 1997.<\/p>\n

Forrest M. McCann, \u201cE. L. Jorgenson and the Longest-Lived Hymnal in the Stone-Campbell Movement\u201d 1997 Abilene Christian University Lectureship. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/sumlec_audio\/2891\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Forrest M. McCann, \u201cHymnbooks on purpose\u2014Hymnody in the Stone-Campbell Movement\u201d 1985 Abilene Christian University Lectureship. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/sumlec_audio\/4802\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Gary McCaleb and Forrest M. McCann, \u201cOn Campus Video featuring Dr. Forrest McCann, October 2, 1984\u201d. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/on_campus\/180\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Dale A. Jorgenson, \u201cGreat Songs of the Church, The Story of a Hymnal,\u201d Restoration Quarterly<\/em> 56:3, Third Quarter 2014.<\/p>\n

John Conrad Wakefield, \u201cThe Influence of the Hymnal \u2018Great Songs of the Church\u2019 in Christian Churches,\u201d A Paper Presented at the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference <\/em>and Christian Scholars Conference<\/em>, 2021. Available at: http:\/\/www.stone-campbelljournal.com\/fileadmin\/pdfs\/conference\/2021\/wakefield.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Jim Mankin and Jason Fikes, \u201cWhen Shall I Reach That Happy Place?\u201d Apocalyptic Themes in the Hymns of the Stone-Campbell Movement,\u201d Restoration Quarterly<\/em> 38:1, First Quarter 1996. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/restorationquarterly\/vol38\/iss1\/4\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Dale Jorgenson, \u201cE. L. Jorgenson: A Song of Christian Love,\u201d Word and Work,<\/em> August 1995. Available at: http:\/\/www.wordandwork.org\/2016\/05\/e-l-jorgenson-a-song-of-christian-love\/?fbclid=IwAR3uUTiSMEnv8nUCOmz9HpeTDCDs9WPFz9YWibsMnMILcJ2QzsK9Y6alVD4<\/a><\/p>\n

Forrest M. McCann, \u201cFifty Years of Song,\u201d Word and Work<\/em>, June 1971. Available at: https:\/\/www.therestorationmovement.com\/_journals\/ww\/1971\/1971-06-WW.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Jack Boyd, \u201cOld Hymns and Other Exposed Nerves, The Perils of Re-editing \u2018Old Blue\u2019\u201d and Reid Lancaster, Review of Great Songs of the Church, Revised<\/em>, Mission Journal<\/em>, May 1987. Available at: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/missionjournal\/vol20\/iss11\/1\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church, <\/em>1975, four LP albums available in nine parts:<\/p>\n

Part 1: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/73\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 2: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/74\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 3: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/77\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 4: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/76\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 5: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/75\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 6: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/81\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 7: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/79\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 8: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/78\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 9: Jack Boyd, \u2018Teaching New Hymns to the Congregation\u2019: https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/crs_audio_video\/5\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Sewell chapel singing and scripture service, 1966.\u00a0 https:\/\/digitalcommons.acu.edu\/historical_audio_video\/16\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Joey Roberts, \u201cCentennial celebration: \u2018Great Songs of the Church\u2019 marks 100 years of influence,\u201d Christian Chronicle<\/em> online edition available at: https:\/\/christianchronicle.org\/centennial-celebration-great-songs-of-the-church-marks-100-years-of-influence\/<\/a><\/p>\n

——-<\/p>\n

This analog exhibit was curated by Mac Ice and was opened for display in the ACU Library September 2021-present. This digital exhibit was prepared by Mac Ice, September 20, 2021.<\/p>\n

To see more exhibits from ACU Special Collections and Archives please visit our exhibit page.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Century of Great Songs: E. L. Jorgenson\u2019s Remarkable Hymnal Introduction The story begins in rural Nebraska, hardly a stronghold of the Restoration Movement, with Danish immigrants Christopher and Lena Jorgenson.\u00a0 Despite their limited capacity with the English language they … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10498,"featured_media":0,"parent":2055,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3917","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4fxGI-11b","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3917"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3996,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3917\/revisions\/3996"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/specialcollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}