Hymnology

The art of sacred lyric poetry; a lyrical expre ion of religious feeling, celebrating, directly or indirectly, some object of worship. Hymns are among the earliest extant examples of literature, having come down to us from remote times in the Hindu Vedas, the Babylonian literary remains, and the literature of ancient Egypt; while of the hymns of antiquity the Jewish psalms are the best known and most cherished. The Greek hymns were in honor of the deities of mythology and were sung at festivals. The hymnology of the Christian era had its great originator in Ambrose (died 397), who founded a school of hymn writers whose productions were marked by a severe simplicity, causing them to appear to many hard and dry. More glowing strains arose from later writers, and after the Reformation an active school of Protestant hymnology arose, which yielded many productions of great worth. Isaac Watts may properly be looked upon as the father of English hymnology, which has continued to develop through two centuries; and at the present day hymns of much excellence are frequently produced, while new hymnals, made up largely of fresh material, are constantly appearing. Among the most complete works on this subject is Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology (1892). Hynd'man, in Pennsylvania , a post-borough of Bed ford co., 23 m. S.W. of Bedford, on B. & O. and Penna. R. Rs.; has flour mills, a tannery, fire-brick, and hardwood furniture factories, and several small lime-kilns. It is located in the midst of a mountainous region of rugged natural beauty. Pop . (1897) 1,220.