James Milton Black

BLACK, James Milton. b. South Hill, New York, 19 August 1856; d. Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 21 December 1938. Black was an enthusiastic promoter of Gospel hymnody, compiling volume after volume, often with sub-titles such as ‘for use in Sunday schools, prayer meetings, revivals, young people’s meetings, and on special occasions’. His Songs of the Soul (1894) was very successful, selling, it is believed, 400,000 copies. He was extremely active at the turn of the century, publishing a series of Methodist books with the title Epworth Hymnal; others included The Chorus of Praise (New York, 1898), Praise and Promise (Chicago, 1900), The Gospel Chorus (New York, 1902), Songs of Faith and Hope...