The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 51 : The Singing of Psalms and Hymns

Paragraph 1 :

51-1. Praising God through the medium of music is a duty and a privilege. Therefore, the singing of hymns and psalms and the use of musical instruments should have an important part in public worship.

DIGEST: The current PCA text, in place since 1973, dates to the PCUS revision of 1929.

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW 4-1 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 156]
Praising God through the medium of music is a duty and a privilege. Therefore, the singing of hymns and psalms and the use of musical instruments should have an important part in public worship.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text,
The

PCUS 1933, IV, § 312.
Praising God through the medium of music is a duty and a privilege. Therefore, the singing of hymns and psalms and the use of musical instruments should have an important part in public worship.

PCUS 1925, IV-1 [§ 314.]
and
PCUS 1894, IV-1
It is the duty of Christians to praise God by singing psalms or hymns publicly in the church, as also privately in the family.

PCUSA 1789, DfW, IV-1
It is the duty of Christians to praise God, by singing psalms, or hymns, publicly in the church, as also privately in the family.

PCUSA 1786, DfW, 2d draft
It is the duty of Christians to praise God, by singing psalms and hymns, publicly in the Church, as also privately in the family
.