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I can understand that. When you truly love something and what to carve your own niche, most artisans are pretty cognizant of not using other people's stuff but really try and be creative on their own front. I am that way as a writer. I write fictional novels but read non-fiction one prolifically. It just ensures that I have my own writing style without so much a subtle copying of another writer in any way. As for hymns, our church is more progressive in its music choice, as we have drums, base guitars, electric guitars and keyboards, but my Great Great Great Uncle wrote a hymn in 1871 that is still sung in churches today. He had a very interesting life, and despite 2/3 of the cemetery being family members, I take my hat off when I walk past his headstone. He is the only one that I do as he deserves a lot of respect. But in taking this reply full circle, it was interesting that Mark Twain, a prolific plagiarist who read other peoples literary works and resold them to support his afflicted lifestyle, stole an account from this great great great uncle of mine regarding a strange sailing trip he took around Cape Horn. Like others Mark Twain stole from, his account was almost word for word my great uncle wrote. It is why I have such a deep hatred of those who plagiarize and guard so well against it in my own writing.