Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/evolutionofourchOOreev_0 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR CHRISTIAN HYMNOLOGY tCJje evolution of (But Cj)ri0tian Upmnologp BY FRANCIS B. REEVES PHILADELPHIA THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. 1912 Copyright, 1912, by FRANCIS B. REEVES. • CONTENTS. • PAGE Introductory 9 Sacredness of Our Hymnology 13 Some of Our Old Hymn Books 37 The Dawn of a Brighter Day 63 Theologic Progression 73 -Some Unclassible Hymns 77 The Valley of the Shadow 93 Some Hymns by Inspired Women 98 Some Valued Hymns by Watts and Other Men 116 Hymns of Patriotism 134 Hymns for the Sunday School 144 Comments on Doggerel Rhymes 155 Hymn-Mending 161 Christian Unification 174 Addenda 179 Index of First Lines 193 (5) HYMNS WITH TUNES. PAGE And Am I Only Born to Die 57 A Brighter Day 190 Ah ! Lovely Appearance of Death 93 Away to School 146 And Am I Born to Die 151 Behold the Man Three Score and Ten 95 Call and Consecration 189 Down TO THE Tomb Our Brother Goes 78 False Are the Men of High Degree 85 Farewell, Farewell, Dear Friends 89 Fourteenth Chapter of John 188 Hark, from the Tombs 45 Heavenly Father, God of Nations 137 How Glorious Art Thou 187 Judgment Day Is Coming On 59 Lord, What a Thoughtless Wretch Was 1 55 My Soul, Come Meditate the Day 61 Nearer, Still Nearer 112 O, THE Love of God Almighty 130 Sabbath School Hymn 144 Singing School i45 (7) 8 Hymns with Tunes. PAGE Stoop Down, My Thoughts 96 Stop, Poor Sinner 58 The Evening Boat 145 The Lord Has Come Into His World 129 The Rising Morning Can't Ensure 94 Whither Goest Thou, Pilgrim, Stranger 83 Who Can Describe the Pain 78 INTRODUCTORY. The writing of this treatise was in fulfihrnent of an engagement to discourse it at a banquet entertainment of the Presbyterian Social Union of Philadelphia, at the Bellevue- Stratford, the evening of April 24, 191 1. Prior to the hour of its delivery several important matters necessarily encroached upon the time required for it, so that a large part of the manuscript had to be omitted, as also the singing by the quartet choir and the assembly of a number of hymns that had been selected for illustration of the subject. Under these circumstances a motion was made and adopted by unanimous vote of the two hundred and forty men present, requesting me to have the address published in book form. Acceding to this request, and being relieved from the time limitation of a spoken address, I have embraced the oppor- tunity to elaborate upon my theme considerably, though without branching out far beyond the lines suggested by my announced topic. It is not my purpose to make a disquisition on this great subject historically, from the dawn of the day when ''The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" down to our day and generation, but simply to direct our thoughts reminiscentially to what I may term the Evolution of our Christian Hymnology, a joyful forward movement that has been clearly perceptible to me during my life of three- quarters of a century and has been accelerating materially in the last few decades. Nor am I making this paper biographical of Hymnists or of their distinguished music composers, although, incidentally, many of them must figure measurably in the narrative. These (9) 10 Introductory. phases of the subject have been admirably treated in recent years in several books and religious newspapers ; but I have no knowledge of any publication as yet along the special line that I have above indicated as my present purpose, — comparisons between the hymnody of the earlier and later periods under review, with evidence as to the causes of its distinct, radical evolution. While brief reference will be made to earlier religious lyrics, this review will chiefly embrace the period from about the time when the paraphrased psalms of Dr. Isaac Watts and the hymns of the Wesleys practically held sway in the Reformed Churches (eighteenth century) down to the twentieth century. Realizing as I do that the lovers of Christian worship in song by whatever denominational name known are ''giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace,'' with brotherly kindness and charity, I am relying more upon this, and the inherent goodness and attractiveness of my subject, than u])on myself. Should anyone think there is too frequent use of the first person singular through these pages, I would say that, being no adept at story-telling, I find it difficult to avoid it. Wherever the plural personal pronoun appears, I hope it may be accepted as applying to the author and all of his dear readers. Whatever interest may be awakened by my treatment of the subject, or however my selection of the old abandoned psalms and hymns and comments thereupon may fall short of the ideal, I am sure that the multitude of spiritually ennobling hymns themselves, if carefully and prayerfully read in their entirety, will make up for all deficiencies. Many of them, already engraved deeply upon our hearts, are worthy of being rehearsed again and again, until they may be spoken in the Introductory. II darkness of the stilly night when slumber's chains are binding us. If by this writing I may be able to strike a responsive chord around the broad and ever-expanding circle of worshipful people, all deeply interested in every phase of religious advance- ment, then may we be able to sing again for the thousandth time — "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love,'' a blessed hymn that has been sung by millions of voices for more than a century and that will not fade away until "Rolling years shall cease to move." F. B. R. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October lo, 191 1. Chapter I. SACREDNESS OF OUR HYMNOLOGY. For the beginning of the hterature of Psalmody we turn the pages of its history back to the Song of Moses and the chil- dren of Israel with Miriam and a great company of women accompanying the song with timbrels and dances. In the Book of Exodus (15th chapter) we find this great song, the first of record in our Bible; these are its opening words — ''Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, saying, I zvill sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath He throzvn into the sea." In the Book of Psalms we have — ''With my Song will I praise Him'' ; — "He hath put a nezv song in my mouth, even praise unto our God'' ; — "I zvill praise the name of God zjuith a song" ; — "Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing" and many other well-known calls to sing joyful praises to Jehovah. In ist Chron. (6:31) following a long string of names of men, we read, "And these are they whom David set over the Service of Song in the house of the Lord, * ^-i^ ^ and they ministered before the dwell- ing place of the tabernacle of the congregation zvith singing, * * >K jg^ fii^y i^Qre employed in that work day and night." The Chronicler goes on to tell us that the "Sweet Psalmist of IsraeF' ordered a Choir to sing thanksgiving to God when the ark of God was brought into the midst of the tent, "and he delivered to the Choir a psalm to thank the Lord." And when David made Solomon his son King over Israel, we are told that four thousand praised the Lord with the in- struments which, David said, "I made to praise the Lord there- with." Another Choir, as recorded in the Chronicles, consisted of the children of Haman, fourteen sons and three daughters, who, quoting literally, "Were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord with cymbals, psalteries and (13) 14 The Evolution of Our harps for the service of the house of God." It is written that singers were added to this Choir until it numbered two hundred fourscore and eight. In David's 57th Psahn it is written: ''I zvill sing, yea I will sing praises. Awake up my glory; awake psaltery and harp ^ * * / ^t;/// sing praises unto Thee among the nations.'' It is written in the Book of Ezra : — ''And zvhen the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah after the order of David, King of Israel. And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying — 'For Jie is good, for his loving kindness endureth forever tovuard Israel.' " In the New Testament, in Matthew's Gospel, we read this, its first reference to Christian Song — "And when they had sung an hymn they zuent out into the Moimt of Olives." Luke, writing of Paul and Silas in the prison, says — "At midnight they sang praises to God and the prisoners heard them." Paul, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, said — "I will pray zvith the spirit and I zvill pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit and I zvill sing zvith the understanding also." James wrote — "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let hi^n sing praise." Immediately after our Lord's ascension to heaven, it is said of His beloved disciples: "They worshipped Him and returned to lerusalem with great joy and zvere continually in the temple praising and blessing God." In Revelation 14 we read — "I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of harpers with their harps; and they sing a new song before the throne * * * and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand which follow the Lamb zvhithersoever He goeth." Special significance attaches to Col. 3: 16, where we find that the Apostle Paul believed that the singing of psalms and Christian Hymnology. 15 hymns carried with it both instruction and warning as well as praise and prayer, when he wrote — ''Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord.'' Note it must be with grace in our hearts; every word must be expressive of the heart's sincere desire, and if we would have the singing of psalms and hymns to be acceptable to God and promotive of our spirituality, we must always take them to heart as an em- bodiment of adoration, thanksgiving and supplication, and not chiefly for the gratification of our musical taste. I quote the following from William Charles Braithwaite's "Early Hymns The singing of psalms had an important place in the Jewish worship, for example, the sequence of psalms from the 113th to the ii8th was sung several times during the Passover week, and is probably alluded to in Matt. 26 : 30. The Christians very naturally kept up this Jewish custom and made use of hymns at their "feasts of love" and other meetings. The earliest of the Christian hymns were in Greek. "Early in the morning," according to Pliny, "the Christians sing a hymn of praise to Christ as to a God," This hymn, handed down from the second century, and known in the Latin form as the "Gloria in Excelsis," is delightful in its simplicity. It begins with the angelic anthem, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, Good-will towards men," and continues in an outburst of prayer to Christ, "O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that bearest the sins of the world, supply our need. Thou who sittest on the right hand of the Father have mercy upon us. For Thou art alone holy. Thou Christ Jesus art alone Lord in the glory of God the Father." It is a striking fact that the earliest Christian hymns set forth most clearly the divinity of our Lord. Certainly no argument is required to make it clear that music, both vocal and instrumental, in the public worship of God is sanctioned by His Holy Word. I have imagined that our esteemed Quaker friends abstain from its use because they have thought otherwise, probably influenced by such isolated passages of Scripture as these : ''The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." "They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit." "Woe unto them that sing i6 The Evolution of Our idle songs to the sound of the viol, that invent to themselves instruments of music like David,'' a woe pronounced, not against music, but "against a Godless dissipated people who, in profane mirth, with their new-fashioned instruments, mimicked the temple music and took pride in bantering it/' In recent conversations with prominent members of the Society of Friends, I was told that opposition to singing in meeting is dying away ; that while its proscription was insisted upon for many years, it was because of the conviction that music in worship was a ceremony and formality to be avoided as some- thing that would divert them from that state of silent waiting most favorable for the moving of God's Spirit within them, and that now there is a strong tendency in the Society to correct their mistake. Edgar L. Requa, in a contribution to "The American Friend" four years ago, entitled "The Quaker Idea of Music in its Relation to Worship," said: It is the Lord who moves us to speak, pray, sing or take any outward part in worship. ^ ^ ^ We read of musical instruments in Heaven. Since we find them in the God-ordained temple, which has passed away, and in Heaven, which is to last forever, and in our homes, who shall say they are not legitimate in our churches? * * * We are in the beginning of a revival of music. It is being felt everywhere. * * We should be leaders and in the stillness of our silence, hear the voice and message of music and proclaim it to the world. * * Music is pure and spiritual when it proceeds from and appeals to that which is pure and spiritual within. * * The use of music in worship is twofold. First, to express the feelings of the heart. Second, to impress emotions or truths. Hence, in wor- ship, the office of music is that of praise. The music should be of a nature that praises and extols the Lord. Such singing is worship. This does not conflict with Friends' theory of worship on the basis of silence or the leading of the Lord. Since, accord- ing to Barclay, "Worship consists in a holy dependence of the mind upon the Lord," what right have we to say the Lord does not lead to sing as well as to speak or to pray? I thank God that in the interpretation of the Scriptures I have learned to compare Scripture with Scripture, nothing Christian Hymnology. 17 daunted by seeming discrepancies, holding fast the golden chain that runs unbroken from Moses to John, the revelator, a chain upon the links of which I see words engraved — Love, Forgiveness, Truth, Praise, Peace, Devotion. The literature of our Christian hymns overflows with these noblest of all words. Musical instruments of whatever kind in religious service should be regarded as only a means to an end, a help to congre- gational singing. The same may be said of the choir. The scriptural injunction is not Let the choir praise Thee, O God, but it is ''Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee/' So important a part of divine worship should not be rendered by proxy. The Church has made a great advance in this respect since our grandfathers' time, when, for lack of hymn books in the pews and total absence of books with tunes, the hymns were lined out by the minister, when the sermon and the ''long prayer" absorbed an hour and a quarter, the high pulpit being then the alpha and omega of the service. No musical instruments, whether harp, sackbut, psaltery, or pipe organ, can be too good for the sanctuary; and the more highly cultivated the choir singers the better for the service. It would be commendable if professing Christians who are patrons of grand opera would expend half the cost of such patronage upon their church music, thereby not only pleasing themselves, but also raising the standard of musical apprecia- tion and providing enjoyment, combining spiritual uplifting for the many who cannot afford the luxury of the world's high art in opera. A few thoughts arise here about the choir, sometimes a source of anxiety shared both by the congregation and the minister. It ought never to be other than a helpful auxiliary of the devotional exercise of united praise and worship. As a general thing the quartette is better than the large chorus ; it is simpler and more easily trained in practice of the hymns and anthems. Four excellent singers are more readily acquired than are twenty. In either case, drilling beforehand by the leader is essentially necessary, to the end that all parts may be i8 The Evolution of Our in perfect unison, and especially that every word and every syllable of the hymn or anthem may be distinctly articulated. A too frequent palpable error is failure to pronounce the consonants, particular the ''s" and "t." The printed anthem in the hands of worshipers is often absolutely essential to the understanding of the words being sung by the choir, and even this may emphasize the defects of the choir. As a fair example of this averment, I have often noticed that the old long-meter doxology, as rendered by choir and congregation, sounds like Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below: Praise Him above ye heavenly ho; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Go. If we are to have a choir of any dimensions, and if our singing is to be honored with its proper place in the house of God, it should be in all respects as nearly perfect as our humanity can make it. More than half our hymns are prayers in verse. Every one of us should know for what we are praying as we sing them. It is with me a conviction, strengthened by long experience, that the leader of the song service, especially in the Sunday School, should impress it upon every soul that devout attention should be given to the words, the sentiments of the hymn; that, if it be a prayer-hymn, it should be regarded as truly a prayer as though offered to God with closed eyes on bended knees. We who are in touch with the song service of the church and Sunday School believe that it imparts a potent, evangelizing, comforting influence upon religious life and character, sometimes giving us "the wings of faith to rise within the veil"; to ''rise from transitory things towards heaven, our native place." The history of Church Hymnody of all lands, especially all English-speaking countries, proves that it has ever been so. Fifteen hundred years ago, in his "Confessions," the great Augustine said: How did I weep in thy hymns and canticles, touched to the quick by the voices of thy sweet attuned church. The voices Christian Hymnology. 19 flowed into my ears and the truth distilled into my heart, whence the affections of my devotion overflowed and tears ran down and happy was I therein. Not long had the Church of Milan to use this kind of consolation and exhortation, the brethren zealously joining with harmony of voice and hearts; for it was a year, or not much more, that Justina, mother to the Emperor Valentine, a child, persecuted thy servant Ambrose. . . . The devout people kept watch in the church, ready to die with their bishop. Then it was first instituted that after the manners of the Eastern Church, hymns and psalms should be sung, lest the people should wax faint through the tediousness of service. And from that day to this the custom is retained, almost all thy congregations throughout other parts of the world following therein. St. Jerome relates of the place where he lived : You could not go into the field, but you might hear the plow- man at his hallelujahs, the mower at his hymns, and the vine- dresser singing David's Psalms. Rev. Richard Baxter, seventeenth century, said: There is no exercise that I had rather live and die in than singing praises to our Redeemer and Jehovah. Wordsworth voiced our sentiments in these lines : Blessings be w^ith them, and eternal praise, Who gave us nobler loves, and nobler cares. The Poets, who on earth have made us heirs Of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays ! Rev. F. N. Peloubet, D.D., whites of the 8sth Psalm, which is entitled ''A Psalm of the Sons of Korah, for the Chief Musician:" It is well to direct our attention to the power and blessing of singing and learning and repeating hymns. What we need is inspiration, uplift, a dwelling in the highest spiritual atmosphere of the best hymns and the most inspiring music. We need to sing more enthusiastic songs of religion, and of our leader, Jesus Christ. In the struggles of the Huguenots for deeper religion, and for freedom of religious life, they sang the psalms with all the enthusiasm of their souls. In France the psalms set to popular music became one of the principal instru- ments in the success of the Reformed Church. Children learned 20 The Evolution of Our them. They were sung at every meal in the household of Prince Coligny, The psalms sustained the courage of the martyrs in their torture. Simple women went to their martyr death singing psalms; and virgins went to the scaffold singing psalms, as gaily as to their bridal. Brave men , went to battle and to victory singing the psalms. From an article by Rev. Francis Edward Marsten, D.D., Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church, New York City, in "The American Messenger," on ''Music in the Sanctuary," I quote : All symbolism in the service of God's house ought to be worship. Form does not make worship, nor does art, creed,' prayer or sermon. Unless the form is filled with the Spirit of God, it is empty, void, dead. Dead things cannot make living spirituality. God, who is Spirit, must be approached in spirit and in truth. Music in divine worship must be consecrated by the spirit and purpose of him whose expression of thought, feeling and ador- ation it is. W^orship must be conducted by consecrated ves- sels through which the fire of the Holy Spirit speaks. We are exhorted to preach, to pray and to sing. The one function is as sacred as the other. It is the religious sentiment that stamps church music as sacred the world over. Those great oratorios, written by devout men, such as "The Messiah" and "Elijah," afford in their divine thought fitting expression for the move- ments of the musical composition. They are not simply aggre- gations of sweet sounds but musical thoughts, expressing elevated and spiritual conditions. In a book entitled ''A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," written by William Law, A.M., the eighth edition of which was published in Dublin in 1779, there is something applicable to this theme that is very interesting. I quote : There is one thing still remaining, that you must be required to observe, not only as fit and proper to be done, but such as cannot be neglected without great prejudice to your devotions. And that is, begin all your prayers with a psalm. This is so right, is so beneficial to devotion, has so much effect upon our hearts, that it may be insisted upon as a common rule for all persons. I do not mean that you should read over a psalm, but that you should chant it or sing it. For singing is as Christian Hymnology. 21 much the proper use of a psalm as devout supplication is the proper use of a form of prayer. And a psalm that is only read is very much like a prayer that is only looked over. Now the method of chanting a psalm such as is used in the colleges and universities and in some churches is such as all persons are capable of. You are therefore to consider this chanting or singing of a song as something that is to awaken all that is good and holy within you, that is to call your spirits to their proper duty, and to tune all the powers of your soul to worship and adoration. For there is nothing that so clears a way for your ^ prayers, nothing that so disperses dullness of heart, nothing that so purifies the soul from poor and little passions, nothing that so opens heaven or carries your heart so near it, as these Songs of Praise. They kindle a holy flame, they turn your heart into an altar, your prayers into incense, and carry them as a sweet- smelling savor to the throne of Grace. Professor John Stuart Blackie, born in Glasgow, 1809; educated at the University of Edinburgh, and its Professor of Greek, 1852, issued in 1857 a volume of hymns and songs entitled "Lays and Legends of Ancient Greece with Other Poems,'' from which I quote this : I sometimes wish myself back in the Middle Ages, when the minstrel was the only teacher, and when singing was almost the only sermon. And I will tell you why; reading is a stupid, dull kind of thing, but singing stirs up the whole soul. In the best days of the world there was no reading and no books at all. Homer never saw a book, never could have seen a book. I think we see a great deal too many books. A great many people become mere reading machines, having no living functions at all. I would like some time to give you a lecture on the logic of education. It simply means that you must learn to use your legs, your hands, your ears, your tongues, and your throats — rather than to be crammed up with all sorts of things and then measured with red tape by a gentleman from London. Especially if you wish to be happy, cultivate song. I am rather a young old boy, and I am one of the happiest creatures under the sun at this moment; and my amusement is to sing songs. In railway coaches and other places I see a number smoking what they call tobacco. Well, whatever they may say about that, it is not an intellectual or a moral stimulant, and the flavor of it is not at all ' like the rose or any poetic thing I know. It is essentially a vulgar sort of amusement. My amusement is to sing songs. At home I am always singing Scotch songs; and abroad, when those 22 The Evolution of Our wretches are smoking, I hum to myself, "Scots wha hae," "A man's a man for a' that," and songs of that kind. I advise you to do the same. Your soul will become a singing bird, and then the devil won't get near it. By permission I quote the following from Rev. Dr. William B. Bodine's superb work entitled "Some Hymns and Hymn Writers'': Henry Ward Beecher has well said : "Hymns are the expon- ents of the inmost piety of the Church. They are crystalline tears, or blossoms of joy, or holy prayers, or incarnated raptures. They are the jewels which the Church has won; the pearls, the diamonds and precious stones formed into amulets more potent against sorrow and sadness than the most famous charms of wizard or magician. And he who knows the way hymns flowed, knows where the blood of piety ran, and can trace its veins and arteries to the very heart. There are Crusaders' hymns, that rolled forth their truth upon the Oriental air, while a thousand horses' hoofs kept time below and ten thousand palm leaves whispered and kept time above. Other hymns fulfilling the promise of God, that His saints should mount up with wings as eagles, have borne up the sorrows, the desires, and the aspirations of the poor, the oppressed and the persecuted, of Huguenots, of Covenanters, and of Puritans, and winged them to the bosom of God. One hymn hath opened the morning in ten thousand families, and dear children, with sweet voices, have charmed the evening « in a thousand places with the utterance of another. Nor do I know of any steps now left on earth by which one may so soon rise above trouble or weariness as the verses of a hymn and the notes of a tune. And if the angels that Jacob saw sang ' when they appeared, then I know that the ladder which he beheld was but the scale of divine music let down from heaven to earth." Chapter II. SOME ANCIENT HYMNS. Before taking up for consideration the period of years that I have indicated, brief attention will be given, parenthetically, to a few notable hymns written centuries earlier^ good com- binations of poetry and piety, hymns that are yet, and ever will be, sacredly cherished by every devout soul in Christendom, sacred poems untouched by any evolutionary movement. As examples I will mention, first, one by Clement of Alexan- dria, third century: Shepherd of tender youth Guiding in love and truth, Through devious ways; Christ our triumphant King, We come Thy name to sing; Hither our children bring, Tributes of praise. Ever be Thou our Guide, Our Shepherd and our pride, Our staff and song; Jesus, Thou Christ of God, By Thy perennial word Lead us where Thou hast trod. Make our faith strong. Another by St. Andrew of Crete, seventh century: Christian ! dost thou see them On the holy ground. How the powers of darkness Rage thy steps around ? Christian ! up and smite them, Counting gain but loss; In the strength that cometh By the holy Cross. Christian ! dost thou feel them, How they work within. Striving, tempting, luring, Goading into sin? Christian ! never tremble ; Never be downcast; Gird thee for the battle. Watch and pray and fast. Christian ! dost thou hear them. How they speak thee fair? "Always fast and vigil? Always watch and prayer?" Christian! answer boldly: "While I breathe I pray!" Peace shall follow battle, Night shall end the day. 'Well I know thy trouble, 0 My servant true; Thou art very weary, 1 was weary too; But that toil shall make thee Some day all Mine own, And the end of sorrow Shall be near My throne." (23) 24 The Evolution of Our Translated as we have it by Rev. John Mason Neale, of London, half a century ago, it was revived imperishably 1868 by John B. Dykes' wonderfully well adapted tune — St. Andrew of Crete. Many of the grand old Latin and Greek hymns of the sixth to ninth centuries are sacredly cherished in the twentieth, and will ever be. There is in them, a simplicity and depth of humble, trustful piety that has never been surpassed by latter-day hymnists. Of their several translations into English, those of Dr. Neale are given priority. The ''Church Hymnal" (Episcopal), of 1899, contains twenty-three of Dr. Neale's translations, and the new hymnal of the Presbyterians about the same number. One that is in all our best collections is the following by an unknown author of the seventh century. Originally it comprised nine verses, the first beginning ''Blessed City, Heavenly Salem." I quote the four that are generally selected by publishers. Its tune should always be Henry Smart's Regent Square. Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and corner-stone, Chosen of the Lord, and precious, Binding all the Church in one; Holy Zion's help forever, And her confidence alone. All that dedicated city. Dearly loved of God on high, In exultant jubilation Pours perpetual melody; God the One in Three adoring. In glad hymns eternally. To this temple where we call Thee, Come, O Lord of Hosts, to-day; With Thy wonted loving-kindness. Hear Thy people as they pray; And Thy fullest benediction Shed within its walls alway. Laud and honor to the Father, Laud and honor to the Son, Laud and honor to the Spirit, Ever Three and ever One, Consubstantial, co-eternal, While unending ages run. An ancient Greek hymn, translated 1864 by Rev. Gerard Moultrie, illustrating in verse the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (2Sth of Matthew), is as beautiful as it is true to its text. I quote it all : Christian Hymnology. 25 Behold, the Bridegroom cometh in the That day, the day of fear shall come; middle of the night, my soul slack not thy toil. And blest is he whose loins are girt, But light thy lamp, and feed it well, whose lamp is burning bright; and make it bright with oil; But woe to that dull servant whom the Thou knowest not how soon may Master shall surprise, sound the cry at eventide. With lamp untrimmed, unburning, and "Behold the Bridegroom comes ! with slumber in his eyes. Arise ! Go forth to meet the Bride !" Do thou, my soul, beware, beware lest Beware, my soul ! take thou good thou in sleep sink down, heed, lest thou in slumber lie, Lest thou be given o'er to death, and And, like the five, remain without, and lose the golden crown; knock and vainly cry; But see that thou be sober, with a But watch, and bear thy lamp un- watchful eye, and thus dimmed, and Christ shall gird Cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy God, have thee on mercy upon us." His own bright wedding robe of light, — the glory of the Son. Other pious poets coming later are John of Damascus, eighth century, author of : "O day of resurrection, earth tell it out aloud" and "Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness." St. Stephen, eighth century, nephew of John of Damas- cus, in a wilderness of distress near the brook Kedron, wrote the immortal hymn : "Art thou weary, art thou languid?" Eleven hundred years later this precious hymn was freely and beautifully transfused into English by Rev. John Mason Neale. Its union with Sir Henry W. Baker's tune, Stepha- nos, should never be broken, although Bullinger's Geneva is a favorite with some. St. Theodulph of Orleans, ninth century, left the Chris- tian Church a golden heritage in that grand Palm-Sunday hymn : All glory, laud, and honor, Thou art the King of Israel, To Thee, Redeemer, King! Thou David's royal Son, To whom the lips of children Who in the Lord's Name comest, Made sweet Hosannas ring! The King and Blessed One. 26 The Evolution of Our The company of angels Are praising Thee on high; And mortal men, and all things Created, make reply. The people of the Hebrews With palms before Thee went; Our praise and prayers and anthems Before Thee we present. To Thee before Thy passion They sang their hymns of praise; To Thee, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. Thou didst accept their praises; Accept the prayers we bring. Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King. Its own and only tune, Melchior Teschner in 1615. The twelfth century, the Playne Song,'' was written, revealed. As translated by beginning : Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here. Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! St. Theodulph, was composed by great hymn known as the ''Jewish its authorship never having been Rev. John M. Neale we have it, Draw nigh, Thou Day- Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine Advent here ; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel ! Draw nigh, Thou Rod of Jesse; free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save. And give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel ! Draw nigh, draw nigh, Thou Lord of might ! Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height. In ancient times didst give the law, In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel ! We are singing it yet to the oldest tune of record in the history of hymnody, known as Jewish Playne Song; and to C. Gounod's Veni Emmanuel. The meaning of "playne song" is given in Cranoner's report to Henry VIII upon the transla- tion of the Liturgy into English: "The song made thereunto should not be so full of notes, but as near as may be for every syllable a note, that it may be sung distinctly and devoutly." It was not to be "the quavering operose music which is called figured." Christian Hymnology. 27 Among the Christian centuries the twelfth gleams brightly with a name to live evermore for its glorious Christian hymns. It was then that Mary's thanksgiving song, in jubilant response to Elizabeth's salutation — "My soul doth magnify tJie Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour," was set to the sweet strain known as The Magniiicat. And it w^as then that St. Bernard of Cluny left the Church the priceless lyric known as 'The Celestial Country," from which Rev. John M. Neale garnered the three hymns next following, which, like all of his perfect translations, have greatly enriched the treasury of our revered spiritual songs. These hymns are set in our best hymnals to several tunes, the favorites being Ewing, by Lieut. Col. Alexander Ewing; O Bona Patria, by Sullivan; St. Al- phege, by Gauntlett, and Urbs Beat a, by Le Jeune. Part i Jerusalem, the golden ! With milk and honey blest ; Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice opprest. I know not, O, I know not, What joys await me there ! What radiancy of glory ! What bliss beyond compare ! They stand, those halls of Zion, All jubilant with song, And bright with many an angel. And all the martyr throng. The Prince is ever in them, The daylight is serene; The pastures of the blessed Are decked in glorious sheen. There is the throne of David; And there, from care released, The shout of them that triumph. The song of them that feast. And they, who with their leader, Have conquered in the fight, For ever and for ever Are clad in robes of white. O sweet and blessed country, The home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country. That eager hearts expect ! Jesus, in mercy bring us. To that dear land of rest ! Who art, with God the Father, And Spirit, ever blest. Part 2. For thee, O dear, dear country, Mine eyes their vigils keep; For very love, beholding Thy happy name, they weep: The mention of thy glory Is unction to the breast, And medicine in sickness, And love, and life, and rest. O one, O only mansion ! O Paradise of joy! Where tears are ever banished, And smiles have no alloy; Thy loveliness oppresses All human thought and heart, And none, O Peace, O Zion, Can sing thee as thou art. 28 The Evolution of Our With jaspers glow thy bulwarks, Thy streets with emeralds blaze ; The sardius and the topaz, Unite in thee their rays : Thine ageless walls are bonded With amethysts unpriced; Thy saints build up its fabric, And the corner-stone is Christ. Part Brief life is here our portion, Brief sorrow, short-lived care; The life that knows no ending, The tearless life is there ! O happy retribution ! Short toil, eternal rest, For mortals and for sinners, A mansion with the blest ! And now we fight the battle, But then shall wear the crown Of full and everlasting And passionless renown; And He Whom now we trust in. Shall then be seen and known, And they that know and see Him, Shall have Him for their own. The cross is all thy splendor, The Crucified thy praise; His laud and benediction Thy ransomed people raise : Upon the Rock of Ages They build thy holy tower; Thine is the victor's laurel. And thine the golden dower. There grief is turned to pleasure; Such pleasure as below No human voice can utter. No human heart can know; And after fleshly weakness. And after this world's night. And after storm and whirlwind, Are calm, and joy, and light. The morning shall awaken. And shadows shall decay. And each true-hearted servant Shall shine as doth the day; Yes ! God my King and portion. In fullness of His grace. We then shall see forever, And worship face to face. The folloMang, one of the most pathetic of the Latin hymns by the Clunian Saint, has survived seven hundred years, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church : By the cross, sad vigil keeping. Stood the mournful mother weeping. While on it the Saviour hung; In that hour of deep distress, Pierced the sword of bitterness Thro' her heart with sorrow wrung. Oh, how sad — how woe-begone. Was that ever blessed one, Mother of the Son of God ! Oh, what bitter tears she shed. Whilst before her Jesus bled, 'Neath the Father's penal rod ! Who's the man could view unmoved Christ's sweet mother, whom He loved In such dire extremity? Who his pitying tears withhold, Christ's sweet mother to behold. Sharing in his agony? Ever with thee, at thy side, 'Neath the Christ, the crucified. Mournful mother, let me be ! By the cross, sad vigil keeping, Ever watchful, ever weeping. Thy companion constantly. Christian Hymnology. 29 Another Bernard, of the Convent of Clairvaux, known as the most learned and devout saint of the twelfth century, whom Luther avowed was the best monk who ever lived, was the author of many grand lyrics, the excellent translations of which seem to be immortalized. Among them are the following three, which I quote in part : O Sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down ; Now scornfully surrounded With thorns Thine only crown; O Sacred Head, w^hat glory, What bliss till now was Thine ! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, Was all for sinners' gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Saviour ! 'Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor. Vouchsafe to me Thy grace. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest friend. For this Thy dying sorrow. Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever, And should I fainting be. Lord let me never, never. Outlive my love to Thee. 2. Jesus, the very thought of Thee, With sweetness fills the breast; But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest. No voice can sing, no heart can frame, Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than Jesus' Name, The Saviour of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek. To those who fall, how kind Thou art ! How good to those who seek ! But what to those who find? Ah, this Nor tongue nor pen can show; The love of Jesus, what it is None but His loved ones know. Jesus, our only joy be Thou, As Thou our prize wilt be; In Thee be all our glory now, And through eternity. Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts ! Thou fount of life ! Thou light of men ! From the best bliss that earth imparts We turn unfill'd to Thee again. Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood ; Thou savest those that on Thee call; To them that seek Thee, Thou art good. To them that find Thee, all in all. 30 The Evolution of Our We taste Thee, O Thou living bread ! And long to feast upon Thee still; We drink of Thee the Fountain Head, And thirst, from Thee our souls to fill. Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, W^here'er our changeful lot is cast; Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see. Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast. O Jesus, ever with us stay! Make all our moments calm and bright! Chase the dark night of sin away ! Shed o'er the world Thy holy light. Peter Abelard, twelfth century, composed, and Dr. J. M. Neale, in 1854, translated the splendid hymn of which I quote four verses : O, what their joy and their glory must be, Those endless Sabbaths the blessed ones see; Crown for the valiant, to weary ones rest; God shall be All, and in all ever blest. We, where no trouble distraction can bring. Safely the anthems of Zion shall sing; While for Thy grace, Lord, their voices of praise Thy blessed people shall evermore raise. Now in the meanwhile, with hearts raised on high, We for that country must yearn and must sigh; Seeking Jerusalem, dear native land. Through our long exile on Babylon's strand. Low before Him with our praises we fall. Of whom, and in whom, and through whom are all; Of whom, the Father; and in whom, the Son, Through whom, the Spirit, with these, ever One. Thomas of Celano, thirteenth century, wrote the splendid hymn of nineteen verses, ''Dies Irae," ''Day of Wrath, O, Day of Mourning," which, with Dykes' incomparable tune, is pre- served intact in some of our higher-class hymnals. The same author is responsible for the doleful hymn That day of wrath, that dreadful day When heaven and earth shall pass away. What power shall be the sinner's stay? How shall he meet that dreadful day? Christian Hymnology. 31 It may still be found in a few of our church hymnals, set to its appropriate, depressing tune, Windham, composed by Daniel Read, A. D. 1785. With heartfelt gratitude we recall and revere God's own Martin Luther, sixteenth century, for his thirty to forty courageous hymns, some versions of the Psalms, others of Latin renderings, and a few of original composing. Of his versions of the Psalms, that of the 46th, ''Ein Feste Burg," has held firmest hold of us to this day. Dr. Philip Schaff, great Germa;n-American scholar, in an article on German hymnody, in ''Dr. Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology," says of Luther and this hymn : ''The leader of the Reformation was also the first evangelical hymnist. To Luther belongs the extraordinary merit of having given to the German people in their own tongue the Bible, the Catechism and the Hymn Book, so that God might speak directly to them in His word, and that they might directly answer Llini in their songs. Some of them are immortal ; most of all, that triumphant war- cry of the Reformation which has so often been reproduced in other languages, and which resounds with mighty effects on great occasions — 'Kin' feste Burg ist unser Gott' " : A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our Helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe, Doth seek to work us woe ; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not His equal. Did we in our own strength confide. Our striving would be losing; Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth is His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled. Should threaten to undo us; We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. The Prince of darkness grim — We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure. For lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers — No thanks to them — abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go. This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. 32 The Evolution of Our As written by Luther, this great hymn consisted of eight verses of nine Hnes each. The most highly regarded of its sev- eral translations from the German to English was made by Rev. F. H. Pledge, D.D., 1852, although some give precedence to Thomas Carlyle's, 1831. Dr. Hedge's is now generally adopted by publishers, although they all cut it down from eight to four verses. I quote the vigorous eighth verse as a sample of the four discarded ones : God's word for all their craft and force One moment will not linger; But spite of hell shall have its course ; 'Tis written by His finger. And though they take our life, Goods, honor, children, wife; Yet is their profit small; These things may vanish all : The city of God remaineth. This is one of the hymns that should never have been scis- sored. We know the regulation idea that, in church services, four or five verses of any hymn should suffice, but would it not be well to make exceptions, even at the cost of cutting five min- utes off a weighty sermon ? Don't hymns preach to us ? Another sixteenth century Christian poet is Rev. William Kethe, author of our ever-living "Old Hundredth." All people that on earth do dwell, O enter then His gates with praise, Sing to the Lord with cheerful Approach with joy His courts unto ; voice; Praise, laud, and bless His name al- Him serve with fear, His praise forth ways, , tell, For it is seemly so to do. Come ye before Llim and rejoice. Know that the Lord is God indeed; For why! the Lord our God is good, Without our aid He did us make; His mercy is forever sure; We are His flock. He doth us feed. His truth at all times firmly stood, And for His sheep He doth us take. And shall from age to age endure. The tune composed for it in 1551, called Old Hundred, is found in the "Genevan Psalter" of that date, and is still honored with a place in all our good church hymn books. Christian Hymnology. 33 The seventeenth century gave to the world the sacred poems of Bishop Thomas Ken, Rev. Richard Baxter, Joseph Addison, Rev. Johann Heermann, Rev. George Herbert, Rev. Paulus Gerhardt. Paramount among them stands Bishop Ken, whom, though we have seen him not, we revere for his gift to us of our immortahzed universal ''Doxology" : "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow," written in 1692. It is the closing verse of his soul-uplifting "Morning Hymn'': Awake, my soul, and with the sun. Thy daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth, and early rise To pay thy morning sacrifice. Redeem thy misspent time that's past, And live this day as if thy last; Improve thy talent with due care; For the great day thyself prepare. Lord, I my vows to Thee renew; Scatter my sins as morning dew ; Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill. Direct, control, suggest, this day, All I design, or do, or say; That all my pow'rs, with all their might, In Thy sole glory may unite. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, angelic host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. His inimitable ''Evening Hymn" will endure forever. Its first verse is : All praise to Thee, my God, this night, For all the blessings of the light; Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath Thine own almighty wings. Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son, The ill that I this day have done; That with the world, myself, and Thee, I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. Teach me to live, that I may dread. The grave as little as my bed; Teach me to die, that so I may Rise glorious at the awful day. O may my soul on Thee repose, And may . sweet sleep mine eyelids close ; Sleep that shall me more vigorous make, To serve my God when I awake. 34 The Evolution of Our When in the night I sleepless lie, My soul with heavenly thoughts sup- ply; Let no ill dreams disturb my rest, No powers of darkness me molest. O when shall I in endless day, Forever chase dark sleep away, And hymns divine with angels sing, All praise to Thee, Eternal King? Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, angelic host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Church has been singing it to TalHs's Evening Hymn, as the consecrated tune is named, for more than two centuries. Rev. Dr. WiUiam B. Bodine, in his book, from which I have quoted, says of this wonderful doxology : I had rather have written those words than anything else ever written by man, composed only of four brief lines. They seem fitting words to be sung by the myriad hosts of the redeemed, when in the great day of final reward they shall stand before the throne with palms in their hands and boundless rejoicing in their souls. The poet Montgomery has well said, "Bishop Ken has laid the Church of Christ under abiding obligations by his three hymns. Morning, Evening and Midnight. Had he endowed three hospitals he might have been less a benefactor to humanity." In John Wesley's "Hymns for the People Called Meth- odists,'' 1779, this "Morning Hymn" contains these two verses not appearing in our present-day books, followed by the dox- ology : Let all thy converse be sincere. Thy conscience as the noon-day clear ; For God's all-seeing eye surveys Thy secret thoughts, thy words and ways. Wake and lift up thyself, my heart, And with the angels, take thy part; Who all night long unwearied sing, High glory to the eternal King. Praise God, from Whom all blessmgs now; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Rev. Samuel W. Duffield, in his ''English Hymns," says: *There are thirty-two editions of Bishop Ken's 'Manual' Christian Hymnology. 35 from 1674 to 1799. The present writer has also seen the 'Morning' and 'Evening' hymns, in ten syhable verses, in the famous 'Thumb Bible.' " This is a small copy of the Word of God, prepared by Jeremy Taylor for the son of Princess Anne, who died in 1700. * The prefixed motto speaks more for the editor's piety than for his grammar : With care and pains, out of the Sacred Book, This little abstract I for thee have took. In the child's Bible the "Morning Hymn" is given thus : Glory to Thee, my God, who safe hast kept. And me refreshed, while I securely slept. Lord, this day guard me, lest I may transgress; And all my undertakings guide and bless. And since to Thee, my vows I now renew, Scatter my by-past sins as Morning Dew; That so Thy glory may shine clear this day. In all I either think, or do, or say : Amen. Bishop Ken used to sing his ''Morning Hymn" to his own accompaniment on the lute. He joined the ''Choir Invisible" in 1711. A spirit-rousing "Morning Hymn," written by F. R. VoN Canitz, late in the seventeenth century, treasured in the twen- tieth, is : Come my soul, thou must be waking! Now is breaking O'er the earth another day: Come to Him Who made this splen- dor. See thou- render All thy feeble strength can pay. Think that He thy ways beholdeth; He unfoldeth Every thought that lurks within; He the hidden shame glossed over Can discover And discern each deed of sin. Pray that He may prosper ever Each endeavor. When thine aim is good and true ! But that He may ever thwart thee ; And convert thee, When thou evil would'st pursue. Mayest thou on life's last morrow, Free from sorrow, Pass away in slumber sweet; And, released from death's dark sad- ness, Rise in gladness. That far brighter Sun to greet. 36 The Evolution of Our Only God's free gifts abuse not, Light refuse not, But His Spirit's voice obey; Thou with Him shalt dwell, beholding Light enfolding All things in unclouded day. Two well-adapted tunes claim this hymn — Haydn, arranged from Joseph Haydn, eighteenth century, and Lux Prima, by Sir John Stainer, 1872. Chapter III. SOME OF OUR OLD HYMN BOOKS. Reluctantly leaving these ante-eighteenth century hym- nists, I will now give place to the psalms and hymns of the period already mapped out for this sketch, from the middle of the eighteenth, along through the nineteenth century, the years of our dear fathers and grandfathers, with whose memories we are still in loving touch. Of publications covering this period I have many faithfully used old psalm and hymn books, treas- ured family heirlooms, among which are — John Wesley's Collection, 1779. Wesley's Hymns, 1795. "The Easy Instructor or Sacred Harmony/' by William Little, 1798 and 1807. ''Dr. Timothy Dwight's Collection," 1800, ''ordered by joint action of the General Association of the State of Connec- ticut and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A." John Dobell's "New Selection of Seven Hundred Evan- gelical Hymns; Many Original," 1806. "Maryland Sunday School Hymn Book," 1810. "Watts' Psalms, Carefully Suited to Christian Worship," 4 X 2j4 X I inch, containing 353 versions of the Psalms and 366 hymns, 181 3. "Dobell's Enlarged New Edition," 1825. "Village Hymns, Watts," 1825. Dr. John Rippon's "Selection of Hymns," 1826. "The Sunday School Hymn Book," published by the Amer- ican S. S. Union, 370 hymns, 1826. It is ^ inch thick, 2^ inches wide, 4 inches long. "The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament," by Dr. Watts, 1828, with 225 versions of Psalms and 366 hymns, entitled "Hymns and Spiritual Songs." (37) 38 The Evolution of Our 'The Christian Lyre," unique, in that all its hymns are provided with tunes, 1833. 'Tsalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts," arranged by Dr. Rippon, 1834, containing 1310 hymns, published by J. B. Lip- pincott & Co., Philadelphia. "Psalms and Hymns," approved by The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., 1838. Of its about 900 psalms and hymns, 548 are compositions of Isaac Watts. This was entered according to act of Congress by George Fleming, 1834. "Psalms and Hymns" adapted to social, private and public worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., etc., 1843. Five editions were published during the succeeding twenty years. "Parish Psalmody," published by Perkins & Purvis, Phila- delphia, 1844; and a magnificent large volume of same name, published by Henry Perkins in 1849. This book contains a per- fect index of first lines of stanzas, 4270 in number. "Methodist Hymns," 1849 — ^ book 3^ inches long x wide X I inch thick, containing 1046 hymns, chiefly by Watts and Charles Wesley. The first book named in the foregoing list is entitled "A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Meth- odists," by the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., sometime Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. At the date of its preface, October 20, 1779, John Wesley was in the 73d year of his age. It includes a supplement, dated 1830. This little book, x3^ inches and ^ inches thick, contains 769 hymns with most elab- orate indices, including index to every verse, 4000 in number, and 200 "Subjects" of hymns, beginning with Abraham and ending with Zerubbabel. Thirty-four of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, and all the books of the New Testament are illustrated. As its egoistic introduction throws a strong light on Wes- ley's peculiar characteristics and presents to us moderns an interesting study of the old hymn book business and of these ancient hymnals, I quote it without abridgement : Christian Hymnology. 1. For many years I have been importuned to publish such a hymn-book as might be generally used in all our congregations throughout Great Britain and Ireland. I have hitherto withstood the importunity, as I believed such a publication was needless, considering the various hymn-books which my brother and I have published within these forty years last past; so that it may be doubted whether any religious community in the world has a greater variety of them. 2. But it has been answered, "Such a publication is highly needful upon this very account; for the greater part of the people, being poor, are not able to purchase so many books; and those that have purchased them are, as it were, bewildered in the immense variety. A proper collection of hymns for general use, carefully made out of all these books, is therefore still wanting; and one comprised in so moderate a compass, as to be neither cumbersome nor expensive." 3. It has been replied, "You have such a collection already, (entitled 'Hymns and Spiritual Songs') which I extracted several years ago from a variety of hymn-books." But it is objected, "This is in the other extreme: it is far too small. It does not, it cannot, in so narrow a compass, contain variety enough ; not so much as we want, among whom singing makes so considerable a part of the public service. What we want is a collection not too large, that it may be cheap and portable; nor too small that it may contain a sufficient variety for all ordinary occasions." 4. Such a hymn-book you have now before you. It is not so large as to be either cumbersome or expensive ; and it is large enough to contain such a variety of hymns as will not soon be worn threadbare. It is large enough to contain all the most important truths of our most holy religion, whether speculative or practical; yea, to illustrate them all, and to prove them both by Scripture and reason ; and this is done in regular order. The hymns are not carelessly jumbled together but carefully ranged under proper heads, according to the experience of real Christians. So that this book is, in effect, a little body of experi- mental and practical divinity. 5. As but a small part of these hymns is of my own compos- ing, I do not think it inconsistent with modesty to declare, that I am persuaded no such hymn-book as this has yet been pub- lished in the English language. In what other publication of the kind have you so distinct and full an account of scriptural Christianity? such a declaration of the heights and depths of religion, speculative and practical? so strong cautions against the most plausible errors; particularly those that are now most prevalent? and so clear directions for making your calling and election sure; for perfecting holiness in the fear of God? 40 The Evolution of Our 6. May I be permitted to add a few words with regard to the poetry? Then I will speak to those who are judges thereof with all freedom and unreserve. To these I may say, without offence, i. In these hymns there is no doggerel; no botches; nothing put in to patch up the rhyme; no feeble expletives. 2. Here is nothing turgid or bombast, on the one hand, or low and creeping, on the other. 3. Here are no cant expressions; no words without meaning. Those who impute this to us know not what they say. We talk common sense, both in prose and verse, and use no words but in a fixed and determinate sense. 4. Here are, allow me to say, both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language; and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, suited to every capacity. Lastly, I desire men of taste to judge (these are the only competent judges) whether there be not in some of the following hymns the true spirit of poetry, such as cannot be acquired by art and labour, but must be the gift of nature. By labour a man may become a tolerable imitator of Spenser, Shakespeare, or Milton, and may heap together pretty compound epithets, as "pale-eyed" "meek-eyed," and the like; but unless he be born a poet, he will never attain the genuine spirit of poetry. 7. And here I beg leave to mention a thought which has been long upon my mind, and which I should long ago have inserted in the public papers, had I not been unwilling to stir up a nest of hornets. Many gentlemen have done my brother and me (though without naming us) the honour to reprint many of our hymns. Now they are perfectly welcome so to do, provided they print them just as they are. But I desire they would not attempt to mend them; for they really are not able. None of them is able to mend either the sense or the verse. Therefore, I must beg of them one of these two favours: either to let them stand just as they are, to take them for better for worse; or to add the true reading in the margin or at the bottom of the page ; that we may no longer be accountable either for the nonsense or for the doggerel of other men. This entire preface of nearly 1000 words is printed on a single page of this tiny book. The published hymns of John Wesley and his younger brother, Charles, outnumbered those of any others in ancient history, excepting only Dr. Watts. Some of John's, but many more of Charles', have continued in use to this day. As many of Dr. Watts' have survived as of the two Wesleys' combined. As these three, and others of their times, flooded the market Christian Hymnology. 41 with thousands, some of them treasured to-day, and worthy of perpetuation, it is pertinent to ask why have the most of them been lost to sight and to memory? Why have they been aban- doned? There's a reason! The evolutionary law of the sur- vival of the fittest has been working for us. The pure air of our Christian assemblies will never more vibrate with such songs as these from which I shall now quote some verses. It will be observed that, while they sound a terrible warning to all sin- ners, many are addressed particularly to the rich, the princes, the high and mighty powers, "The powers that be," against whom fiery darts are hurled with dire threatenings of fearful vengeance and everlasting pains. It will also be observed that, while anathematizing these classes, the final verse of each gen- erally gives utterance to a joyful assurance that the writer's soul is safe ; that he and all his singers can read their title clear to mansions in the skies. Very many of their unpoetic verses draw the dead line of classification most rigidly between saints and sinners in a way that conveys no encouragement for sinners to cross the line other than the fear of an awful avenging Deity. It brings to mind a certain Pharisee who thanked God that he was not as other men, or even as the poor publican, and we know which one went down to his house justified. As in many of these ancient songs of praise, it will be observed that, in the few that I now quote, sinners are excori- ated as the personal foes of the saints, who were at all times complacent in their assurance that these unfortunates, specially those of high degree, would be hurled headlong from their high places, when they, the saints, would rise, take their seats, and reign over them. While the following three versifications of the 49th Psalm, by Watts, are in many of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century hymn books, there is cogent evidence that evolution's greatest work has been accomplished during the past half cen- tury in the fact that, although they appear with a hundred more of their companions, in the little book of "Psalms and Hymns" 42 The Evolution of Our that I carried every Sabbath to the old Tenth Presbyterian Church, at Twelfth and Walnut Streets, from 1854 to 1858, the hymn book then in general use by authority of the Presby- terian General Assembly, they are not to be found to-day in any later publication. Part i. Why doth the man of riches grow To insolence and pride, To see his wealth and honors flow With every rising tide? Why doth he treat the poor with scorn, Made of the self-same clay, And boast as though his flesh were born Of better dust than they? * Omitting seven verses, I quote the tenth : Laid in the grave like silly sheep, Death triumphs o'er them there. Till the last trumpet breaks their sleep And wakes them in despair. Part 2. Ye sons of pride that hate the just. And trample on the poor; When death has brought you down to dust Your pomp shall rise no more. God will my naked soul receive, When separate from the flesh, And break the prison of the grave To raise my bones afresh. The last great day shall change the scene ; When will that hour appear? When shall the just revive and reign O'er all that scorned them here? Heaven is my everlasting home, Th' inheritance is sure; Let men of pride their rage resume, But I'll repine no more. Part 3. THE SINNER'S DEATH AND SAINT'S RESURRECTION. Why do the proud insult the poor, And boast the large estates they have ? How vain are riches to secure Their haughty owners from the grave ? They can't redeem one hour from death, With all the wealth in which they trust ; Nor give a dying brother breath When God commands him down to dust. Christian Hymnology. 43 There the dark earth and dismal His honors perish in the dust, shade, Shall clasp their naked bodies round; That flesh, so delicately fed. Lies cold and moulders in the Sfround. And pomp and beauty, birth and blood ; That glorious day exalts the just, To full dominion o'er the proud. Like thoughtless sheep the sinner dies;. Laid in the grave for worms to eat ; The Saints shall in the morning rise And find the oppressor at their feet. My Saviour shall my life restore, And raise me from my dark abode; My flesh and soul shall part no more, But dwell forever near my God. ''The Rich Man" is the topic of one in ''Hymns and Spir- itual Songs," Isaac Watts, 1813, containing this verse: See the red flames around him twine Who did in gold and purple shine: Nor can his tongue one drop obtain To allay the scorching of his pain. Another shaft hurled against wealthy worldlings is this, entitled "The Rich Sinner Dying" : In vain the wealthy mortals toil, And heap their shining dust in vain, Look down and scorn the humble poor, And boast their lofty hills of gain. Their golden cordials cannot ease, Their pained hearts or aching heads. Nor fright nor bribe approaching death From glittering roofs and downy beds. Thence they are huddled to the grave. Where kings and slaves have equal thrones ; Their bones without distinction, lie Amongst the heap of meaner bones. There guilty ghosts of Adam's race, Shriek out and howl beneath Thy rod ; Once they could scorn a Saviour's grace, But they incensed a dreadful God. Tremble, my soul, and kiss the Son; Sinner, obey the Saviour's call; Else your damnation hastens on, And hell gapes wide to wait your fall. 44 The Evolution of Our John Wesley's collection of hymns contains this, headed "Describing Judgment." Of its six verses I quote the first two : The great Archangel's trump shall The greedy sea shall yield her dead, sound, The earth no more her slain con- While twice ten thousand thunders ceal; roar. Sinners shall lift their guilty head. Tear up the graves and cleave the And shrink to see a yawning hell, ground. And make the greedy sea restore. The following three verses are part of a hymn in the same book, entitled "Describing Hell" : While all my old companions dear, With whom I once did live. Joyful at God's right hand appear, A blessing to receive. Terrible thought, shall I alone, Who may be saved, — shall I — Of all alas ! whom I have known. Through sin forever die? Shall I — amidst a ghastly band. Dragged to the Judgment seat- Far on the left with horror stand. My fearful doom to meet? Here are five verses of one entitled "A Funeral Thought, by Isaac Watts : Hark ! from the tombs a doleful sound Mine ears attend the cry; Ye living men come view the ground. Where you must shortly lie. There endless crowds of sinners lie, And darkness makes their chains; Tortured with keen despair they cry. Yet wait for fiercer pains. Princes, this clay must be your bed. In spite of all your towers; The tall, the wise, the rev'rend head Must lie as low as ours. Great God, is this our certain doom? And are we still secure? Still walking downward to our tomb. And yet prepare no more? Grant us the power of quick'ning grace. To fit our souls to fly; Then, when we drop this dying flesh, We'll rise above the sky. Christian Hymnology. NEW DURHAM. 45 Dr. Isaac Watts. # — *_ ■.-X !ars at- tend the cry. H , , Hark, from the tombs a dole - ful sound, Mine ears at- tend the cry -A 1 ^ 1 1 It Hark, from the tombs a dole - ful sound, Mine ears at- tend the cry. Ye '8= Ye living men, come view the ground,Where ye must shortly Ye living men, come view the ground. Where 0^ 1 Ye livingmen,come view theground,Whereyemustshortly lie, I living men, come view the ground. Where ye must shortly lie,. lie, Ye living men,come view the ground, Where ye must shortly lie ._, — 'n^-r- \—r ^ ._) H-a— 1^-^ — I \—\-\ V— ! 1 1 y ye must shortly lie, Ye living men,come view the ground. Where ye must shortly lie. m Ye living men, come view the ground. Where ye must shortly lie. tt=i£itz=l=z^-f:l tiizt From "Sacred Harmon v." — 1798. 46 The Evolution of Our In Dr. Timothy Dwight's 'Tsalms of David," first pub- lished in 1802, these verses, based upon the i8th Psalm, "Vic- tory over temporal enemies" being the heading, are typical: When God, our Leader, shines in He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke, In this book, its title page bearing this inscription, 'Tsalms of David, imitated in the language of the New Testament," these two verses are a part of Dr. Watts' versification of the 139th Psalm: My God, what inward grief I feel, Does not my soul detest and hate, When impious men transgress Thy The sons of malice and deceit? will ! Those that oppose Thy laws and I mourn to hear their lips profane, Thee, Take Thy tremendous Name in vain. I count them enemies to me. I find it a hopeless task to reconcile the sentiments ex- pressed in this and others of the foregoing selections with the life and doctrine of our Saviour and the preaching of His Apostles. Personal hatred of such of our brothers as violate God's laws is certainly not in harmony with these words of ''And Jesus said — 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do/ " — Luke 23 : 34. "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neigh- bor and hate thy enemy; hut I say nnto you, Love your ene- mies." (Read Matt. 5 : 43-48.) "Forgive its our debts as we forgive our debtors/' "In the world ye have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." arms, What mortal heart can bear The thunder of his loud alarms? The light'ning of his spear? Whole armies are dismayed; His voice, his frown, his angry look Strikes all their courage dead. He rides upon the winged wind, And angels in array. In millions, wait to know his mind, And swift as flames obey. He forms our generals for the field, With all their dreadful skill ; Gives them his awful sword to wield. And makes their hearts of steel. Jesus : Christian Hymnology. 47 ''Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye that are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, lest thou also he tempted." (Gal. 6: i.) These venerated hymnists should not have forgotten, nor should we forget the word of God, as given in these Old Testa- ment lines : ''Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked.'' (Prov. 24: 19.) "Fret not thyself because of hiui zvho prosper eth in his way, because of the man zvho bringeth zuicked devices to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing.'' (Psalm 37: 7, 8.) "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he zvill abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your zvays my zvays, saith Jehovah." (Isaiah 55 : 7, 8.) In the same collection is the following, entitled ''The Death of a Sinner." The use of the feminine pronoun in this and the one verse following is noticeable : My thoughts on awful subjects roll, Lingering about these mortal shores, Damnation and the dead; She makes a long delay; What horrors seize the guilty soul, Till like a flood, with rapid force. Upon a dying bed. Death sweeps the wretch away. Then swift and dreadful she descends Down to the fiery coast, Amongst abominable friends, Herself a frightened ghost. This, in the "Christian Lyre," on the same subject, is more hopeful of the poor, sinning woman and more cheering to us all : Who is this stranger in distress. That travels through this wilderness? Oppressed with sorrows and with sins, On her beloved Lord she leans. 48 The Evolution of Our This is from "Watts' Psalms, carefully suited to Christian Worship." It is also in "Hymns and Spiritual Songs, by I. Watts, D.D.," printed in Albany, N. Y., 1813: Terrible God, that reign'st on high, How awful is Thy thundering hand ; Thy fiery bolts how fierce they fly, Nor can all earth or hell withstand. This, Sodom felt and feels it still, And roars beneath the eternal load ; With endless burnings who can dwell, Or bear the fury of a God. Ye sons of pride that kindle coals With your own hands to warm your souls, Walk in the light of your own fire, Enjoy the sparks that ye desire. And ye blest saints, that love Him too. With reverence bow before His name ; Thus all His heavenly servants do, God is a bright and burning flame. But vengeance and damnation lies. On rebels who refuse the Grace; Who God's eternal Son despise. The hottest hell shall be their place. Another from the same book is entitled "Election Excludes Boasting" : But few among the carnal wise, But few of noble race, Obtain the favor of Thine eyes Almighty King of Grace. He takes the men of meanest name For sons and heirs of God; And thus He pours abundant shame On honorable blood. This book has also this, headed ''Hell, or the Vengeance of God.'' Tune, Diike Street or Windham: Far in the deep where darkness dwells. The land of horror and despair; Justice has built a dismal hell. And laid her stores of vengeance there. There Satan, the first sinner, lies, And roars and bites his iron bands; In vain the rebel strives to rise, Crushed with the weight of both thine hands. Eternal plagues and heavy chains, Tormenting racks and fiery coals. And darts t' inflict immortal pains, Dipped in the blood of damned souls. The angry nations fret and roar. That they can slay the saints no more; On wings of vengeance flies our God, To pay the long arrears of blood. Christian Hymnology. 49 This, in C. M., is set to old Windsor, by Kirbye: But bloody hands and hearts unclean, And all the lying race, The faithless and the scoffing crew, That spurn at offered Grace, They shall be taken from my sight, Bound fast in iron chains; And headlong plunged into the lake, Where fire and darkness reigns. Not all their anguish and their blood For their old guilt atones; Nor the compassion of a God, Shall hearken to their groans. Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell, Let stubborn sinners fear; You must be driven from earth, and dwell, A lone forever there. See how the pit gapes wide for you, And flashes in your face, And thou, my soul, look downward too, And sing recovering grace. From "Village Hymns, 1825," on fly-leaf of which is my mother's name, written September 26, 1829, I copy these five sad verses by Doddridge, entitled THE SINNER WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING. Raise, thoughtless sinner, raise thine eye; Behold God's balance lifted high ! There shall his justice be displayed. And there thy hope and life be weighed. Behold, the hand of God appears To trace in dreadful characters; "Sinner, thy soul is wanting found, And wrath shall smite thee to the ground." See in one scale his perfect law; Mark with what force its precepts draw : Would'st thou the awful test sustain? Thy works how light ! thy thoughts how vain ! Let sudden fear thy nerves unbrace; Let horror change thy guilty face; Thro' all thy thoughts let anguish roll. Till deep repentance melt thy soul. One only hope may yet prevail; — Christ hath a weight to turn the scale; Still doth the gospel publish peace. And show a Saviour's righteousness. 50 The Evolution of Our And the following, from same book, entitled "Christ, the Believers' Ark," by Doddridge: The deluge, at th' Almighty's call, In what impetuous streams it fell ! Swallow'd the mountains in its rage, And swept a guilty world to hell. In vain the tallest sons of pride. Fled from the close pursuing w^ave; Nor could their mightiest tow'rs de- fend, Nor swiftness 'scape nor courage save. How dire the wreck ! how loud the roar ! How shrill the universal cry Of millions, in the last despair. Re-echoed from the tow'ring sky! Yet Noah, humble, happy saint! Surrounded with the chosen few, Sat in his ark, secure from fear, And sang the grace that steer'd him thro'. So I may, since, in Jesus safe, While storms of veng'ance round me fall; Conscious how high my hopes are fix'd. Beyond what shakes this earthly ' ball. Nor wreck nor storm above is seen; There not a wave of trouble rolls; But the bright rainbow round the throne, Seals endless life to all their souls. And this, entitled ''Summer, or the Great Harvest" : The summer harvest spreads the field, Mark — how the whitening hills are turned ! Behold them to the reapers yield ; — The wheat is saved — the tares are burned. Thus the great Judge, with glory crowned, Descends to reap the ripened earth ! Angelic guards attend him down, The same who sang his humble birth. In sounds of glory hear him speak, Go search around the flaming world ; Haste — call my saints to rise and take The seats from which their foes were hurl'd. Go, burn the chaff in endless fire. In flames unquenched consume each tare; Sinners must feel my holy ire. And sink in guilt to deep despair. Thus ends the harvest of the earth ; — Angels obey the awful voice; They save the wheat, they burn the chaff; And heaven approves the sov'reign choice. Christian Hymnology. 51 The following lesson on 'The Flood'' is in ''Village Hymns/' also in "Dobell's Hymns," 1825 : When God from his throne did ven- "'Thus o'er the abyss, in safety they g'ance display, rode, That deliig'd a world, and swept them Nor wonder at this, their pilot was away ; God ; He caus'd it to slumber, nor could it When death and destruction without begin might be seen, Till his little number "the Lord had This was their protection, "the Lord shut in." shut them in." Shut in by decree, and council they When others are wreck'd, e'en then were; he will spare Shut in by the oath which to them His own, the elect; their sonship is he sware; clear; From hell's condemnation, and wrath's Tho' sin may annoy them, his charge horrid din; they have been, O precious salvation ! "the Lord shut It ne'er shall destroy them, "the Lord them in." shut them in." The few that remain'd, not wreck'd When judgment takes place, and by the flood, world's in a flame, Prefigur'd to us the ransom'd by The subjects of grace shall sup with blood; the lamb; In Jesus elected, not delug'd by sin. And when on his bosom, they take But in him protected, "the Lord shut their repose, them in." The portals of glory shall finally close. I reprint the following, by Rev. Samuel Davies, 1758. It is also in "Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Public Worship," approved by the Presbyterian General Assembly, 1838: How great, how terrible that God, Who shakes creation with His nod ! He frowns, — earth, sea, all nature's frame, Sink in one universal flame. In vain for mercy now they cry; In lakes of liquid fire they lie ; There, on the flaming billows tost. Forever, — O, forever, lost. Where now, O where, shall sinners But saints, undaunted and serene, seek, For shelter in the general wreck? Your eyes shall view the dreadful scene ; Shall falling rocks be o'er them Your Saviour lives, the worlds ex- thrown ? pire, See rocks, like snow, dissolving down. And earth and skies dissolve in fire. 52 The Evolution of Our The following, on ''Day of Judgment/' by Dr. Stennett, is from "Dr. Rippon's Selections * * for the Baptist Denomi- nation/' 1834: He comes! He comes! to judge the world; Aloud the archangel cries ! While thunders roll from pole to pole, And lightnings cleave the skies. Th' affrighted nations hear the sound And upward lift their eyes; The slumbering tenants of the ground In living armies rise. Amid the shouts of numerous friends Of hosts divinely bright, The Judge in solemn pomp descends, Arrayed in robes of light. His head and hairs are white as snow, His eyes a fiery flame; A radiant crown adorns His brow, And Jesus is His name. Now He ascends the Judgment seat. And at His dread command. Myriads of creatures round His feet. In solemn silence stand. Princes and peasants here expect Their last, their righteous doom, The men who dared His grace reject. And they who dared presume. Depart, ye sons of vice and sin ! The injured Jesus cries. While the long kindling wrath within Flashes from both His eyes! The following, from which I will quote a few stanzas writ- ten by Dr. Watts, was inspired by the ist chapter of the Book of Nahum, which book, we remember, is exclusively a descrip- tive prediction of the overthrow and destruction of Nineveh. Twenty-four centuries after Nahum wrote it. Dr. Watts thought it applicable to the people of the Christian world in general for use in their praise and prayer services : Adore and tremble, for our God, Is a consuming fire; His jealous eyes, His wrath inflame, And raise His vengeance higher. Through the wide air the weighty rocks. Are swift as hail-stones hurled; Who dares to meet His fiery rage, That shakes the solid world? Almighty vengeance, how it burns ! How bright His fury glows ! Vast magazines of plagues and storms Lie treasured for His foes. Yet, mighty God! Thy sovereign grace Sits regent on the throne. The refuge of Thy chosen race. When wrath comes rushing down. Christian Hymnology. 53 Thy hand shall on rebellious kings A fiery tempest pour; While we beneath Thy sheltering wings, Thy righteous hand adore. Another by Dr. Watts I copy from "Village Hymns for Social Worship." It is entitled "The Scoffer" : All ye who laugh and sport with death, And say there is no hell; The gasp of your expiring breath Will send you there to dwell. When iron slumbers bind your flesh. With strange surprise you'll find, Immortal vigor spring afresh, And tortures wake your mind! Then you'll confess, the frightful names Of plagues you scorned before. No more shall look like idle dreams, Like foolish tales no more. Then shall ye curse that fatal day. With flames upon your tongues, When you exchanged your souls away For vanity and songs. May I with those forever dwell Who here were my delight, While sinners banished down to hell No more offend my sight. The following- is in the same collection: The trumpet sounds; hell trembles! heaven rejoices Lift up your heads ye saints, with cheerful voices; Here, saith the Lord, ye angels spread their thrones, And near me seat my favorites, and my sons. This is a verse of one by Wesley, entitled "A Sinner Out of Hell." After each of its five verses there is this chorus : Tell it unto sinners, tell, I am, I am out of hell. Lord, and am I yet alive, Not in torments, not in hell ! Still doth the good Spirit strive, With the chief of sinners dwell ! 54 The Evolution of Our The following, in Joshua Leavitt's collection, 1830, is anonymous : O, must we bid you all farewell, We bound to heaven and you to hell? Still God may hear us while we pray And change you ere that burning day. Come, blooming youth, for ruin bound. Obey the gospel's joyful sound. Next I mention one from ''The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts," arranged by Dr. Rippon, 1827, printed for use in the Baptist Churches of America, containing 13 10 hymns. Its heading is : THE PROSPERITY OF SINNERS CURSED. Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I To mourn and murmur and repine. To see the wicked placed on high. In pride and robes of honor shine? But oh, their end, their dreadful end, Thy sanctuary taught me so; On slippery rocks I see them stand, And fiery billows roll below. Now let them boast how tall they rise, I'll never envy them again; There they may stand with haughty eyes. Till they plunge deep in endless pain. Their fancied joys how fast they flee. Like dreams, as fleeting and as vain; Their songs of softest harmony, Are but a prelude to their pain. Now I esteem their mirth and wine. Too dear to purchase with my blood; Lord, 'tis enough that Thou art mine, My life, my portion, and my God. For tune, see page 55. Christian Hymnology. 55 GREENWICH. ,..._^.__t,___^. -|__C_^ ^ c Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I ! ^ g-r'^' ^ I, -(22- To _i2- iiiourn... I ^ :c — =zi ^^__J_^ j J- J J__-j-_J, I I I and mur-inur and re pine; To see the wick - ed placed on :ti: * r high, In pride and robes 1 of hon 1 • — w- I or shine. -t5> . ^— r-l 1 1 i But oh, their end, their dreadful end Thy sanct I But oh, their end, their dreadful end Thy s I J J J i _1 J J I I -J , I I I > I I I I I I I I I I I sanct - u - a - ry taught me so, On slipp'ry rocks I '-"tSEEES ry taught me so. m On slipp'ry rocks I 56 The Evolution of Our GREENWICH.— Concluded, r — r see them stand and 11 - -r 'ry bil 'I I r A. -•- ^ [I lows roll be - low. I I I I Here is one from "The Christian Lyre," 1830. Of its nine verses I quote four: Ah, guilty sinner, ruin'd by transgres- Stop, thoughtless sinner, stop awhile sion, and ponder, What shall thy doom be, when arrayed Ere death arrest thee, and the Judge m terror. in vengeance God shall command thee, covered with Hurl from His presence thine af- pollution, Up to the judgment. frighted spirit, Swift to perdition. Wilt thou escape from His omnis- Where the worm dies not and the fire cient notice? eternal Fly to the caverns, court annihila- Fills the lost soul with anguish and tion ? with terror: Vain thy presumption, justice still There shall the sinner spend a long shall triumph In thy destruction. forever, Dying unpardoned. The following verses, also in the "Christian Lyre," are part of a hymn entitled "Thought on Death." They are typical of the many admonitory hymns on death and the judgment that were much in favor early in the nineteenth century. Its tune is on next page : And am I only born to die? And must I suddenly comply With nature's stern decree? What after death for me remains? Celestial joys or helHsh pains To all eternity. Long ere the sun has run its round, I may be buried under ground. And there in silence rot; Alas ! one hour may close the scene, And ere twelve months shall inter- vene. My name be quite forgot. Christian Hymnology. 57 Nothing is worth a thought beneath, But how I may escape the death That never, never dies ! How make my own election sure. And when I fail on earth, secure A mansion in the skies. KENT. C. p. M. Anon. ( And am I on - ly born to die? And must I sud - den - ^ ly cora-ply With ^ • » na-ture's stern de - cree? What 1 i af - ter death for T t- ^ 1 — ' i 3 m ns, ^ - ' 1 — ' me re- mains? Ce - les - tial joys or hell - isli pai 1 - -1 -1 H -1 ' d : ; -» • - " 1 From "The Christian Lyre." — 1834. 58 The Evolution of Our Another in this collection, set to tune Warning Voice, is Hell beneath is gaping wide, And waits the dread command, Soon to stop your sport and pride And sink you with the damned. Stop, poor sinner, stop and think Before you farther go; — Will you sport upon the brink Of everlasting woe? Ghastly death will quickly come, And drag you to the bar; Then to hear your awful doom Will fill you with despair. WARNING VOICE. 7, 6. stop, poorsin-ner, stop and think, Be - fore you far Iher g< Stop, poor sin-ner, stop and think, Be - fore you far-ther go; EEEF -^-la^ — ^ 1 — l-i \ * — Will you sport up - on the brink Of ev - er - last - ing woe' Will you sport up - on the brink of ev - er - last - ing :ti=t: 3=^^ m-^ — #_p Chorus: — Be entreated now to stop Unless you warning take, Ere you are aware you'll drop Into the burning lake. —Anon. From " Christian Lyre."— 1833. Christian Hymnology. 59 The following, in the same collection, is entitled ''Judgment Hymn" : JUDGMENT HYMN. Judg- ment day z-l-g -^=t:= t== is com - ing; on, Judg-ment day ]s com 1^ » ing on, I J Fine. Judg-ment day is com - ing on shall all be there. ^ ,22- c, ^_^_p_^_ — I i —I '0 Oh! there will be mourn - ing, l-t==t: — r — ^ Mourn- ing. mourn - ing, mourn - ing, J- • jl a ^ c . :[== — I — __i 1 , — — — , — m—0 F -^-^— <^- x- F-; -l-n^ Oh! there will be mourn - inj At the judg-ment seat of Christ. ft .- Judgment day is coming on, Judgment day is coming on, Judgment day is coming on. And we must all be there. O there will be mourning, mourning, mourning, mourning, O there will be mourning, at the judgment seat of Christ. 6o The Evolution of Our Parents and children there will part, Parents and children there will part, Parents and children there will part. Will part to meet no more. O there will be mourning, etc. Wives and husbands there will part, Wives and husbands there will part, Wives and husbands there will part. Will part to meet no more. O there will be mourning, etc. Brothers and sisters there will part. Brothers and sisters there will part. Brothers and sisters there will part. Will part to meet no more. O there will be mourning, etc. Friends and neighbors there will part, Friends and neighbors there will part. Friends and neighbors there wall part, Will part to meet no more. O there will be mourning, etc. Pastors and people there will part, Pastors and people there will part, Pastors and people there will part. Will part to meet no more. O there will be mourning, etc. Devils and sinners there will meet. Devils and sinners there will meet, Devils and sinners there will meet. Will meet to part no more. O there will be shouting, etc. Saints and angels there will meet, Saints and angels there will meet. Saints and angels there will meet. Will meet to part no more. O there will be shouting, etc. The following, entitled "The Christian's Thoughts of Death and Glory/' appears in 'The Psalms of David (New Edi- tion, 1817), by Timothy Dwight, D.D." It is also in the sev- Christian Hymnology. 6i eral editions of the Presbyterian "Psalms and Hymns/' issued up to 1843: My soul, come, meditate the day, And think how near it stands, When thou must quit this house of clay, And fly to unknown lands. O ! could we die with those that die, And place us in their stead; Then would our spirits learn to fly. And converse with the dead. And you, my eyes, look down and view. The hollow, gaping tomb; This gloomy prison waits for you, Whene'er the summons come. Then should we see the saints above, In their own glorious forms. And wonder why our souls should love, To dwell with mortal worms. We should almost forsake our clay, Before the summons come; And pray and wish our souls away, To their eternal home. Tune, Meditation, on next page. The Evolution of Our MEDITATION. C. M. Dr. Isaac Watts. 3E3: -L=Cr: My soul come raed i - tate the day And think liow near it stands, My soul come med i - tate the dav And think how near it stands, I When thou must quit this house of clay And fly. to — a J When thou must quit this house of i K-^--^ a— r#-- clay And fly. p-jz=i:1z=i:ri:r>=!^z?=_r:s:r^zT3Z= -I h- un-known lands, And flv. :=1= to un :=3- known lands. m un-known lands, And .0 ^ fly- to un - known lands y From "Sacred Harmony."— 1798. Chapter IV. THE DAWN OF A BRIGHTER DAY. Let us break the awful solemnity of the moment at this point by recalling the cheering, strengthening words of the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Remembering that he was afore- time the cruel, wicked Saul of Tarsus, high and mighty, proud, vindictive, a persecutor of the saints, and that, suddenly, the mercy that endureth forever transformed him, the chief of sinners, into the chief of our blessed Lord's Apostles, may we not express our wonder and regret that in these so-called songs of praise there is line upon line evidence of an undervaluation of God's mercy and loving kindness ? If the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made Paul free from the law of sin and death, is it for the Christian to judge and to condemn all such sinners as was he, as beyond the reach of hope and mercy? ''Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things pres- ent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall he able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." ''Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; hut towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness; otherwise thou also shalt he cut off." — (Romans ii : 22). "And so, all Israel shall he saved; as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away tin- godliness from Jacoh." — (Verse 26.) "For God hath concluded them all in unhelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches hoth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchahle are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" — (Verses 32, 33.) Naturally, we ask — whence came their inspiration, and (63) 64 The Evolution of Our upon what foundation were these songs built? Clearly, in so far as the inspiration was divine, it was from the Old Testa- ment. Their cry was, ''To the Law and to the Testimony" — (Isaiah 8: 20). They failed to comprehend the true meaning of the new dispensation; they had not grasped the glorious significance of the declaration — ''The law was given by Moses, hut grace and truth came by Jesus Christ/' who dedicated for us "A new and living way/' although seventeen centuries had gone since Jesus had said, "The time is fulfilled, and the King- dom of God is at hand'' ; "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another" ; and Paul had written, "Old things have passed away; behold, they have become new" ; and John had written in the Revelation, "He that sitteth on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new/ " "These are my words zvhich I spake unto you when I zvas yet zvith you that all things must needs be fulfilled, zvhich are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me" — (Luke 24: 44). "Being therefore justified by faith, zve have peace zvith God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also zve have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ^ ^ * Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly" — Romans, chapter 5). The declaration of God to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness, appears to point to the beginning of the end of the exclusively legal divine dispensation, "As it is written in the hook of the words of Isaiah, the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled. And every mountain and hill shall he brought lozv. And the crooked shall he made straight. And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Christian Hymnology. 65 Our Lord of Glory, Himself declared that, with His advent, the acceptable year of the Lord, prophesied by Isaiah, had come. This was the prophecy, 6ist chapter: "Tiie Spirit of the Lord is upon me; becaiise the Lord Jiath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to hind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of ven- geance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them tJiat mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness/' It is signilicant that when our blessed Saviour quoted this passage from Isaiah He ignored the words ''The day of ven- geance of our God." I quote from the authorized version — ■ Luke 4 : 1 7-20 : ''And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place zvhere it zvas written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; Lie hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. "And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that zvere in the syna- gogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.'' O golden day, so long desired, Born of a darksome night, The waiting earth at last is fired, By Thy resplendent light; And hark ! like Memnon's morning chord. Is heard from sea to sea — This song: — One Master, Christ the Lord; And brethren all are we. The noises of the night shall cease. The storms no longer roar; The factious foes of God's own peace, Shall vex the church no more. A thousand thousand voices sing. The surging harmony; — One Master, Christ; one Saviour- King; And brethren all are we. 66 The Evolution of Our Sing on, ye chorus of the morn. Your grand endeavor strain; Till Christian hearts, estranged and torn, Blend in the glad refrain; And all the Church, with all its powers, In loving loyalty. Shall sing; One Master, Christ, is ours. And brethren all are we. O golden day, the ages' crown, Alight with heavenly love. Rare day in prophecy renown, On to thy zenith move; When all the world with one accord, In full voiced unity. Shall sing; One Master, Christ our Lord, And brethren all are we. Charles A. Dickinson — Tune, Ellacomhe. St. Gall's Coll. Let not the foregoing be considered as an implication that the New Testament has supplanted the Old. Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfil. Matthew 5: 17. He himself was its fulfilment. We praise God, both for the Old and the New, but most for the New, before which ''the whole world was lost in the darkness of sin." We can honor Him for- ever in the study of the Psalms and prophesies, but it is only because of the New Testament that now we are worshiping and praising Him in the singing of : "Nearer, my God, to Thee" "Abide with me" "Jesus, lover of my soul" "It came upon the midnight clear" "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning" "Christ for the world we sing" "Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin" "There is a green hill far away" "O Paradise, O Paradise" "Rock of Ages, cleft for me" "All hail the power of Jesus' name" "O love that will not let me go" "O Jesus, Thou art standing" "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" "Immortal love forever full" Christian Hymnology. 67 or any other energizing gospel hymn, thousands of which will be sung by millions of Christians, imparting consolation, peace, and cheer centuries to come, when "this poor, lisping, stammer- ing tongue lies silent in the grave." Theodore Roosevelt, in a writing on 'The Bible and the Life of the People," in "The Outlook," said: All men who think deeply, even among non-Christians, have come to agree that the life of Christ, as set forth in the four Gospels, represents an infinitely higher and purer morality than is preached in any other book in the world. Occasional critics, taking sections of the Old Testament, are able to point out that the teachings are not in accordance with their own con- victions and views of morality, and they ignore the prime truth that these deeds recorded in the Old Testament are not in accord- ance with our theories of morality because of the very fact that these theories are based upon the New Testament, because the > ^ New Testament represents not only in one sense the fulfilment of the Old, but in another sense the substitution of the New Testa- ment for the Old in certain vital points of ethics. * * * The Old Testament did not carry Israel as far as the New Testament has carried us; but it advanced Israel far beyond the point any neighboring nation had then reached. I disclaim any inference that the citing of the foregoing imprecatory hymns is intended as an adverse criticism of their authors, whose very names are held in reverence, but rather as a clearly-cut contrast between their times and ours ; to indi- cate by true historic evidence the emergence of Christian Hym- nody from the gloom of the tomb and the region of eternal despair to the sunlight of God's infinite love; out of the fathom- less depths of the dead sea to "the sparkling waters of the river of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, where the tree of Life is blooming for the healing of the nations." If Watts and his contemporaries could come back and join in the sacred song services of our brighter, better times they would be dumbfounded to find that the Church of God has not only ceased to sing the imprecatory Psalms, such as 58th, 59th, 63d and 109th, but that it seldom, if ever, even reads them in any religious service. 68 The Evolution of Our Dr. Watts, in the preface to one of his books, says : "Where the Psalmist uses sharp invective against his personal enemies I have endeavored to turn the edge of them against our spiritual adversaries, Sin, Satan and Temptation," but his Christian motive and good endeavors were, in a measure, frustrated. Dreadful as v^as the wickedness of the idolatrous people of Judah in the times of the ancient prophets, and well deserved as were the punishments threatened and inflicted, it seems unac- countable that the saints, down to the middle of the eighteenth Christian century, as proven by their use of such Psalms in their praise services, failed to grasp this truth — that the firm foundation laid for our faith in God's excellent Word is the love of God (not the wrath of God) of which foundation Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone. Besides from the Psalms, Dr. Watts sometimes found in the New Testament passages for his versification. The follow- ing is headed, "The Sovereignty of Grace." — (Luke lo: 21, 22.) I thank Thy sovereign power and love That crowns my doctrine with success, And makes the babes in knowledge learn The heights, and breadths and lengths of grace. But all this glory lies concealed From men of prudence and of wit; The prince of darkness blinds their eyes, And their own pride resists the light. Father, 'tis thus because Thy will Chose and ordained it should be so ; 'Tis Thy delight to abase the proud, And lay the haughty scorner low. Miss Anne Steele, a century and a half ago, inspired by the conviction that crimes and fears and frowns are to be dis- pelled in the light of love and mercy, wrote this hymn : He lives; the great Redeemer lives! What joy the blest assurance gives! And now, before His Father, God, Pleads the full merit of His blood. Repeated crimes awake our fears, And justice, armed with frowns ap- pears ; But in the Saviour's lovely face, Sweet mercy smiles and all is peace. Christian Hymnology. 69 In every dark, distressful hour, When sin and Satan join their power, Let this dear hope repel the dart, That Jesus bears us on His heart. Great Advocate, almighty Friend! On Him our humble hopes depend; Our cause can never, never fail, For Jesus pleads, and must prevail. ''All Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teach- ing, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in right- eousness." — (II Timothy 3: 16. R. V.) But not all is suitable for making melody in the heart unto the Lord; for examples, the nth of Genesis, 2d of Ezra, 7th and loth of Nehemiah, the poetic Song of Solomon, and certain Psalms. The imprecatory Psalms are a lesson for the world, but whatever the lesson our God would have us learn from them, I find in His Word no evidence that they should be employed in the song service of His Church in any age of the world. On the contrary, from the Book of Exodus to the Revelation of St. John, there are exhortations to sing praises to God with joyful lips; to shew forth His mercy and His loving kindness, which endureth forever. Eollowing are a few examples of a hundred like passages in the Book of the Psalms : ''Sing forth the glory of His name; make His praise glorious' ; "0 let the nations he glad and sing for joy' ; "Let the people praise Thee, O God, let all the people praise Thee''; "My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises unto Thee"; "Sing unto the Lord a new song and His praise in the assembly of the saints." And in Isaiah: "Sing O heavens, and be joyful O earth and break forth into singing O mountains ; for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have compassion upon His anointed." I cannot find that anywhere, singing unto the Lord is enjoined in glorification of His terrible judgments and wrath- ful indignation. The Evolution of Our The 23d, 65th, 103d, 133d Psalms, and others hke them are perfectly adapted for any part of divine worship. David, mere man as he was, in varying moods at different times, must have been nearer to God when writing these than when inditing many others, such as were referred to by Dr. Watts in the preface to one of his hymn books, where, as I have before mentioned, he said plainly that the Psalmist used sharp invec- tive against his personal enemies. Doubtless Watts was enjoy- ing an unusual degree of inspiration when versifying the 23d Psalm in three meters. One verse of each of these follow : We do not doubt that Watts and the other grand old saints who wrote their terrorizing hymns were all afire with desire to glorify God and to save guilty souls from the per- dition of ungodly men, and, remembering that theirs were days when the Christian religion was in its twilight; when the tide of iniquity was at its flood; when godless men ruled with a rod of iron, and the "people of God" were under their feet, perhaps we should not wonder so much. Nevertheless one would think that it should have sufficed to proclaim from the pulpit in sermons rather than to tune in songs their direful appeals to men's fears of a terrible God, thundering His awful decree against the multitudinous hosts of sinners and opening the Kingdom of Heaven to His "chosen race," his "friends and favorites" as designated in Watts' I. 2. My shepherd is the Hving Lord ; Now shall my wants be well sup- plied; His providence and holy word, Became my safety and my guide. My shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is his name; In pastures green He makes me feed Beside the living stream. 3. The Lord my shepherd is, I shall be well supplied; Since he is mine and I am his, What can I want beside? Christian Hymnology. 71 hymns. I fail to understand how any congregation could sing these songs, so void of comfort for sorrows, of encouragement or stimulus to missionary work, hymns without the electric spark to start the motive power of the love that endureth all things, the love that never faileth. Where in them, with the precious exceptions named, do we find the God who is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, our Good Shepherd, ready to lead us sinners in paths of righteousness, by quiet waters, where verdant pastures grow, where the table is prepared, the cup of blessing overflows, and His rod and staft' are comforting? What living, growing branch of the Church of Christ is singing them now ? Ask them to sing them and they would hang their harps upon the willows and weep. Unhappily, wt must confess that the world is still very wicked. Sin abounds, but, under divine enlightenment, Christendom is coming into possession and enjoyment of a better and con- stantly growing better understanding of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man as revealed in Jesus Christ. This is in fulfilment of the prophecy, (Daniel 12:4) that at the end of the days "knozvledge shall be increased." God's truth is marching on. Yet we know that there has never been an era when God was not revealing Himself, enlightening human souls in knowledge of Himself. So it is we gratefully record the truth that these eighteenth and nineteenth century hymners, under occasional gleams of heavenly light, wrote some truly divine, heart-uplifting lyrics that can never be lost. Many of these are to follow in this review, bringing their authors into blessed fellowship with a greater number of gifted souls of a later period, men and women who, by inspiration, have taken the life worldly, wavering and sorrowing, leading it into the life that is hid with Christ in God, a practical, evangelical service for the conversion of the world to Christ by the law of attrac- tion, — the Law of Love, which is the law of God, for "God is Lovef (I John 4:8.) ''Love never faileth, hut whether there he prophecies, they shall he done away/' (I Cor. 13:8). 72 The Evolution of Our Let this great truth be present, night and day; But most be present, if we preach or pray. Look round our world; behold the chain of love Combining all below and all above. Pope's "Essay on Man: ''If we love one another, God abideth in us, and His love is perfected in us; hereby vue know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He hath given us of His spirit/' (John 4 : 12, 13.) I read in the Hght of it all, that we have come to under- stand that salvation means to the world something more than a narrow escape from hell-fire; that it means the infusion of the Christ-life in human hearts in the present world ; an engraft- ing into Christ; a sonship with the one Eternal God; the blos- soming anew of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the bringing forth from it the fruits of the spirit here and now and for evermore. Christian, the morn breaks sweetly o'er thee. And all the midnight shadows flee; Tinged are the distant skies with glory, A beacon light hung out for thee. Arise, arise the light breaks o'er thee, Thy natne is graven on the throne; Thy home is in the world of glory Where thy Redeemer reigns alone. Courage ! cheer up, the day breaks o'er thee Bright as the summer's noontide ray; The star-gemmed crowns and realms of glory Invite thy happy soul away. Away, away, leave all for glory. Thy name is graven on the throne; Thy home is in that world of glory Where thy Redeemer reigns alone. Chapter V. THEOLOGIC PROGRESSION. As our faith looks up to the Lamb of Calvary and then back over the centuries, may we not see that the evolution of our Christian Hymnology is typical of an evolution in religion, under clear spiritual influences? In consonance v^ith this thought, I quote from an article by Rev. Richard S. Holmes, D.D., in a recent number of "The Continent": Religion is a century plant; yes, an aeon plant. Its blossom in Jesus Christ came only after 1,500 years of Hebrew history. In the 1,900 years since, the growth of the plant has been slow, but the stalk has never ceased to climb upward toward a coming hour of lovely efflorescence. We have not come yet, not quite, to Beulah Land, but we can with clear vision see that Christian life in the nations of the world is on the long incline upward toward the realization of the dream of the ages. We are on the upward trend. It is foreign to my purpose and my wish to treat our subject in the way of theologic criticism. The relationship between the two is so close as to prove it indubitable that the evolution of our hymnology is an effect of an involution of revised theologic tenets, and a more scriptural application of gospel truth to the world's greatest need. I think that the clergy of all denominations will almost unanimously confirm this statement. Although we may entertain the thought that it is in line with the eternal decrees that the zvhole theology of these ancient hymners and of Jonathan Edwards and John Calvin is not to be proclaimed unchangeably and forever, nevertheless we may be thankful for their foundation-work, hold their memories in reverence and heartily sing these grand nineteenth century verses. (73) 74 The Evolution of Our This, by Rev. Frederick W. Faber: Faith of our fathers, living still, In spite of dungeon, fire and sword, O how our hearts beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious word, Faith of our fathers, holy faith ! We will be true to Thee 'till death. And this, by Bishop W. W. How: For all the saints who from their O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, labors rest, and bold. Who Thee by faith before the world Fight as the saints who nobly fought confess'd, of old; Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. And win, with them, the victors* Alleluia ! Alleluia ! crown of gold. Alleluia ! Thou wast their rock, their fortress, O blest communion, fellowship, di- and their might ; vine ! Thou, Lord, their captain in the well- We feebly struggle, they in glory fought fight; shine; Thou, in the darkness drear, their Yet all are one in Thee, for all are light of light. Alleluia ! Thine. Alleluia ! I note here that all the publications by authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America during the first half of the nineteenth cen- tury were named "Psalms and Flymns," and that there was at no time a change in versification of the Psalms, but subse- quently to their 1839- 1843 publication, they issued six editions, from 1850 to 1863, containing many new selections and elim- inating as many old-timers. In 1866, and subsequently, revised editions were published, all under the new name 'The Hymnal.'' A most cogent evidence of a revolutionary movement is in the fact that, of the 882 psalms and hymns in their book of 1839-1843, only 124, or less than one seventh, are in their hymnal, authorized by the General Assembly, 1895. Of course they could not prudently continue the printing of such of Watts' lyrics as these of which I quote the first line : Christian Hymnology. 75 "Amidst Thy wrath, remember love." "Are all the foes of Zion fools?" "As new born babes desire the breast." "Death ! 'tis a melancholy day." "Dread Sovereign, let my evening song." ■ "Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I." "O what a stiff, rebellious house." "Why do the proud insult the poor?" "Why do the wealthy wicked boast?" "W^hy should the haughty tyrant boast?" "Ye sons of pride, that hate the just." "And are we wretches yet alive?" "Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews." "Hark ! from the tombs a doleful sound." "How awful is Thy chastening rod." "How great, how terrible that God," "My thoughts on awful subjects roll." Further cheering evidence of progressiveness is notable in the revised "Hymnal" just issued (1911) by the Presby- terian Board of Publication, from which over a hundred hymns that were in the 1895 collection have been dropped, while as many more, not in that edition, have been added. I quote the first line of a number of these, indicative of the betterment: "Beneath the cross of Jesus." "Breast the wave. Christian." "Christian, dost thou see them?" "Courage, brother, do not stumble." "Day is dying in the west." "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." "I am coming to the Cross." 76 The Evolution of Our hear Thy welcome voice." 'T know no life divided." "I think when I read that sweet story of old." "Knocking! Knocking! who is there?" "O happy day that fixed my choice." what their joy and their glory must be." "Purer yet and purer." "Rescue the perishing." "Safe in the arms of Jesus." "Shout the glad tidings." "Summer suns are glowing." "There is no name so sweet on earth." "We would see Jesus." "What a friend we have in Jesus." The Board, prior to the issue of the new book published this statement. It is significant. In introducing new hymns, an earnest effort will be made to meet the urgent demand for the recognition of God's nearness to everyday living, of the coming of the Kingdom in the sphere of common life, of the spirit of brotherhood and manly and resolute Christian life and service, of social betterment, and of evangelistic work and services. Chapter VI. SOME UNCLASSIBLE HYMNS. We will now look at some old psalms and hymns of peculiar structure on different subjects, mostly crude and unpoetic, but adduced here in further evidence of the achieve- ment of a radical reform in our songs of devotion. Several of these I take from the "Christian Lyre; a Col- lection of Hymns and Tunes Adapted for Social Worship, Prayer Meetings, and Revivals of Religion," by Joshua Leavitt — 1833. A signal instance of defect, to force a rhyme, is apparent in a hymn, entitled, ''Expostulation" — beginning: "Now the Saviour stands a pleading at the sinner's bolted heart." Its seven verses are followed by this chorus: Sinners, can you hate this Saviour? Will you thrust Him from your arms? Once He died for your behavior, Now He calls you to His arms. Another of questionable merit both as to sentiment and poetry, is a hymn bearing title — "The Ransomed Spirit." The cherub near the viewless throne Hath smote the harp with trembling hand; And one with incense-fire hath flown, To touch with flame the angel-band; But tuneless is the quivering string. No melody can Gabriel bring; Mute are its arches, when above. The harps of heaven wake not to love. Our impression has ever been that heaven's harps always wake to love, — infinite, eternal, unchangeable love. For the comfort of pastors, the "Christian Lyre" contains the hymn entitled "Pastoral Cares," page 79 ; tune Carmarthen, page 78. (77) 8 The Evolution of Our CARMARTHEN. H. M. f Who can de- scribe the pain, Which faith - ful preach - ers feel, \ Con-strained to preach in vain, to hearts as hard as steel? ili; 11 I 1 ^ m Or who can tell the pleas - ures felt, When stub- born hearts be - gin to melt? When stub -born hearts be - gin to melt? -1 \- 1^ COLESHILL J -\ ^ 1 1 I Z. (Si — i V 1 1 Down to the tomb our broth - er goes, In its cold arms to rest, (iHSiifllilpi^ps^p -4^ J ' 1 -J 3^ As 'smit by sud - den storms the 1 1 rose Sinks 1 1 -\ ' on the , 1 i gar - den's b reast. p— ^ :^ ^ izn — 1= r A H- 1 " Chiistian Lyre."— 1833. Christian Hymnology. 79 PASTORAL CARES. Who can describe the pain, Which faithful preachers feel, Constrained to preach in vain, To hearts as hard as steel? Or who can tell the pleasures felt, When stubborn hearts begin to melt? If some small hope appear. They still are not content; But with a jealous fear, They watch for the event: Too oft they find their hopes de- ceived. Then how their inmost souls are grieved. The Saviour's dying love. The soul's amazing worth. Their warm affections move, And draw their efforts forth; They pray and strive — their rest de- parts. Till Christ be formed in sinners' hearts. But when their pains succeed, And from the tender blade. The ripening ears proceed. Their toils are overpaid: No harvest joys can equal theirs, To find the fruit of all their cares. In the Wesley 1779 Collection, a single Bible verse, Genesis 3: 16, is made the subject of eight hymns. The text is will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the zvoman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.'' I quote one verse from each of four of the eight hymns: First, Awake, the woman's conquering seed, Awake, and bruise the serpent's head; Tread down thy foes, with power control, The beast and devil in thy soul. Second, Fruit of a virgin's womb The promised blessings come; Christ, the Father's hope of old Christ, the woman's conquering seed, Christ, the Saviour long foretold Born to bruise the serpent's head. Third, Arise the woman's conquering seed O, avenge us of our foe. And bruise the serpent's head. 8o The Evolution of Our Fourth, With thy spirit's two-edged sword The crooked serpent slay, Bare thine arm and give the blow Root out and kill the hellish seed And bruise the serpent's head. \Mien a boy I heard it charged against our grandfathers that some of them beHeved that, under the law of election and foreordination, countless numbers of infants were con- signed to the abode of the eternally lost. This verse may seem to partly confirm the charge. It is in ''AA^atts and Rippon Collection'' of 1834. Adam, the sinner ! at his fall Death like a conqueror seized us all : A thousand new-born babes are dead By fatal union to their head. Another hymn a century old appears to have been written expressly to antagonize the allegation. Note that instead of a thousand lost, millions are saved. It is entitled: ''Children Dying in Infancy Safe in the Arms of Jesus.'' Death may the bands of life unloose, But can't dissolve my love; IMillions of infant souls compose The family above. I have heard that once an eighteenth century preacher asked an anxious inquirer — "Are you willing even to be damned and to suiter eternal punishment if that be God's will concern- ing you?'' The following verse from one of these old hymn books seems to confirm the charge that such a sentiment was enter- tained at that period: Still will I strive and labor still, With humble zeal to do Thy will, And trust in Thy defense; My soul into Thy hands I give; And, if he can obtain Thy leave, Let Satan pluck me thence. Christian Hymnology. 8i The next hymn, copied from John Dobell's book, 1806, is headed ''Breaker — Micah 2: 13." Sing the dear Saviour's glorious fame, Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name ; Sweet name ! and it becomes him well, Who breaks down sin, guilt, death and hell. A mightly Breaker sure is He; He broke my chains and set me free ; A gracious Breaker to my soul; He breaks, and O, He makes me whole ! He breaks thro' ev'ry gloomy cloud, Which can my soul with darkness shroud; He breaks the bars of ev'ry snare, Which hellish foes for me prepare. He breaks the gates of harden'd brass, To bring His faithful word to pass; And tho' with pond'rous iron barr'd. The Breaker's love they can't retard. Great Breaker, O, Thy love impart, Daily to break my stony heart; O, break it. Lord, and enter in And break, O, break the pow'r of sin. The following are two of four verses, for "Society Meet- ings," to tune Corner-Stoiie, in John Wesley's Collection: Two are better far than one. For counsel or for fight; How can one be warm alone. Or serve his God aright? Join we then our hearts and hands ; Each in love provoke his friend; Run the way of His commands, And keep it to the end. Who of twain hath made us one, Maintains our unity; Jesus is the Corner-Stone, In Whom we all agree ; Servants of one common Lord, Sweetly of one heart and mind; Who can break a threefold cord, Or part whom God hath joined? From the "Christian Lyre" I cop}^ two of six verses, entitled "Wedding Hymn" : Why hast thou cast our lot In the same age and place? And why together brought To see each other's face? To join with softest sympathy, And mix our friendly souls in Thee. O let us ever bear. The blessed end in view, And join with mutual care, To fight our passage through. And kindly help each other on, Till all receive the starry crown. 82 The Evolution of Our From another wedding hymn I quote two verses As Isaac and Rebekah give A pattern chaste and kind; So may this married couple live, And die in friendship joined. True helpers may they prove indeed. In prayer and faith and hope; And see with joy a godly seed, To build their household up. I quote one more, interesting to prospective brides and grooms, set to tune Spanish Melody, in ''Sacred Harmony," 1798. See in yonder house of prayer. Bridal lamps are burning; View the joyous party there, Thro' the gateway turning; See the happy bride appear, Yet her footsteps falter; Wherefore should she shed a tear At the holy altar? 'Tis not that she wishes now From her love to sever; 'Tis that should he break his vow. She is lost forever: Careless are thy fears, fair bride. Vain the doubts that grieve thee, View him kneeling by thy side, Think not he'll deceive thee. Binding be his bridal oath, And his love encreasing, And may heaven bestow on both. Pleasures never ceasing. May that hand protect thee still, Thine now fondly pressing. And in every earthly ill, Be thy guard and blessing. The following conversation with a female pilgrim is from the "Christian Lyre'': THE FEMALE PILGRIM. Whither goest thou, pilgrim, stranger, Wandering through this gloomy vale? Knows't thou not 'tis full of danger. And will not thy courage fail? No, I'm bound for the kingdom; Will you go to glory with me? Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord. "Pilgrim," thou dost justly call me, Traveling through this lonely void; But no ill shall e'er befall me, While I'm blest with such a guide. Oh, I'm bound for the kingdom, Will you go to glory with me? Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord. Christian Hymnology. 83 THE FEMALE PILGRIM. mm t-L:st:d i f- — t: 2 f Whith - er jroest thoii, pil - grim, stran - ger, Wand'ring through this ' t Know'st thou not 'tis lull of dan - ger, And will not thy ._^ ^. tzi!: --A ^- -H —0- A— gloom - y coil r - age vale^ 1 fail?) "^'^^ bound for the king- dom; Will you N N- \- 1 :b!=«zz=:jt=jtz=^ i :t=t -I -J^ ^—11 go to glo - ry with me? Hal - le - lu - jah ! Praise ye the Lord. 11 -K—0- i 'Christian Lyre."— 1833. "Such a Guide!" no guide attends thee, Hence for thee my fears arise; If some guardian power defend thee, 'Tis unseen by mortal eyes: Oh, I'm bound for the kingdom, &c. Yes, "unseen;" but still believe me, Such a guide my steps attend; He'll in every strait relieve me, He will guide me to the end. For I'm bound for the kingdom, &c. Pilgrim, see that stream before thee, Darkly rolling through the vale; Should its boisterous waves roll o'er thee. Would not then thy courage fail? No ! I'm bound for the kingdom, &c. No ; that stream has nothing frightful, To its brink my steps I'll bend; Thence to plunge 'twill be delightful; There my pilgrimage will end. For I'm bound for the kingdom, &c. 84 The Evolution of Our While I gazed, with speed surprising, Down the vale she plunged from sight; Gazing still, I saw her rising, Like an angel clothed in light! Oh, she's gone to the kingdom — Will you follow her to glory? Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord. In the 'Tocket Edition" of "Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts arranged by Dr. Rippon," 1836, containing 1314 hymns, and letters of recommendation by twenty-five Baptist ministers, hymn No. 1271 is here copied. It is also in Rippon's smaller book published 1826. THE WELCOME MESSENGER. Lord, when we see a saint of Thine, Lie gasping out his breath, With longing eyes, and looks divine, Smiling and pleased in death. How we could e'en content to lay Our limbs upon that bed; We ask thine envoy to convey. Our spirits in his stead. Our souls are rising on the wing To venture in his place; For, when grim death has lost his sting. He has an angel's face. Jesus, then purge my crimes away, 'Tis guilt creates my fears; 'Tis guilt gives death his fierce ar- ray, And all the arms he bears. 0 ! if my threatening sins were gone, And death had lost his sting, 1 could invite the angel on. And chide his lazy wing. Away, these interposing days. And let the lovers meet; The angel has a cold embrace, But kind, and soft, and sweet. I'd leap at once my seventy years, I'd rush into his arms. And lose my breath, and all my cares, Amid those heavenly charms. Joyful, I'd lay this body down. And leave this lifeless clay; Without a sigh, without a groan, And stretch and soar away. Oh, let me join the raptur'd lays! And with the blissful throng Resound salvation, pow'r and praise. In everlasting song. Christian Hymnology. 85 Anon. EBE3 — — I RUSSIA. L. M. False are the men of high de - gree, The has - er sort are van :q=q: :qz: i3 ■0 1 ^ ^ False are the men of high de - gree, The bas - er sort are van - i - f ln r 1 « •-n lit Utz^ ^: <^ ' ^ - •8: # — ^ — ^ — # t=t=t: Laid in a bal - auce qzipq— — Laid in a bal-ance both ap - -I — I — h-«-»- ty. Laid in a balance both ap pear Light as a piiflf of •2^— - ty. I^aid in a balance both ap-pear Light as a puff of emp - - ty both ap - pear Light as a puff of emp ty air. air. D.S. — pear 1 ^- ^— ^ # L_^_JL Light as a puff of emp - ty air. HEIl air. D.S. emp - ty air, Light ^_ =[:= air. i a puff of emp - ty aii. air. D.S, -» ^ 9 , :1: -7^ EI=EH Light as a pufic" of emp - ty air. From William Little's Collection.— 1798. 86 The Evolution of Our Of the I Gist psalm, Watts makes a versification entitled "The Magistrates' Psalm" adapted in our times for voicing the pledges of a pious candidate for mayoralty of a city, or governorship of a state. In Watts' time a magistrate was a public official exercising almost sovereign power. Here are some of its verses: If I am raised to bear the sword, I'll take my counsels from Thy word; Thy justice and Thy heavenly grace Shall be the pattern of my ways. I'll search the land, and raise the just To posts of honor, wealth and trust; The men that work Thy holy will Shall be my friends and fav'rites still. In vain shall sinners hope to rise By flattery or malicious lies; Nor while the innocent I guard The bold offender shan't be spared. The impious crew (that factious band) Shall hide their heads or quit the land ; And all that break the public rest. Where I have power, shall be sup- prest. The following I copy from ''Hymns and Spiritual Songs," by Isaac Watts, D.D., 1825. It is also in 'Tsalms and Hymns Approved by the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." 1838. This hymn is entitled: "The 58th Psalm: a Psalm of David." WARNING TO MAGISTRATES. Judges, who rule the world by laws. Will ye despise the righteous cause When vile oppression wastes the land, Dare ye condemn the righteous poor, And let rich sinners 'scape secure. While gold and greatness bribe your hand ? A poison'd arrow is your tongue, The arrow sharp, the poison strong, And death attends where'er it wounds ; You hear no counsels, cries, nor tears ; So the deaf adder stops her ears. Against the power of charming sounds. Have ye forgot, or never knew. That God will judge the judges too? High in the heavens His justice reigns, Yet you invade the rights of God, And send your bold decrees abroad. To bind the conscience in your chains. Break out their teeth, eternal God; Those teeth of lions, dy'd in blood; And crush the serpents in the dust. As empty chaff, when whirlwinds rise, Before the sweeping torrent flies. So let their hopes and names be lost. Christian Hymnology. 87 Th' Almighty thunders from the sky; Their grandeur melts, their titles die, As hills of snow dissolve and run ; Or snails that perish in their slime, Or births that come before their time, Vain births, that never see the sun. Thus shall the vengeance of the Lord, Safety and joy to saints afford; And all that hear shall join and say, "Sure there's a God that reigns on high, A God that hears his children cry, And will their sufferings well re- pay." The following — 24 verses — is from "Dobell's Hymns/' 1825; L. M., tune E^^skine: HEAVEN. In heav'nly choirs a question rose, That stirr'd up strife will never close; What rank of all the ransom'd race. Owes highest praise to sov'reign pTace ? third, — 'T deepest '"Stay," — said a share "In owing praise beyond compare ; 'The chief of sinners you'll allow, "Must be the chief of singers now.' Babes thither caught from womb and "Hold," — said a fourth, — "I here pro- breast, Claim'd right to sing above the rest; Because they found the happy shore They never saw nor sought before. test, "My praises must outvie the best "For I'm of all the human race, "The highest miracle of grace." Those that arriv'd at riper age. Before they left the dusky stage. Thought grace deserv'd yet higher praise, That wash'd the blots of num'rous davs. "Stop,"! — said a fifth,— "these notes forbear, "Lo ! I'm the greatest wonder here; "For I, of all the race that fell, "Deserved the lowest place in hell." Anon the war more close began, What praising harp should lead the van ; And which of grace's heav'nly peers, Was deepest run in her arrears. A soul, that higher yet aspir'd, With equal love to Jesus fir'd, " 'Tis mine to sing the highest notes, "To love, that wash'd the foulest blots." " Tis I," — said one, — " 'bove all my race, "Am debtor chief to glorious grace"; "No,"— said another— "Hark, I trow, "I'm more oblig'd to grace than you." "Ho !" — cry'd a mate, — " 'tis mine, I'll prove, "Who sinn'd in spite of life and love. "To sound his praise with loudest bell, "That sav'd me from the lowest hell." 88 The Evolution of Our "Come, come," — said one, — "I'll hold thy plea ''That highest praise is due by me; "For mine, of all the sav'd by grace, ''Was the most dreadful, desperate case." Another rising at his side. As fond to praise, and free of pride, Cry'd, — "pray give place, for I defy "That thou should owe more praise than I." "T'll yield to none in this debate; "I'm run so deep in grace's debt; "That sure I am, I boldly can, "Compare with all the heav'nly clan." Quick o'er their head, a trump awoke, "Your songs my very heart have spoke ; "But ev'ry note you here propale, "Belongs to me beyond you all." The list'ning millions round about With sweet resentment loudly shout; "What voice is this, comparing notes, "That to their song chief place allots? "We can't allow of such a sound, "That you alone have highest ground "To sing the royalties of grace ; "We claim the same adoring place." What ! will no rival singer yield, He has a match upon the field? "Come then, and let us all agree, "To praise upon the highest key." Then jointly all the harpers round, In mind unite with solemn sound; And strokes upon the highest string, 3>Iade all the heav'nly arches ring. Ring loud with hallelujahs high. To him that sent his Son to die. And to the worthy Lamb of God, That lov'd and wash'd them in his blood. Free-grace, was sov'reign empress crown'd In pomp, with joyous shouts around; Assisting angels clapp'd their wings, And shouted grace on all their strings. The emulation round the throne I\Iade prostrate hosts, (who ev'ry one The humblest place their right avow) Strive who shall give the lowest bow. The next contention without vice Among the birds of paradise, ]\Iade ev'ry glorious warbling throat. Strive who should raise the highest note. Thus in sweet, holy, humble strife. Along their endless, joyful life. Of Jesus, all the harpers rove. And sing the wonders of his love. Their discord makes them all unite In raptures most divinely sweet; So great the song, so grave the bass, ^Melodious music fills the place. From "Hymns and Tunes for Prayer Meetings and Revivals of Religion," 1833, I quote one verse of a hymn of five verses, with its tune, Pilgrim's Farewell: Christian Hymnology. 89 PILGRIM'S FAREWELL. farewell, dear friends, I must ])e <:one, . Fare - well, fare - well, :Epi=z:t -1- » » • • I have no home or stay with you; I'll take my staff and trav- el on, Till I a bet - ter world do view, I'll march to Ca-nann'sland, —I — zzt: I'll land on Canaan's shore, Where pleasures nev - er end, Where troub-les -. — — ^- =t=Eit=t=c=lz i .t=t=: ( come no more. Fare- well, fare - well, fare - well, my lov-ing friends, farewell. "Christian Lyre."— 1833. 90 The Evolution of Our Difficulties in the Way of Duty surmounted — ''Hinder me not.'' — Gen. 24: 56. Tune Devizes and Otford. From "A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors; Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, by John Rippon, D.D/' When Abr'ham's servant to procure A wife for Isaac, went, He met Rebekah — told his wish, — Her parents gave consent. Yet for ten days they urg'd the man. His journey to delay; "Hinder me not," he quick reply'd, ''Since God hath crown'd my way." 'Twas thus I cry'd when Christ the Lord My soul to him did wed; "Hinder me not," nor friends nor foes, "Since God my way hath sped." "Stay," Satan, my old master cries, "Or force shall thee detain"; "Hinder me not, I will begone, "My God has broke my chain." In all my Lord's appointed ways, My journey I'll pursue; Hinder me not, ye much-lov'd saints, For I must go with you. Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead, I'll follow where he goes; Hinder me not, shall be my cry, Though earth and hell oppose. Brief life was the portion of all such hymns as these. As early as 1840 half of them appear to have fallen by the way- side, and to-day only the age-worn books are left to tell the story of them. Forever abandoning them as unworthy a part in our services of religious worship, we surrender nothing of the truth of God, of the verities of human life, death, and the judgment; we sunder none of the cords of veneration that bind us to our sound Christian lineage and doctrine. Every w^ord spoken by our Lord as recorded in the gospels stands firm as of old. We remember how severely He con- demned the scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites as recorded in the 23d chapter of Matthew's gospel: ''Ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?" (Greek Gehenna — R. V. ) ; and we can never doubt that in all time, all such characters, until they become repentant, deserve the pronouncement of just such a "Woe unto Yon," and that their Christian Hymnology. 91 punishment is as sure either in this world or in that which is to come, as it is sure that our Father who is in heaven ''maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.'' But, this twentieth cen- tury, we are more joyfully praising God with gospel hymns according to Matthew and John, Mark and Luke; hymns, the singing of which has constrained many a prodigal to say, '7 will arise and go to my father.'' It is simply a practical question, — have not the hymns the Church is now singing more power to turn a repentant son or daughter homeward, to warn and hearten sinners and to comfort saints, — hymns like these following? Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me; And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, O, Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am, and waiting not, To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee, Whose blood can cleanse each spot, O, Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am, though tossed about. With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, O, Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind, Sight, riches, healing of the mind. Yea, all I need in Thee to find O, Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive. Wilt- welcome, pardon, cleanse, re- lieve, Because Thy promise, I believe, O, Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am. Thy love now known Has broken every barrier down; Now to be Thine, yea. Thine alone, O, Lamb of God, I come. Art thou weary, art thou languid, Art thou sore distrest? "Come to me," saith One, "and com- ing, Be at rest." Is there diadem, as monarch, That His brow adorns? "Yea, a crown, in very surety, But of thorns." Hath He marks to lead me to Him, If He be my guide? *Tn his feet and hands are wound- prints. And His side." If I find Him, if I follow, What His guerdon here? "Many a sorrow, many a labor, Many a tear." 92 The Evolution of Our If I still hold closely to Him, If I ask Him to receive me, What hath He at last? Will He oay me nay? "Sorrow vanquished, labor ended, "Not till earth, and not till heaven Jordan past." Pass away." Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless? Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs, Answer, "Yes." Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encir- I was not ever thus, nor prayed that cling gloom. Thou Lead Thou me on! Should'st lead me on; The night is dark, and I am far from I loved to choose and see my path; home, but now Lead Thou me on ! Lead Thou me on ! Keep Thou my feet ! I do not ask to I loved the garish day ; and, spite of see, fears. The distant scene; one step enough Pride ruled my will; remember not for me. past years. So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on. O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile. Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. Evolution is working. "You cannot read the news of my defeat, "The plot is changed and there is none to tell; "But you may hear the watchman now repeat. "The night is nearly past, and all is well." Chapter VII. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW.' CORYDON. 8s. Anon. A — I — ^- — — c:=:t:=zt= I Ah! love-ly ap- pear-ance of death, What sight np- on earth is so fair? — _ _ 0 ^ :iz=t I — t — t- n I r-J 1 1- (S— - ■I Not all the gay pageants that breathe Can with a dead bo - dy com- pare, ^ -J ^ - ^^-^^ ^5---- L| With sol-emn de- light I sur-vey The corpse, when the sjnr- it is fled. -! 1- In love with tlie beau - ti - ful clay, And long-iiig to lie in its stead. From 'Thristian Lyre.' (93) The Evolution of Our DEATH'S ALARM. G. M. Anon. i 1=F The ris-ing morn-iuj; can't en - sure, That we shall end the day, ^=3 • t=r- The ris-ing morn-ing can't en -sure, That we shall end the day, -I r- -H — Ezzzit: p-# — # — # — • — - • ^ • , — 1 j __i 1 0 0 _ : t= ti t= t It t t: t For c leath stands waiting 1 — i \- 1 ^— at the door, Fordt iatli stands wait - ing :1 1 H ^ -i- u at the ^^^^ _z;_-_-__-_L« • m ^ m ^— -A A -m 0 — — » 0 0 0 — -# m ... 0 . • r* ^ For ( : t t t t leath stands waiting :^ P t t at the door, Fordt ?alh stands wait - ing at the 1 1 , 1 , J ^ J # » door To snatch. =r=:tt=t: our lives a way. id door To *-F* — * — j-F snatch . our lives way -I ^ pi door To snatcli our live;s way V— r door To snatch our lives a - way. From " Sacred Harmony."— 1798. Christian Hymnology. 95 SUTTON. C. M. Be - hold the man three score. :t=z:Ei^iz:^pi=^-EE — ^- and ten up - -1=2- on -#- dy - ing bed. _i Has run his race and got no grace, :^ 1 ^ iT-F 1 :it=t:=:'^: man he lives in sore sur-prise And thus he doth com- plain No ±:=t: t- — 1 — 1^ 1 , , ^— r-J ' 1 r-^' 1 1 ^— r 1-| -w iJ. » p ^ • • ^ ^ ■-■ grace I've got and I can - not re - call my time gain. n « D From "Sacred Harmony."— 1798. 96 The Evolution of Our MORTALITY. C. M. ^— J— ^' — «' — J — r-j ^— 1 ^ ^ 0 , Stoop down my t . —0 — loughts that used to :=]:- -f q - l ise, Con - :-q — verse a while witli fc-d-—— p q ^ H p-4 i Stoop down my t louglits that used to - r t rise, Con - verse a while with r r r— ^ — « m — death; Think ^- -q 1- -H ^- Think how a gasp - ing 113 death; Think how a gasp -ing mor - tal lies and Think how a gasp - ing mor -tal lies and pants- how a gasp -ing mor -tal lies and pants -I 1 1 a - way his breath and mor - tal lies and pints a - way his breatli, Think how --.-r-l 1 ^- pants a - way his breath and pants wav his breath, a - way his breath and pants. Christian Hymnology. 97 MORTALITY.— Concluded. ^iqziz=q:q=(:: :j!3=|::^==]: pants a - way his breath gi- mm Think how a gasp-iiig a gasp-ing nior - tal lies. Vg, ^ , ft_ Think how a gasp - ing mor - tal lies and pants ^ — — * « — way his breath, 1 Think how a gasp-ing mor -tal lies and ^ I mor - tal lies and pants way his -| — breath. and pants a - way his breath. -* — I— way his breath and pants wav his -(S* ' breath 2^- pants breath. But O the soul that never dies; At once it leaves the clay I Ye thoughts, pursue it where it flies. And track its wondrous way. TTp to the courts where angels dwell, It mounts triumphing there: Or devils pluuije it down to liMl, In infinite despair. — Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. (Last appearance, "Psalms and hymns."— Presbyterian. A. D. 1S43.) Chapter VIII. SOME HYMNS BY INSPIRED WOMEN. That we may ward off a spell of depression of spirits, and that I may not be suspected of inviting such an attack, I will now steal awhile away to the company of a group of con- secrated woman hymnists, to whom we all will be happy to pay homage. Of the thousands of lyrics that have ennobled and enriched the music-service of the Church, a goodly propor- tion are the soul-inspirations of Godly women. Out of the ten- derness of the woman-heart have flowed, as the clear waters of Avon, the sweetest melodies of the songs of Zion. "Not she with trait'rous kiss her Saviour stung; Not she denied Him with unholy tongue. She, while apostles shrank, could danger brave. Last at His cross, and earliest at His grave." All hail to the good women for their immeasurable legacies to the Christian world. I shall quote a few of their glad, uplifting songs of praise, and so shall I hope that all through this representation will be heard the gospel keynote which always unites all parts and all hearts in perfect harmony, and I am sure that our spirits will be in tune as we make melody in our hearts with their hymns of devotion. Let us start with the expression of our gratitude to Miss Anne Steele, author in 1760 of the blessed hymn: Father, whate'er of earthly bliss. Give me a calm, a thankful heart Thy sovereign will denies, From every murmur free; Accepted at Thy throne of grace, The blessings of Thy grace impart Let this petition rise — And make me live to Thee. Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine. My life and death attend. Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey's end. (98) Christian Hymnology. 99 Lowell Mason's inspiration provided its sweet tune, Naomi. In his book, "English Hymns/' Dr. Samuel W. Duf- field said, "To sing this hymn to any other tune than Naomi would seem to the American churches almost like sacrilege." This hymn was first introduced by the Church of England in 1776, and from that time has been a true hymn-prayer of the Christian in every English-speaking land. It comes to me first, for of all the hymns in use in our churches I love it the most for the strength and cheer it has imparted to me in trouble. Anne Steele was the daughter of a Baptist minister of England. In the course of her life of sixty-two years, mostly years of illness. Miss Steele wrote 144 hymns, which under the name of "Theodosia's Poems" were pubHshed in 1760 to 1769. Another of her heart winning hymns is : Dear refuge of my weary soul On Thee when sorrows rise; On Thee when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies. Another is : To our Redeemer's glorious name, Awake the sacred song ! O may His love, immortal flame, Tune every heart and tongue. A fourth is a decision hymn kept alive to old Rockingham. Now I resolve with all my heart. With all my powers to serve the Lord; Nor from His precepts e'er depart, Whose service is a rich reward. Others are : "Great God, to Thee my evening song." "The Saviour ! O what endless charms." "He lives, the great Redeemer lives." "Thou lovely source of pure delight." lOO The Evolution of Our I mention only one more of hers, which also is one of the saved in many books : Father of mercies, in Thy word. What endless glory shines; Forever be Thy name adored, For these celestial lines. It seems best when sung to Rev. John B. Dykes' grand tune Beatudo. Verily Anne Steele was ''A ministering spirit sent forth to minister for them who should be heirs of salvation." Charlotte Elliott, whose angel-voice will be ever sing- ing around the throne of light, and over earth's desert plains, was inspired in 1836 to write the precious hymn: "Just As I Am Without One Plea." Every line of its six verses will be to us a living gospel 'till our rolling years shall cease to move. The late good Bishop Mcllvaine of Ohio said of it, ''That hymn contains my religion, my theology and my hope." If the combined Protestant Chris- tian congregations of the world were asked to name a few of their dearest hymns this surely would be one of them. Another of Charlotte Elliott's hymns that appeals tenderly to all of us, when sung as it always should be to Flemming, composed early in nineteenth century, is : O Holy Saviour, Friend unseen, Since on Thine arm Thou bid'st me lean. Help me throughout life's varying scene, By faith to cling to Thee. Blest with communion so divine, Take what Thou wilt, shall I repine, When, as the branches to the vine, My soul may cling to Thee? What though the world deceitful prove. And earthly friends and joys remove, With patient, uncomplaining love, Still would I cling to Thee. Oft when I seem to tread alone, Some barren waste with thorns o'er- grown, A voice of love in gentle tone Whispers, "Still cling to me." Christian Hymnology. lOI Though faith and hope awhile be tried, We ask not, need not aught beside. How safe, how calm, how satisfied. The souls that cling to Thee ! They fear not life's rough storms to brave. Since Thou art near, and strong to save, Nor shudder e'en at death's dark wave. Because they cling to Thee. Another is: My God, is any hour so sweet From blush of morn to evening star As that which calls me to Thy feet. The hour of prayer. Every one of its six verses blends poetry with prayer. And another, beautifully set to Arthur Sullivan's tune Hanford, also to Troyte's Chant, is : My God, my Father, while I stray Far from my home in life's rough way, O teach me from my heart to say, "Thy will be done." Each of its seven verses ends with 'Thy will be done." Forever and everywhere revered will be Mrs. Sarah F. Adams for: Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee, E'en though it be a cross. That raiseth me: written 1841. And for its own tune, Bethany, composed 1859, Lowell Mason will ever be gratefully remembered. In numerous cases when Christian congregations have been asked to name ten or twelve of their choicest hymns this one, along with "J^st as I am," "Lead, Kindly Light," "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "Rock of Ages," has been accorded first or second place by a good majority. No one would presume to issue a hymn book without it. Other precious legacies of deeply religious poetry have I02 The Evolution of Our been left to the Church by Cecil Frances Alexander, author of: Jesus calls us o'er the tumult Of our life's wild, restless sea; Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, "Christian, follow Me;" written 1852, which should always be sung to Woodbury's beautiful appropriate tune Dorrnance. To Mrs. Alexander we are deeply indebted also for : There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified Who died to save us all. which we cannot help thinking was written for William Horse- ley's tune written a few years earlier, and bearing his name. Mrs. Alexander was the author also of: Once in royal David's city. Stood a lowly cattle shed ; Where a mother laid her baby. In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ — her little child. — which should never be divorced from Henry Gauntlett's tune — Irhy. Mrs. Anna L. Barbauld gave us: "Come, said Jesus' sacred voice." "How blest the righteous when he dies." "Praise to God, immortal praise." Mrs. Phebe H. Brown, wrote this cherished hymn: I love to steal awhile away From every cumbering care. And spend the hours of setting day In humble, grateful prayer. Christian Hymnology. 103 Mrs. Jemima T. Luke, wife of a Congregational minis- ter, wrote the beautiful hymn for children : I think when I read that sweet story of old When Jesus was here among men. Anna Shipton gave us : Call them in, the poor, the wretched Sin-stained wanderers from the fold. Anna R. Cousin, wife of a Scottish clergyman, 1857, wrote the following grand hymn of four double verses. Its perfect tune, Rutherford, was arranged from Urhan by E. F. Rimbault. The sands of time are sinking. The dawn of heaven breaks. The summer morn I've sighed for, The fair sweet morn awakes ; Dark, dark hath been the midnight. But day-spring is at hand, And glory, glory dwelleth In Emmanuel's land. O Christ, He is the Fountain, The deep, sweet well of love ! The streams on earth I've tasted More deep I'll drink above : There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand. And glory, glory dv/elleth In Emmanuel's land. The King there in His beauty Without a veil is seen; It were a well-spent journey Though seven deaths lay between: The Lamb with His fair army Doth on Mount Zion stand, And glory, glory dwelleth In Emmanuel's land. The bride eyes not her garment, But her dear bridegroom's face; I will not gaze at glory, But on my King of grace; Not at the crown He giveth But on His pierced hand: The Lamb is all the glory Of Emmanuel's land. From an article by "The Wayfarer,'' in The Continent, of December 7th, 191 1, I quote the following four stanzas said to be a part of the above beautiful hymn in its original form. The Anwoth of the poem was the little town in Galloway, Scotland, where Samuel Rutherford, for whom the hymn has been named, ministered to a little church from A. D. 1618 to 1627. While these verses are very interesting and poetical, it will be seen I04 The Evolution of Our that they are judiciously cut off from the good hymn as we prize it. E'en Anwoth was not heaven, E'en preaching was not Christ And in my sea-girt prison My Lord and I held tryst. And aye my murkiest storm-cloud Was by a rainbow spanned, Caught from the glory dwelling In Immanuel's land. The little birds of Anwoth, I used to count them blest; Now beside happier altars I go to build my nest. O'er these there broods no silence, No graves around them stand; For glory deathless dwelleth In Immanuel's land. But flowers need night's cool darkness. The moonlight and the dew; So Christ from one who loved it His shining oft withdrew. And then for cause of absence My troubled soul I scanned ; But glory, shadeless, shineth In Immanuel's land. Fair Anwoth by the Solway, To me thou still art dear ! E'en from the verge of heaven I drop for thee a tear. Oh, if one soul from Anwoth Meet me at God's right hand, My heaven will be two heavens. In Immanuel's land. Kate Douglass Wiggin wrote this Hymn" of two verses: ^Child's Morning: Father, we thank Thee for the night, And for the pleasant morning Hght; For rest and food and loving care, And all that makes the world so fair. Help us to do the things we should, To be to others kind and good; In all we do, in work or play, To love Thee better day by day. Mary L. Duncan was author of the excellent hymn for children, most effective when sung to Dykes' tune — Sylvester. Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me; Bless Thy little lamb to-night. Mary Mapes Dodge wrote several beautiful hymns for the children, — one of them being: Can a little child like me Thank the Father fittingly ? Yes, O yes, be good and true. Patient, kind in all you do, etc. Miss Phebe Gary, looking heavenward, tells us com- fortingly : C 11 R 1 ST 1 A N 11 \' M N 0 LC) ( . \ . One sweetly solemn thought, Comes to me o'er and o'er ; I'm nearer my home to-day, Than ever I've been before. Miss Elizabeth C. Clephane's soul was very near the cross when she wrote about forty years ago: Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand; The shadow of a mighty rock Within a weary land, A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way, From the burning of the noon-tide heat And the burden of the day. Upcn that cross of Jesus, Mine eyes at times can see. The very dying form of One, Who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart with tears Two wonders I confess, — The wonders of His glorious love, And my own worthlessness. I take, O cross, thy shadow. For my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His face; Content to let the world go by. To know no gain nor loss, My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross. The value to us of this tender hymn is enhanced by, and it should always be sung to Frederick C. Maker's com- position — St. Christopher. Miss Clephane was the author also of: There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold, for which Ira D. Sankey composed and sang effectively his well-fitting tune known as The Ninety and Nine. Emily Elizabeth Elliott, about a half century ago, wrote the good hymn: "Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown," which we love to sing to tune, Margaret, by Rev. T. R. Matthews. io6 The Evolution of Our Helen Maria Williams' hymn, 1786, a standard in our churches for more than a century, well set to Pleyel's Brattle Street and Dykes' Beatiido, must be included here: While Thee I seek, protecting power, Be my vain wishes stilled; And may this consecrated hour, With better hopes be filled. We are impelled to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for one of Harriet Auber's h3mins, written in 1829: Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender, last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter bequeathed, With us to dwell. He came sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing Guest, While He can find one humble heart Wherein to rest. And His the gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breath of even, That checks each thought, that calms each fear. And speaks of Heaven. And every virtue we possess. And every victory won. And every thought of holiness Are His alone. Spirit of purity and grace, ■j^^ Our weakness, pitying, see, O make our hearts Thy dwelling place And worthier Thee. This hymn always brings to mind our Saviour's parting words, ''I will not leave yon comfortless. It is expedient for yoTi that I go away, for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto yon. But if I go I will send Him unto you.'' For this hymn there is just one tune worthy of thought — St. Cuthhert, by Dr. J. B. Dykes. What is God? Our Catechism answers splendidly — ''God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth." The Bible answers it in three words, ''God is Love." I John 4: 8. Dr. Watts' view was overcast by dark clouds when he wrote for the songs of Christian assemblies: Christian Hymnology. Adore and tremble, for our God, Almighty vengeance, how it burns ! Is a consuming fire ; How bright His fury glows ! His jealous eyes, His wrath inflame Vast magazines of plagues and storms And raise His vengeance higher. Lie treasured for his foes. Contrast in your minds these views of our dear Lord and Father of mankind, with the loving thoughts just breathed in our song: And His the gentle voice we hear. Soft as the breath of even. That checks each thought, that calms each fear, And speaks of heaven. Yes ! yes ! we can thankfully sing- There's a wideness in God's mercy Like the wideness of the sea; There's a kindness in His justice That is more than liberty. For the love of God is broader, Than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the Eternal, Is most wonderfully kind. —Rev. F. W. Faher, 1854. We remember the prophet Elijah, how he heard God's voice, not in the great, strong wind, not in the earthquake nor the fire, but in the still, small voice. Not always as the whirlwind's rush On Horeb's mount of fear. Not always as the burning bush To Midian's shepherd seer, Nor as the awful voice which came To Israel's prophet bards. Nor as the tongues of cloven flame. Nor gift of fearful words, — Not always thus, with outward sign Of fire or voice from Heaven, The message of a truth divine, The call of God is given ! Awaking in the human heart Love for the true and right, — Zeal for the Christian's better part, Strength for the Christian's fight. Though heralded with naught of fear. Of outward sign or show; Though only to the inward ear It whispers soft and low ! Though dropping, as the manna fell. Unseen, yet from above. Noiseless as dewfall, heed it well, — Thy Father's call of love ! — Whittier. io8 The Evolution of Our Mrs. Mary Duncan, wife of a Scotch clergyman, in 1839 wrote and sang to her dear children, and our little ones love it too: Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me; Bless Thy Httle lamb to-night; Through the darkness be Thou near me; Keep me safe till morning light. Its one tune is St. Sylvester by Dykes. Mrs. Urania L. Bailey's hymn, 'The Open Door," be- ginning : The mistakes of my life have been many, The sins of my heart have been more, with its only tune, by Dr. Robert Lowry, a good, tender hymn for Sunday School and Prayer Meeting, appeared thirty to forty years ago, then disappeared. It now has place in the new "Mission Hymnal" of the Protestant Episcopal Church — 1911. Anna B. Warner wrote the hymn, impressive when sung to Lowell Mason's Henley: "We would see Jesus, for the shadows lengthen." Frances Ridley Havergal, during her brief life of forty- three years — 1836- 1879 — wrote many very sweet, poetical, devotional hymns, among them being : "Come unto Me when shadows darkly gather." "Standing at the portal of the opening year." "Who is on the Lord's side ? Who will serve the King?" "Thy life was given for me, ^ What have I given for Thee?" "Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee." "Golden harps are sounding, Angel voices ring." "Like a river glorious, Is God's perfect peace." Christian Hymnology. 109 Lord, speak to me, that I may speak O lead me, Lord, that I may lead In living echoes of Thy tone. The wandering and the wavering As Thou hast sought, so let me seek feet ; Thy erring children lost and lone. O feed me, Lord, that I may feed, The hungering ones with manna sweet. Caroline L. Smith wrote this comforting, quieting hymn for which nine years later John B. Dykes composed its beauti- fuUy blending tune, St. Sylvester. Tarry with me, O my Saviour ! For the day is passing by; See ! the shades of evening gather. And the night is drawing nigh. Let me hear Thy voice behind me, Calming all these wild alarms; Let me, underneath my weakness, Feel the everlasting arms. Deeper, deeper, grow the shadows. Paler now the glowing west. Swift the night of death advances; Shall it be the night of rest? Lonely seems the vale of shadow ; Sinks my heart with troubled fear; Give me faith for clearer vision. Speak Thou, Lord, in words of cheer. Feeble, trembling, fainting, dying. Lord, I cast myself on Thee; Tarry with me through the darkness, While I sleep, still watch by me. Tarry with me, O my Saviour ! Lay my head upon Thy breast; Till the morning; then awake me! Morning of eternal rest. Another helpful prayer-hymn is Mrs. Elizabeth Cod- ner's, i860, with its chorus, "Even Me." ''Lord, I hear of showers of blessing." Of this hymn there are six verses of beautiful prayer out of a sweet overflowing heart. Scores of her hymns are in many of our present-day collections. Miss Anna L. Waring gave us: In heavenly love abiding No change my heart shall fear. And Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me; The changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see. no The Evolution of Our Sweet contentment springs from Adelaide Anna Proc- ter's verses : I do not ask, O God, that life may I do not ask that flowers should al- be ways spring A pleasant road; Beneath my feet; I do not ask that Thou woulds't take I know too well the poison and the from me sting Aught of its load. Of things too sweet. Its most appropriate tune, Submission, was composed by Albert L. Peace. Miss Procter has made the world brighter too by her cheery hymn : My God, I thank Thee, who hast made The earth so bright, So full of splendor and of joy, Beauty and light. So many glorious things are here Noble and right. There are six fine verses in this hymn, grandly set to F. C. Maker's tmie — W entzvorth. She wrote also ''The Shadows of the Evening Hours," one of the most widely cherished of our evening hymns. Its best tune is vS^^ Leonard by Henry Hiles. I quote two of its four double verses: The shadows of the evening hours Slowly the rays of daylight fade; Fall from the darkening sky; So fade within our hearts, Upon the fragrance of the flowers. The hopes in earthly love and joy, The dews of evening lie. That one by one depart. Before Thy throne, O Lord of Slowly the bright stars, one by one. Heaven, Within the heavens shine; We kneel at close of day ; Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in Look on Thy children from on high heaven, And hear us while we pray. And trust in things divine. Miss Anna L. Coghill, of Canada, in i860, gave us an inspiriting one, regarded ever since by the best hymn publishers as indispensable: "Work, for the night is coming," the admirably consonant music for which, named Work Song, was composed by Lowell Mason, in 1864. Christian Hymnology. Ill The stimulating sentiment of this song followed by Horatius Bonar's "Go, labor on, spend and be spent, my joy to do the Master's will," sung to Kingsley's tune, Williams, will start any Christian army on the march lustily singing ''On- ward, Christian Soldiers." Miss Katharine Hankey is the esteemed author of "Tell me the old, old story/' the suitable tune for which was composed by Bishop Doane. Miss Hankey wrote also 'T love to tell the story/' the ever-abiding tune for wdiich was composed by William G. Fischer, of Philadelphia, who added the chorus: I love to tell the story, 'Twill be my theme in glory, etc. Miss Emily T. Oakey is author of "Sowing the seed by the daylight fair/' and P. P. Bliss supplied its suitable tune. Mrs. Mary F. Maude's Confirmation Hymn: "Thine forever ! God of love. Hear us from Thy throne above/' is in our best hymnals. Mrs. Margaret Mackay wrote the treasured funeral hymn: "Asleep in Jesus ! blessed sleep ! From which none ever wakes to weep/' written in 1832. Bradbury's Rest is its most appropriate tune. Mary A. Lathbury was endowed by the Spirit to wTite that brief but strong hymn, appropriate at celebration of the Lord's Supper: — "Break Thou the Bread of Life." 112 The Evolution of Our Its excellent tune is by W. F. Sherwin. Miss Lathbury wrote also the beautiful evening hymn: "Day is dying in the west," and Mr. Sherwin composed its admirable tune. Mrs. C. M. Morris in 1900 wrote the following good, spir- itual h}'mn and the tune for it, which is heart-touching. C. H. M. Nearer, Still Nearer, Mrs. C. H. Morris. 1 — 1 ' — — \ J — J — — s- ^ ^— ' 1 1. Near- er, still near- er, close to thy heart, Draw me, my Sav 2. Near- er, still near- er, noth- ing I bring, Naught as an off' 3. Near- er, still near- er, Lord, to be thine Sin, with its fol 4. Near- er, still near- er, while life shall last, Till safe in glo lOur, so ring to -lies, I -ry my s (2 ^ HWrs r ^^^^^ =^=^ =1=4: ^ — 0—^ — ^ m precious thou art; Fold me, O fold me close to thy breast, Shelter me Je- sus my King; On - ly my sin - ful,now contrite heart, Grant me the glad- ly re - sign ; All of its pleausures, pomp and its pride, Give me but an-choris cast; Thro' endless a - ges, ev - er to be, Near-er, my J. TJ^^ ' 15> # — #-r(5^ \ • — P-rl^- rC 1=1^ 1 1 ^ f'r safe in that "Haven of Rest." Shelter me safe in that "Haven of Rest." cleansing thy blood doth impart. Grant me the cleansing thy blood doth impart. Je-sus,my Lord cru-ci-fied. Give me but Je- sus, my Lord cru-ci-fied. Saviour, still nearer to thee, Nearer, my Saviour, still near-er to thee. I 3 Copyright, 1898, by H. L. Gilmour, Wenonah, N. J. By permission of H. L. Gilmour. Christian Hymnology. 113 The name of Elizabeth P. Prentiss brings to mind: More love to Thee, O Christ, More love to Thee. Hear Thou the prayer I make, On bended knee. And that of Annie S. Hawkes calls us to a helpful one that we all love to sing: "I need Thee every hour." always to its own and only tune, Need, by Dr. Lowry. But one other woman's name I must call to us, one that might well have been placed among the first — Fanny Crosby — lately known as Fanny J. Crosby V an Alstyne, author of many such evangelical hymns as : " Tis the blessed hour of prayer." "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour." "Never be sad or desponding." "Rescue the perishing." "Only a step to Jesus." "Safe in the arms of Jesus." "I am Thine, O Lord." "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine." "Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed Redeemer." "Lord, at Thy mercy seat humbly I fall." "Speed away, speed away, on your mission of light." "Some day the silver cord will break." "Send the light, O send it quickly." "Jesus, keep me near the cross." "Saviour, more than life to me." 114 The Evolution of Our She wrote many good hymns for children. Thirty-one of them are in "Bright Jewels for the Sunday School," issued by Bradbury & Lowry about fifty years ago. Born in 1820, blind from infancy, Fanny Crosby has conse- crated her long life to writing of sacred songs. She is now living in good health in her 93d year. It has been said that her hymns number more than five thousand. A number of them have been more generally attract- ive to the best composers of gospel music than have those of any other writer of such hymns in our day, among them being Dr. William H. Doane, George F. Root, Ira D. Sankey, William Bradbury, William F. Sherwin, George C. Stebbins, Rev. Rob- ert Lowry, H. P. Danks and Thomas E. Perkins. Her favorite of all her hymns, we are told, is, Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o'ershadowed, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Hark ! 'tis the voice of angels, Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory. Over the jasper sea. It has three verses, all poetical and heart touching. At the funeral of General U. S. Grant, August 7, 1885, it was sung to a band accompaniment. It was a favorite of President McKinley. Even now, in her great age, Fanny Crosby is writing hymns. In a letter written to me October 25, 191 1, she says, "my publishers have been calling for new hymns, and my friends are calling me hither and yon." The secret of her long and happy life is revealed in such of her hymns as "Never be sad or desponding." "I will not be weary, tho' trials may come." "Some day the silver cord will break, and I shall see Him face to face." "They tell me of a land so fair." Christian Hymnology. 115 Names enough have l)een mentioned to assure us that our hymnary would be sadly impaired if angel woman had never tuned her lyre to gospel song. As it is, it would seem that Jacob's ladder stands to-day as of old, firm as ever, with heaven's messengers ascending and descending on it. Chapter IX. SOME VALUED HYMNS BY WATTS AND OTHER MEN. However pleasing the contrast between these heart-drawing woman lyrics and those of the men upon whose hymns I have animadverted, I would be sorry to leave the impression that those old Christian braves were never in a tender, full-salvation mood, or that, when writing their hymns, they never stretched their wings to sunnier flights nor tuned their harps to joyful lays. Superabundant as were their songs in sad, minor strains, sometimes, with God-given grace they penned living lyrics that all Christendom has loved to sing to this happy day. The forsaking of such of their old hymns as are terror- strikers or otherwise now unadapted to the purposes for which they were written has been in obedience to the apostolic injunc- tion, ''Prove all things; hold fast that zvhich is good!' It has been in recognition of radical changes of underlying charac- teristics, an unremitting devotional trend, a more heartening theology, a touching of a chord more in tune with the Infinite, in a word, it marks a spiritual evolution of our hymnology. The treasuring of many of their brighter old lyrics proves that these have a just claim to immortality, and are worth holding fast. Here follow some prominent typical examples that are so familiar we could sing them all without a book, on the giving out of their first lines only — I have chosen these because they have chosen us. Following are twenty by Dr. Watts — all gladsome — and all highly regarded to this day : "When I survey the wondrous cross." "Raise your triumphant songs." "Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear." (ii6) Christian Hymnology. 117 "Give me the wings of faith to rise," *'My God, how endless is Thy love." "Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove." "O God, our help in ages past." "When I can read my title clear." "There is a land of pure delight." "Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme." "Come, we that love the Lord." "The Lord my Shepherd is." "Joy to the world, the Lord is come." "I'm not ashamed to own my Lord." "Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell." "Come, let us join our cheerful songs." "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun." "How beauteous are their feet." "My dear Redeemer and my Lord." "Welcome, sweet day of rest." Another, written by Dr. Watts, 1707, set to its own tune, Avon, sometimes called Martyrdom, of sacred memory to all who, like myself, have heard it from infancy, is : Alas, and did my Saviour bleed ! And did my Sovereign die ! Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I ! The last line of this verse in latest hymnals reads : For sinners such as L Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, the greatest hymner of his time, in hours of transport wrote many wonder- fully fine, spiritual hymns. Some of them were pronounced by Isaac Watts to be of greater value than any of his own. He ii8 The Evolution of Our is on record as the author of over six thousand hymns. Of them I name a dozen f amihar favorites : "O could I speak the matchless worth." for a thousand tongues to sing." "Love divine, all love excelling." "Christ, whose glory fills the skies." "Come, Thou Almighty King." "Hark! the herald angels sing." "Depth of mercy, can there be." "O for a heart to praise my God." "A charge to keep I have." "Soldiers of Christ, arise." "Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim." "Jesus, lover of my soul." Christians of every name and cHme know and love every line of "Jesus, lover of my soul." In testimony of this I copy the following from "English Hymns/' by Rev. Dr. Samuel W. Duffield, by permission of its publishers, Funk & Wagnalls, of New York : Henry Ward Beecher once said, after a reference to his father's (Dr. Lyman Beecher) death, and his love for this hymn : "I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley's, Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on the earth. It is more glorious ; it has more power in it. I would rather be the author of that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die. He is dead, and does not know it. He will pass, after a little while, out of men's thoughts. What will there be to speak of him? What will he have done that will stop trouble, or encourage hope? His money will go to his heirs, and they will divide it. It is like a stream divided and growing nar- rower by division. And they will die, and it will go to their heirs. Christian Hymnology. In three or four generations everything comes to the ground again for redistribution. But that hymn will go on singing until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then, I think it will mount up on some lip to the very presence of God." I quote the following also from Duffield's "English Hymns": In the winter of 1872 Mr. Charles Trumbull White, being engaged in hospital work of a religious character, visited Bellevue Hospital, New York City. He was specially urged by the attend- ants to see an English sailor in one of the wards, who was near death. The man was found to be fast going, and unable to artic- ulate. Mr. White, therefore, leaned down and repeated, so that he might hear them, the words of this hymn. To all appearance they were uttered to the "dull, cold ear of death," and he departed, feeling as though he had failed to secure the least response. About midnight, however, of the same night this unknown sailor seemed to arouse. He sat up in his cot and, with a clearly audible voice, he spoke the words : Jesu, lover of my soul. Let me to Thy bosom fly. While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is higfh: Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life be past; Safe into the haven guide, O, receive my soul at last, and continued until he had repeated the entire hymn. He then added other verses of hymns for several minutes, but ceased suddenly, fell back, and was dead. Who can tell how great a bridge had been thrown by those familiar words across the gulf of memory, and how great a comfort they may have brought to his dying hour. The circumstances were precisely as we have given them, and no explanation was ever obtained. Rev. Dr. George Duffield (the author of ''Stand up, stand up for Jesus") writes: One of the most blessed days of my life was when I found, after my harp had long hung on the willows, that I could sing again ; that a new song was put into my mouth ; and when, ere ever I was aware, I was singing "Jesus, lover of my soul." If there is anything in Christian experience of joy and sorrow, of affliction and prosperity, of life and death — that hymn is the hymn of the ages ! I20 The Evolution of Our One other of Charles Wesley's gems must be mentioned- with its perfect tune Bradford, by Handel, arr. 1741 : I know that my Redeemer lives, And ever prays for me; A token of His love He gives, A pledge of liberty. I find Him lifting up my head. He brings salvation near; His presence makes me free indeed. And He will soon appear. He wills that I should holy be; Who can withstand His will? The counsel of His grace in me. He surely shall fulfil. Jesus, I hang upon Thy word, I steadfastly believe; Thou wilt return, and claim me. Lord, And to Thyself receive. Alexander Pope, 171 2, wrote the great stirring mission hymn : Rise, crown'd with light, imperial See barbarous nations at thy gates Salem, rise; attend. Exalt thy towering head and lift Walk in thy light, and in thy temple thine eyes; bend See heav'n its sparkling portals wide See thy bright altars thronged with display, prostrate kings. And break upon thee in a flood of While every land its joyous tribute day. brings. See a long race thy spacious courts The seas shall waste, the skies to adorn ; See future sons, and daughters yet un- born; In crowding ranks on every side arise, Demanding life, impatient for the skies. smoke decay; Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away ; But fixed His word. His saving power remains ; Thy realm shall last; Thy own Mes- siah reigns. It is considered indispensable by all the best hymn book makers, and is universally set to the great tune Moscozv or "Russian Hymn" by Alexis T. Lwoff — 1833. Philip Doddridge, i 702-1 751, a close friend of Isaac Watts, though twenty-eight years younger, was author of many good hymns with staying qualities. We still sing in our churches : "Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve." "Hark ! the glad sound ! the Saviour comes." Christian Hymnology. 121 "O happy day that fixed my choice." "O God of Bethel, by whose hand." "Triumphant Zion, lift thy head." "My God, and is Thy table spread." "See Israel's gentle Shepherd stands." "Grace, 'tis a charming sound." "How gentle God's commands." Rev. William Williams, 1745, author of the indispen- sable hymn : "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah," never could have imagined that it would be on millions of tongues after he had ended his pilgrimage through this barren land. I now select a hymn or two of each of a number of gifted authors of long ago — world favorites : "Come, Thou Almighty King, help us Thy name to sing." (Anonymous, A. D. 1757; credited to Charles Wesley.) "Sweet the moments, rich in blessing," by Rev. James Allen, 1757. "O for a closer walk with God," 1769, by William Cow- PER. "Hark, my soul, it is the Lord," 1768, by William COWPER. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me," 1776, by Rev. A. M. Top- lady. "All hail the power of Jesus' name," by Perronet, 1779. "Glorious things of Thee are spoken," by Rev. John Newton, 1779. "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds," by Rev. John Newton, 1781. "My soul, be on thy guard," by Rev. George Heath, 1784. "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord." Pub- lished 1787; authorship uncertain. 122 The Evolution of Our ''Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish," by Thomas Moore, i8i6. "Lift your glad voices in triumph on high," by Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., 1817. "From Greenland's icy mountains," by Bishop Reginald Heber, 1819. "By cool Siloam's shady rill," by Bishop Reginald Heber, 1812. "Bread of the world, in mercy broken," 1826, by Bishop Heber. "The morning light is breaking, the darkness disappears," by Rev. Samuel F. Smith, 1833. Of sacred morning hymns I would place the following, by Rev. John Keble, written in 1822, with its fine tune, Melcombe, composed by Samuel Webbe, 1782, at the head. There is a whole sermon in it. New every morning is the love, Our wakening and uprising prove; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life and power and thought. New mercies each returning day. Hover around us while we pray; New perils past, new sins forgiven, New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. If on our daily course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still of countless price God will provide for sacrifice. The trivial round, the common task, Will furnish all we ought to ask; Room to deny ourselves, a road To bring us daily nearer God. Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love, Fit us for perfect rest above; And help us this and every day. To live more nearly as we pray. And of evening hymns it is acknowledged that . John Keble again wins a high prize for ''Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear," written 1820, and wedded to an eighteenth cen- tury tune, Hnrsley. It is too good to skip a single verse. Christian Hymnology. 123 Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear, It is not night if Thou be near; O may no earth-born cloud arise, To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes. When the soft dews of kindly sleep. My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought, how sweet to rest. Forever on my Saviour's breast. Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I cannot live; Abide with me when night is nigh. For without Thee I dare not die. If some poor wandering child of Thine, Have spurned to-day the voice Divine, Now, Lord, the gracious work begin; Let him no more lie down in sin. Watch by the sick; enrich the poor; With blessings from Thy boundless store ; Be every mourner's sleep to-night, Like infants' slumbers, pure and light. Come near and bless us when we wake, Ere through the world our way we take. Till in the ocean of Thy love. We lose ourselves in heaven above. James Montgomery, i 771 -1854, left us many of our very best, among them : "Angels from the realms of glory." "Go to dark Gethsemane." "In the hour of trial." "Jerusalem, my happy home." "O where shall rest be found?" Following are two of a kind that appeal to our hearts ten- derly, written, as they are, in the first person, singular. They are among the many loved hymns by Rev. Horatius Bonar, D.D., 1808-1889: Yes, for me, for me He careth, Yes in me, in me He dwelleth, With a brother's tender care ; I in Him, and He in me ! Yes, with me, with me He shareth. And my empty soul He filleth, Every burden, every fear. Here and through eternity. Yes, o'er me, o'er me He watcheth. Thus I wait for His returning, Ceaseless watcheth, night and day; Singing all the way to heaven; Yes, e'en me, e'en me He snatcheth, Such the joyful song of morning. From the perils of the way. Such the tranquil song of even. 124 The Evolution of Our CONSECRATION. Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God, In every part with praise; That my whole being may proclaim. Thy being and Thy ways. Not for the lip of praise alone, Nor e'en the praising heart, I ask, but for a life made up Of praise in every part. Praise in the common things of life, Its goings out and in, Praise in each duty and each deed, However small and mean. Fill every part of me with praise; Let all my being speak Of Thee and of Thy love, O Lord, Poor though I be and weak. So shall Thou, Lord, from me e'en me, Receive the glory due. And so shall I begin on earth The song forever new. So shall no part of day or night, From sacredness be free; But all my life, in every step. Be fellowship with Thee. Rev. Horatius Bonar, 1866. Other favorites by Dr. Bonar are : "Go, labor on, spend and be spent." "I heard the voice of Jesus say." "A few more years shall roll." ''Beyond the smiling and the weeping." 'T lay my sins on Jesus." "Thy way, not mine, O Lord." "When the weary, seeking rest." In one of our denominational church hymnals, there are twenty-two of Dr. Bonar's hymns ; in others, ten to fifteen each. One selected hymn of each of the following list of inspired men is enough to entitle them to have their names written in the book of life : Sir John Bowring, 1792-1872 — 'In the Cross of Christ I glory." Bishop Doane, 1799-1859 — "Softly now the light of day." Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872 — ''Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning." Christian Hymnology. 125 William B. Tappan, i 794-1849 — " Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow." Rev. Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847 — 'Traise, my soul, the King of Heaven." Wordsworth, 1807-1885 — "O day of rest and gladness." Rev. Ray Palmer, D.D., 1808-1887— "My faith looks up to Thee." Rev. F. W. Faber, 1814-1863 — Paradise, O Paradise." Rev. Edward Mote, 1797-1874 — ''My hope is built on nothing less." Rev. Samuel J. Stone, 1839 — 'The Church's one founda- tion." Rev. Samuel Longfellow, 1819-1 892— "Again, as even- ing's shadow falls." Rev. Andrew Reed, 1787-1862 — "Holy Ghost, with light divine." Rev. Sir FIenry W. Baker, 1821-1877 — "The King of love my Shepherd is." Rev. S. Baring Gould, 1865 — "Now the day is over." Rev. John Fllerton, 1826-1893 — "Saviour, again to Thy dear name we raise." John G. Whittier, 1807- 1892 — "Immortal love, forever full," the second verse of which begins with "We may not climb the heavenly steeps." As dear to us is the same poet's "Dear Lord and Father of mankind." Both these hymns may well be made our prayers. The following beautiful hymn, most expressive of faith, hope and love, in deep humility, was written by Whittier, our consecrated Quaker poet, 1867: I bow my forehead to the dust, I veil mine eyes for shame; And urge in trembling self-distrust, A prayer without a claim. No offering of mine own I have, Nor works my faith to prove ; I can but give the gifts he gave, And plead His love for love. I dimly guess, from blessings known, Or greater out of sight; And, with the chastened Psalmist, own His judgments too are right. And if my heart and flesh are weak, To bear an untried pain, The bruised reed He will not break, But strengthen and sustain. 126 The Evolution of Our I know not what the future hath, Of marvel or surprise; Assured alone that life or death, His mercy underlies. And so beside the silent sea, I wait the muffled oar; No harm from Him can come to me, On ocean or on shore. I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care. And Thou, O Lord, by whom are seen Thy creatures as they be, Forgive me if too close I lean My human heart on Thee. Bishop W. W. How, 1867, gave the church this lovely hymn of three double verses, now in every worthy collection. The Episcopalians prize it so highly they give it three pages and three tunes in their hymnal, the first and best of which is St. Edith. I quote only the first verse: O Jesus, Thou art standing, Outside the fast-closed door. In lowly patience waiting, To pass the threshold o'er; Shame on us, Christian brothers, His name and sign who bear ! O shame, thrice shame upon us, To keep Him standing there! Bishop Arthur Cleveland Cox, in 1840, gave his Church and country the stirring hymn, grand, when sung to Haydn's Austria: We are living, we are dwelling In a grand and awful time. In an age of ages telling To be living is sublime. Rev. Washington Gladden's beautiful prayer-hymn: O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; cannot be spared from any of our hymnals. Christian Hymnology. 127 Bishop Phillips Brooks, out of his holy inspiration, wrote, in 1880, the perfect Christmas hymn: "O little town of Bethlehem," and for it, his friend and our friend, Lewis H. Redner, com- posed its tune. Again, I quote from Dr. Bodine's book, "Some Hymns and Hymn Writers" : One stirring American hymn merits a word of attention. It was written by Samuel Wolcott, a Congregational clergy- man, like so many others a graduate of Yale College and of Andover Theological Seminary. As he tells us, he had never put two lines together until he was fifty-five years old. He then tried a hymn, with a fairly successful result. Soon afterwards the Young Men's Christian Association of Ohio met in Cleve- land, where he was pastor of a church. He was attracted by some evergreen lettering over the pulpit, "Christ for the World and the World for Christ," His heart immediately began to burn within him and, walking the streets, journeying homewards, the verses shaped themselves. Christ for the world we sing ! The world to Christ we bring, With loving zeal; The poor, and them that mourn, The faint and over-borne, Sin-sick and sorrow-worn, Whom Christ doth heal. Christ for the world we sing ! The world to Christ we bring, With fervent prayer ! The wayward and the lost. By restless passions tossed, Redeemed at countless cost, From dark despair. Christ for the world we sing ! The world to Christ we bring. With one accord; With us the work to share. With us reproach to dare. With us the cross to bear, For Christ our Lord. 128 The Evolution of Our Christ for the world we sing ! The world to Christ we bring, With joyful song; The new-born souls^ whose days, Reclaimed from error's ways, Inspired with hope and praise, To Christ belong. American thought is expansive. It readily takes in the ideas of universal evangelization. "Christ for the World." What better motto can American Christianity lift to the skies? Rev. George Matheson, in 1882, wrote the next following hymn which has taken root deeply in the affections of every lover of good hymns. Its tune, St. Margaret, by Albert L. Peace, is a grandly fitting complement to the words, — 0 Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; 1 give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O Light that followe^t all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee ; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. 0 Joy that seekest me through pain I cannot close my heart to Thee; 1 trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be. 0 Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee; 1 lay in dust life's glory dead. And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. J. S. B. MoNSELL, 1862, wrote the tenderly cherished hymn of which I quote the first two verses : Sweet is Thy mercy. Lord, My need, and Thy desires. Before Thy mercy seat, Are all in Christ complete ; My soul, adoring, pleads Thy word. Thou hast the justice truth requires, And owns Thy mercy sweet. And I Thy mercy sweet. By permission of Rev. Benjamin B. Warfield, D.D., of Princeton Theological Seminary, I include here two of his excellent hymns: Christian Hymnology. 129 MEIRINGEN. Christian G. Neefe, 1777. 1. The Lord has come un - to His world! Nay, nay, that can - not be: The I workl is full of noisomeness, And all in - i - qui - ty; The Lord — thrice \ 1 1 ^ I 1 1 -H -H— I— Ltf- ho - ly is His name — He can - not touch this thing mm ^ — ■ of shame. 2 The Lord has come into His world! "Ah, then, He comes in might, The sword of fury in His hands, With vengeance all bedigiit! O wietclied world! thine end draws near. Prepare to meet tliy God, in fear!" 3 The Lord has come into His world! "What! in that baby sweet? That broken man, acquaint witli grief ? Those bleeding hands and feet? He is the Lord of all the eartli, How can He stoop to human birth?'' 4 The Lord has come into His world! "A slaughtered Lamb I see, A smoking altar, on which burns A sacrifice for me! He comes— He comes— O blessed day! — He comes to take my sin awav!" By permission of Rev. Benjamin B. Warfield, D.D. I30 The Evolution of Our THE LOVE OF GOD Rev. Benjamin B. Warfield, D.D. Moderato. ALMIGHTY^ Eev. B. F. ALLEMAN, D.D. -1^ pi 1 1_ 0 the love of God Al - might - y, j^- -0t- -m- -(=2. 0 His cease - less love ! -^ — — ^- \ V Pierc - ing thro' the depths be - neath Through the heights a - bove ; Wid - er than the bound-less spac — |g— |g S S [a ^fe Where the stars do dwell; :±: Kind - ling heav - en with its bright - ness, Reach - ing down to hell ; ^ b**- ^ 1 Kind ling heav - en with its bright - - ' ^ ' ness, Reach - ing down to hell. Besides the goodly multitude already mentioned, every one of the following may be regarded as indispensable, whether for the church, the Sunday School, the prayer meeting or the family : ''Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nations," Crusaders' hymn ; Old German Melody. 'Tight the good fight with all thy might," J. S. B. MoN- SELL. Tune by Wm. Boyd. 'Tor all the saints, who from their labors rest," Bishop How. Tune by Barnby. Christian Hymnology. 131 ''God be with you 'till we meet again," Jeremiah E. Rankin. Tune by W. G. Tomer. 'T have a Saviour, He's pleading in glory," Samuel O. M. Cluft. Tune by Ira D. Sankey. "1 lift my heart to Thee," Charles E. Mudie. Tune by Thos. M. Mudie. 'Tt may not be on the mountain's heights," Mary Brown. Tune by Carrie E. Rounsefell. 'Tn the fields with their flocks abiding," F. W. Farrar. Tune by J. Farmer. "Jesus, I am resting, resting," Jean S. Piggott. Tune by Rev. J. Mountain. "Like a river glorious," Frances R. Havergal. Tune by Rev. J. Mountain. "My days w^ith sunshine shall be fraught," Mrs. F. A. Breck. Tune by G. C. Tullar. "Saviour, breathe an evening blessing," James Edmeston. Tune by Geo. C. Stebbins. "Sing them over again to me," Philip P. Bliss. Tune by same. "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," Rev. Geo. Duffield. Tune by Geo. J. Webb. "Sweetly the holy hymn," Rev. C. H. Spurgeon. Tune by Jos. E. Sweetser. "Weary of earth, and laden with my sin," Samuel J. Stone. Tune by James Langran. "We would see Jesus," E. Ellis. Tune, Visio Domini, Dykes. "Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole," Jas. Nichol- son. Tune bv W. G. Fischer. "Sweet hour of prayer," W. W. Walford. Tune, Wal- ford. "Must Jesus bear the Cross alone?" Thos. Shepherd. Tune, Cross and Crown, by G. N. Allen. "Jesus, I my Cross have taken," H. F. Lyte, 1824. Tune, CruciHx, by H. Smart. 132 The Evolution of Our ''Saviour, when in dust to Thee/' Sir Robert Grant, 1815. Tune, Blumenthal. " Tis midnight, and on OHve's brow," W. B. Tappan, 1822. Tune, Olive's Brow, by Bradbury. Tunes other than those indicated for the above twenty- four hymns will be found in various books. I have mentioned those I consider best. It is because of the limitations imposed by my chief sub- ject, our old and new hymns, that I have not given merited attention to the composers of their musical settings, to whom we are under everlasting obligations. But for them, it is prob- able that many of our cherished hymns would have gotten away from us. Certain of them have so endeared themselves to us as to entitle them to memorial tablets in our churches, along with the names of consecrated poets and preachers. . No disparagement of any is implied if I name as examples : Mendelssohn, Gounod, Brahms, Zeuner, Horsley, Spohr, Haydn, Warren, Dykes, Barnby, Sullivan, Danks, Mason, Monk, Root, Perkins, Reinecke, Batchellor, Matthews, ^^^illis, Stainer, Smart, Maker, Doane, Bradbury, Elvey, Sankey, Hast- ings, Gilbert, Woodbury, Ritter, Bliss, Lowe, BuUinger, Gaunt- lett, Fischer, Lowry, Geibel, Hopkins, Gilmour, Gabriel, Sher- win, Towner, Holbrook, Calkin, Thompson, Allen, Holden, Main, Converse and McGranahan. I have spoken of many hymns as connected inseparably with their own wedded tune, cases in which it has seemed to me that hymn and tune, spiritually united, have claimed and cap- tured our enduring love. Of all such I say let them stand as life companions. Whenever the fitness and happiness of such a union is assured we are bound to say, ''What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.'' God has taken nearly all of these good men and women hymnists from earth, to join theirs with the ever-singing angel voices round the throne of light; yet He has not left us com- Christian Hyaixology. 133 fortless. After Dr. Watts and the Wesleys were translated, God sent His Spirit to others. The mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha. In these latter days of grace and knowledge, ever increasing in fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy, others have been raised up to admonish sinners and comfort saints with poetic melodies sweet as ear ever heard, hymns that go to our hearts, and then go out to help and gladden others. I will mention but a few as examples, and if I quote only a single verse of each hymn, the rest will spring up in our minds, and their own tunes with them. In the selections I have named but a few among the many that we may call our choice. There are hundreds more, written by these authors and other hundreds by unnamed hymners, of which many may say, "They are just as good" and worthy of long life. Altogether, they may be regarded as a treasury abundant for all twentieth century requirements, but they have alw^ays been coming, and they will always come. ''The harvest is the end of the zvorld/' Matthew 13 : 39. I quote here a fine new one appearing in the 1911 Presby- terian Hymnal: THE HYMN TO JOY. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee Thou art giving and forgiving, God of glory, Lord of love; Ever blessing, ever blest, Hearts unfold like flowers before Well-spring of the joy of living, Thee, Ocean-depth of happy rest! Opening to the sun above. Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, Melt the clouds of sin and sadness. All who live in love are Thine; Drive the dark of sin away; Teach us how to love each other, Giver of immortal gladness, Lift us to the Joy Divine. Fill us with the light of day. All Thy works with joy surround Mortals, join the mighty chorus Thee, Which the morning stars began; Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays Father-love is reigning o'er us, Stars and angels sing around Thee, Brother-love binds man to man. Centre of unbroken praise. Ever singing, march we onward, Field and forest, vale and mountain, Victors in the midst of strife, Flowery meadow, flashing sea, Joyful music leads us sunward, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, In the triumph song of life. Call us to rejoice in Thee. Rev. Henry Van Dyke, 1907. Tune, arr. from Beethoven. Chapter X. HYMNS OF PATRIOTISM. Of our so-called national hymns, the best known and most popular is "My country, 'tis of thee,'' written by Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, D.D., a Baptist minister, 1832. Its only tune, America, as we have named it, we have inherited from the eighteenth century. Dr. Henry V an Dyke has written two additional verses, so that, as thus enlarged, it reads : My country, 'tis of thee Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died Land of the Pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side. Let freedom ring. Thy silver Eastern strands, Thy Golden Gate that stands, Fronting the West; Thy flowery Southland fair. Thy sweet and crystal air,— O land beyond compare, Thee I love best. My native country thee. Land of the noble, free. Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills ; My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees, Sweet freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong. I love thine inland seas, Thy groves of giant trees, Thy rolling plains; Thy rivers' mighty sweep. Thy mystic canyons deep. Thy mountains wild and steep. All thy domains. Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty. To Thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King. This hymn was first sung at a children's Fourth of July celebration in Boston, and in their primary classes it was called into frequent service, the New England idea being that Patriot- ism is next to Godliness. (134) Christian Hymnology. 135 The Boston Courier, of September, 1885, printed these anonymous verses bearing on this phase of the subject: Again each morning as we pass The city's streets along, We hear the voices of the class Ring out the nation's song. Their little hearts aglow with pride, Each with exultant tongue Proclaims, 'Trom every mountain- side Let Freedom's song be sung." The small boys' treble piping clear. The bigger boys' low growl, And from the boy who has no ear A weird, discordant howl. Let him who'd criticise the time, Or scout the harmony, Betake him to some other clime — No patriot is he ! With swelling hearts we hear them From scenes like these our grandeur smg 'My country, 'tis of thee" sprmgs. And we shall e'er be strong, From childish throats the anthem While o'er the land the schoolhouse ring, "Sweet land of liberty!" rmgs Each day with Freedom's song. Next in order of our own national hvmns of same metre, and usually sung to tune America, is in two verses, trans- lated from an old author : God bless our native land ! Firm may she ever stand. Thro' storm and night: When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind and wave, Do Thou our country save By Thy great might. For her our prayers shall rise To God above the skies; On Him we wait: Thou who art ever nigh. Guarding with watchful eye, To Thee aloud we cry, God save the State. The authorship of these verses is attributed to Rev. Charles T. Brooks and Rev. John L. Dwight. In the time of general anxiety and depression caused by our country's war with Spain, in 1898, it came upon me to write an addenda of two verses to this hymn. The thought occurred to me that in none of our national hymns has the world's Saviour been even named, and that it ought to be, at least when 136 The Evolution of Our these hymns are employed in our church services. Hence the following were written : God give our President, Congress and Cabinet Light from above, To do Thy holy will, Thy counsel to fulfil; Oh make all hearts to thrill With heavenly love. Come, Jesus, Prince of Peace, Reign now and never cease Us to defend. Let all men everywhere. Our glorious freedom share. Grant, Father, this our prayer World without end. Amen. OUR FREE AND HAPPY LAND. God of nations. King of kings, Head of all created things, Pleading at Thy throne we stand ; Save Thy people, bless our land. On our fields of grass and grain Drop, O Lord, the kindly rain; O'er our wide and goodly land Crown the labors of each hand. Let Thy kind protection be O'er our commerce on the sea; Open, Lord, Thy bounteous hand, Bless Thy people, bless our land. Let our rulers ever be Men that love and honor Thee; Let the powers by Thee ordained Be in righteousness maintained. In the people's hearts increase Love of piety and peace; Thus united we shall stand One wide, free, and happy land. Rev. Henry Harbaugh. In the same troublous days, the following hymn, ''Heavenly Father, God of Nations," was written with the purpose of sing- ing it in our Sunday School to tune Austria. It was also used at a banquet of the Presbyterian Social Union and by many Sunday Schools throughout the country. In 1903 William G. Fischer composed for it the tune Invocation, for the book — "Our Hymns," compiled by Rev. Dr. Russell H. Conwell, Dr. David D. Wood and others. Christian Hymnology. 137 Heayenly Fiither, God of Nations. invocation. Francis B. Reeves. =1: — » Wm. G. Fischer. ! Fn, I r - - — ^'-1 I 1. Heav-'nly Fa-ther,God of na - tions, Thou hast bless'd our na - tive land, 2. Fa- ther, haste the day of prom - ise, When, in all the world a - round 3. Light the torch of truth and free-dom O'er the na - tions near and far; 1 I ' • — «- — -J — i — * tt-^k^ — i — m ^-k0 (Z— f — I —I 4« 1 1 - -I 4^- 1=t -r-H r J ^ 1 '# 1- « 1 #- # # #- -0 — ^0 -# 1 — -# — # — 1 # — « f i Show'ring fa vors with - out meas-ure From Thy ev - er gra-cious hand. Wars shall cease; ye an - gels hear-ken! Hear the gos - pel trura- pet sound ! Bid the world's be-la - ted rul - ers Now pre - pare for Zi - on's war. Oft be -side the Wake the ech - o, Glo - ry be to qui - et wa-ters Thou hast led us; still lead on; Christian na-tionsi "Peace on earth," your watchword be, God the Fa- ther, With the Spir - it and the Son ; -# — ^ — I till u I I ! Shield when dark'ning tempests threaten, Guard ui 'till the storm has gone. 'Till Love's banner, all vie - to- rious. Floats o'er ev- 'ry land and sea. Bless - ing, hon - or, glo - ry, pow - er. To our God great Three in One. e Copyright, 1901, by "Wm. G. Fischer. 138 The Evolution of Our THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. While we can hardly consider this song suitable for Church services, it is worthy of mention as one of our National songs. Its authorship is uncertain. Its tune is the composition of Fran- cis Scott Key. Of its four stanzas, the last is the only one containing a religious sentiment. This last verse is as follows : Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation; Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land. Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation ; Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto ; "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. GOD'S ETERNAL GUIDANCE. O God, beneath Thy guiding hand Our exiled fathers crossed the sea; And when they trod the wintry strand, With prayer and psalm they wor- shipped Thee. Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God Came with those exiles o'er the waves ; And, where their pilgrim feet have trod. The God they trusted guards their graves. Thou heard'st, well pleased, the song, the prayer : Thy blessing came; and still its power Shall onward, through all ages, bear The memory of that holy hour. And here Thy name, O God of love, Their children's children shall adore. Till these eternal hills remove, And spring adorns the earth no more. Rev. Leonard Bacon, 1833 GREAT KING OF NATIONS, HEAR OUR PRAYER Great King of nations, hear 01 prayer. While at Thy feet we fall. And humbly, with united cry. To Thee for mercy call. The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine, O turn us not away; But hear us from Thy lofty throne, And help us when we pray. Christian Hymnology. 139 Our fathers' sins were manifold, And ours no less we own, Yet wondrously from age to age Thy goodness hath been shown. When dangers, like a stormy sea. Beset our country round, To Thee we looked, to Thee we cried, And help in Thee was found. With one consent we meekly bow Beneath Thy chastening hand, And, pouring forth confession meet, Mourn with our mourning land. With pitying eye behold our need, As thus we lift our prayer; Correct us with Thy judgments. Lord, Then let Thy mercy spare. Rev. John H. Gurney, 1838. PRAISE TO GOD FOR PEACE. Lord God, we worship Thee ! Lord God, we worship Thee ! In loud and happy chorus For Thou our land defendest; We praise Thy love and power, Thou pourest down Thy grace. Whose goodness reigneth o'er us, And strife and war Thou endest. To heav'n our song shall soar. Since golden peace, O Lord, Forever shall it be Thou grantest us to see, Resounding o'er and o'er, Our land with one accord. Lord God, we worship Thee ! Lord God, gives thanks to Thee ! Lord God, we worship Thee ! Thou didst indeed chastise us. Yet still Thy anger spares. And still Thy mercy tries us ; Once more our Father's hand Doth bid our sorrows flee. And peace rejoice our land; Lord God, we worship Thee ! Tune^ Nun Danket. J. Franck: Translated by Catherine Winkzaorth. O God of love, O King of peace. Make wars throughout the world to cease; The wrath of sinful man restrain ; Give peace, O God, give peace aeain. PRAYER FOR PEACE. Whom shall we trust but Thee, O Lord, Where rest but on Thy faithful word ; None ever called on Thee in vain; Give peace, O God, give peace again. Remember, Lord, Thy works of old. The wonders that our fathers told; Remember not our sin's dark stain; Give peace, O God, give peace again. Where saints and angels dwell above All hearts are knit in holy love; O bind us in that heavenly chain; Give peace, O God, give peace again. Rev. Sir Henry W. Baker, 1861. The Evolution of Our BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord ; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword, His truth is marching on ! I have seen him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps ; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps ; I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on ! I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal ;" Let the hero born of woman crush the serpent with his heel, — Since God is marching on ! He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him, be jubilant my feet ! Our God is marching on ! In the beauties of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me; As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on ! Julia Ward Hozce. PRAYER FOR HELP IN WAR. O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King, Behold the sacrifice we bring; To every arm Thy strength impart; Thy Spirit shed through every heart. Wake in our breasts the living fires; The holy faith that warmed our sires : Thy hand hath made our nation free ; To die for her is serving Thee. Be Thou a pillared flame to show The midnight snare, the silent foe; And when the battle thunders loud, Still guide us in its moving cloud. God of all nations, Sovereign Lord, In Thy dread name we draw the sword, We lift the starry flag on high. That fills with light our stormy sky. From treason's rent, from murder's stain, Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign, Till fort and field, till shore and sea, Join our loud anthem, — Praise to Thee. Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1861. Christian Hymnology. GOD THE ALL-MERCIFUL. God the all-merciful ! earth hath forsaken Thy ways of blessedness, slighted Thy word; Bid not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken; Give to us peace in our time, O Lord. God the all-righteous One ! man hath defied Thee ; Yet to eternity standeth Thy word; Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee; Give to us peace in our time, O Lord. God the all-wise ! by the fire of Thy chast'ning Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored; Through the thick darkness Thy Kingdom is hastening; Thou wilt give peace in Thy time, O Lord. So will Thy people with thankful devotion, Praise Him who saved them from peril and sword. Shouting in chorus from ocean to ocean, Peace to the nations, and praise to the Lord. H. F. Chorley, 1842. NATIONAL HYMN. God of our fathers, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies. Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise. Thy love Divine hath led us in the past; In this free land by Thee our lot is cast; Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay; Thy word our law. Thy paths our chosen way. From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence. Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defence; Thy true rehgion in our hearts increase. Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way. Lead us from night to never-ending day; Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine. Rev. Daniel C. Roberts, 1876. Time, National Hymn, George William Warren, 1892. 142 The Evolution of Our PRAYER FOR DEFENXE. From hands that would our land deflower. From selfish greed and grasping power. From wilful waste of freedom's dower, From pleasure's flooding wave ; From all unrest by envy bred, From all assaults by passion led, From anarchy with banners red. Good Lord, defend and save. Let power and justice side by side Bring civil peace and civic pride; Still miay the ancient order bide Of law and liberty. Keep firm the bond of brotherhood. Keep green the memory of the good, Defend the ramparts, where they stood. With, men who trust in Thee. Rez\ Louis F. Benson. 1910. IXTERXATIOXAL HYMX. Two empires by the sea. Two nations great and free, One anthem raise. One race of ancient fame. One tongue, one faith we claim. One God whose glorious name W'e love and praise. Vrhat deeds our fathers wrought, \Miat battles we have fought, Let fame record. X'ow. vengeful passion, cease. Come victories of peace ; X'or hate, nor pride's caprice L'nsheathe the sword. X'ow, may our God above Guard the dear lands we love; Or East or West; Let love more fervent glow As peaceful ages go. And strength yet stronger grow, Blessing and blest. Prof. George Huntington. GOD OF OUR FATHERS. God of our fathers, known of old — Lord of our far-flung battle line — Beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine — Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet. Lest we forget — lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies — The captains and the kings depart, Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice. An humble and contrite heart Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget — lest we forget! Christian Hymnology. 143 Far-called, our navies melt away — On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all our pomp of yesterday- Is one with Nineveh and Tyre ! Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, Lest we forget — lest we forget ! If, drunk with sight of power, we loose Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe, Such boasting as the Gentiles use, Or lesser breeds without the law — Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet. Lest we forget — lest we forget ! For heathen hearts that put their trust In reeking tube and iron shard — All valiant dust that builds on dust. And guarding calls not Thee to guard — For frantic boast and foolish word, Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord ! Amen. Rudyard Kipling. Chapter XL HYMNS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. No less evidential of the upward trend of our hymnology is the great change characterizing ihe hymns for Sunday Schools, which, a century ago, were regarded as schools for poor little children only, no one imagining then that the Sunday School would ever embrace, as now, a large percentage of adult scholars. In ''The Maryland Sunday School Singing Book," pub- lished 1812, are the following: SABBATH SCHOOL HYMN. ■| ' 1. Where do cliil- dren love to go; When the win - t'ry tem-pests blow, 2. Where do chil- dren love to be, When the sum - mer birds we see, 8. When the Sab- bath morn- ing breaks, Ev - 'ry eye from slum- ber wakes, Boys. ^ i What is it at - tracts them so ? Warb - ling praise on ev - 'ry tree? What so hap - py, chil - dren makes ? 'Tis the Sab - bath School. In the Sab - bath School. 'Tis the Sab - bath School. 9 4 Where do pious teachers stay, From their peaceful homes away, On ths precious Sabbath day ? In the Sabbath School. 5 Where are we so kindly taught, God should rule in every thought. What the blood of Christ has bought ? In the Sabbath School. 6 May we ever love this day, May we learn Salvation's way; Love to read, and sing, and pray, In the Sabbath School. From "Maryland Sunday School Singing Book." (144) Christian Hymnology. 145 SINGING SCHOOL. — — • « — *r-*— ^— 1. O what a love - ly thing It is to learn to sing; 2. My heart doth here as - pire With ar - dent, warm de - sire, 3. My soul with- in doth burn, While I true vir - tue learn, And chant our Sav - iour's praise; Our sweet en - joy - ment here, To be like saints a - hove; Where ev - 'ry heart and voice, And ten - der feel - ings gain; Then what a love - ly tiling, Makes ev - 'ry mo - ment dear. While learn - ing these sweet lays. In sweet -est songs re - joice, And praise a Sav - iour's love. It is to learn to sing, Where love and friendship reign. EVENING BOAT. i -« . -^ 1. By the moon so])right-]y shin - ing O'er tlie calm un-ruf-fled tide: 2. While our lit - tie t)oat a rang - er, Through the mead-ows glides a- long, 3. Vain is all that gold can of - fer,Vain the seep - tre and the crown; — , ^- si — On its l)os - om soft re-clin-iug, Gent - ly up and down we ride. Free from fear and free from dang -er, Sing we now our lit - tie soug. False the hap - pi - ness they prof - fer. Fleet- ing all the joys they own. Lit - tie boat thou mov - est on - vs^ard With - out sail and with - out mast, 0-cean's grandeur, o - cean's treas- ure, O - cean's beau - ty charm us not With our hum-ble lot con-tent - ed. This is all the boon vre crave: iiil Lit - tie stream that flow - est down-ward, Bear - ing us up - on thy breast. We are tast - ing sweet - er plea - sure, Float - ing on this lit - tie spot. When life's voy - age shall be end - ed, Peace - ful rest be-yond the grave. From "Maryland Sunday School Siuginaj Book." 146 The Evolution of Our AWAY TO SCHOOL, i 1. Our youth -ful hearts for learn - ins; burn, A - way, a -"way, to school; 2. Be - hold ! a hap - py band ap - pears, A - way, a - way, to school ; 3. No more we walk, no more we play. A - way, a - way, to school; To sci - ence now our steps we tuin, A -way, a - way, to school: The shout of joy now fills our ears, A -way, a - way, I0 school: In stu - dy now we spend the day, A - way, a - way, to school: «_ It 1 — ^_ C5 Fare - well toliome, and all itscharms, We break from love's pa - ter - nal arms, The voic - es rinji, the hands they wave. Each lieavt rebounds with vio; - on r brave, U - nit - ed in a ]>eace ful band. We're join'd in heart and join'd in hand. A - way to school, a - way fr) school. A - way. a -way to schooL From "Marvlano Sunc^ii^ School Singing Book." THE GERMAN AVATCHMAN'S SONG. (Amongst the watchmen in Germany, a singular custom prevails, of chanting devotional hymns, as well as songs of a national or amusing character, during the night. Of the for- mer description of pieces, the following is a specimen, the several stanzas being chanted as the hours of the night are suc- cessively announced. ) Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell. Ten now strikes on the belfry bell ! Ten are the holy commandments giv'n To man below from God in Heav'n. Chorus. Human watch from harm can't ward us, God will watch and God will guard us; He through His eternal might, Grant us all a blessed night. Christian Hymnology. 147 Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell. Eleven now sounds on the belfry bell! Eleven apostles of holy mind, Taught the Gospel to mankind. Human watch, etc. Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell Twelve resounds from the belfry bell ! Twelve disciples to Jesus came. Who suffer'd for their Saviour's name. Human watch, etc. Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell. One has pealed on the belfry bell ! One God above, one Lord indeed, Who bears us forth in hour of need. Human watch, etc. Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell. Two resounds from the belfry bell ! Two paths before mankind are free, Neighbor choose the best for thee. Human watch, etc. Hark ! ye neighbors, and hear me tell, Three now sounds on the belfry bell ! Threefold reigns the heavenly Host, Father, Son and Holy Ghost ! Human watch, etc. The three hymns next quoted are from John Dobell's book, 1806, all headed: SUNDAY SCHOOL. First. Congregation. Great God, accept our songs of praise, Which we would to Thy honor raise; Bless our attempts to spread abroad The knowledge of our Saviour God. Children. Next to our God, our thanks are due To those who did compassion shew; In kindly pointing out the road, That leads to Christ, the way to God. Congregation. We claim no merit of our own ; Great God, the work was Thine alone ! Thou didst at first our hearts incline, To carry on this great design. Children. Now we are taught to read and pray. To hear God's word, to keep His day; Lord, here accept the thanks we bring Our infant tongues Thy praise would singr. Congregation. With these dear children, we'll unite; Their songs inspire us with delight; Lord, while on earth we sing Thy love, May angels join the notes above. Children. Great God, our benefactors bless. 148 The Evolution of Our Congregation. And crown Thy work with great suc- BOTH. O may we meet around Thy throne, To sing Thy praise in strains un- known. Second. Congregation. O what a pleasure 'tis to see Christians in harmony agree, To teach the rising race to know They're born in sin, expos'd to woe ! Children. O what a privilege is this, That we obtain so rich a grace ! We're taught the path to endless day — We're taught to read, to sing, and pray. Chorus. To God let highest praise be giv'n; Hark ! how the echo sounds from heav'n. Come, let us with the angels join. Glory to God, good will to men. Congregation. Lord, Thou hast said, in sacred page. That children are Thy heritage; Accept them, bless them with Thy grace, 'Till they above behold Thy face. Children. Let blessings in abundance flow On all around us here below; May we our benefactors meet, Around Jehovah's blissful seat. Third. Boys. Once more we keep the sacred day, That saw the Saviour rise; Once more we tune our infant song To Him that rules the skies. Girls. Our foolish hearts are prone to err; Too oft we find it so; O may the God of grace forgive, And better hearts bestow. Girls. What numbers vainly spend these hours. That are to Jesus due ; Children and parents, how they live ! And how they perish too ! Boys. But we, a happier few, are taught The ways of heavn'ly truth ! We hail once more the plan of love That pities wand'ring youth. Boys. Teach us the way, while here we learn To read Thy Holy Word; Bless all the kind instructions giv'n, And make us Thine, O Lord. Both. God, and Praise to our those. Who thus the poor befriend; While the rich benefit we reap. On them Thy blessing send. thanks to Christian Hymnology. 149 In all these songs prayer is offered for, and thanks are sung to their teachers, who are termed ''Benefactors." In 'The Christian Lyre" is this, entitled "Funeral Hymn for a Sunday Scholar, to be sung by the Children." The tune set to it called Coleshill, is on page 78. Down to the tomb our brother goes, In its cold arms to rest; As, smit by sudden storms, the rose Sinks on the garden's breast. No more with us his tuneful voice The hymn of praise shall swell ; No more his gentle heart rejoice To hear the Sabbath bell. But if, in yon celestial sphere, Amid the glorious throng, He warbles to his Maker's ear, The everlasting song — No more we'll mourn our buried friend ; But lift the ardent prayer, And every thought and effort bend, To rise and join him there. In a little book published by the American Sunday School Union, 1821, called "The New Sunday School Hymn Book," and another in 1826, 218 hymns in the first, and 365 in the second, are many solemn hymns, some written to voice the most serious religious sentiments of good boys and dutiful girls, and others admonitory of bad ones. We see in many of them the ruling thought that children must ever keep in mind that the slippery paths of youth lead only to the grave and the dread beyond ; not so much a cheerful, devoted Christian life, as death and the judgment in view. Following are a few sample verses from these songs for children, quoted as further illustration of practical, spiritual enlightenment, since the days when these books were regarded as standards : On "Judgment' How dreadful, Lord, will be the day. When all the tribes of dead shall rise ; And those who dared to disobey Shall stand before Thy piercing eyes. The wicked child, who often heard, His pious teachers speak of Thee; And fled from every serious word. Shall not be able then to flee. The Evolution of Our On same subject is this verse of another: V\^here shall a guilty child retire? Forgotten and unknown? In hell I meet the dreadful fire; In Heaven the glorious throne. This is a verse of one entitled 'Trayer" : We see, tho' you perceive it not, The approaching awful doom ! O tremble at the solemn thought, And flee the wrath to come. I quote a verse ''On the Death of a Teacher" : Unthinking mortals, ye must die; Behold the King of dread; Prepared to let his arrows fly Which ranks you with the dead ! Another on the same topic : Only this frail and fleeting breath, Preserves me from the jaws of death; Soon as it fails, at once I'm gone. And plunged into a world unknown. Then leaving all I loved below, To God's tribunal I must go; Must hear the judge pronounce my fate And fix my everlasting state. But could I bear to hear Him say, "Depart, ye cursed, far away; With Satan in the lowest hell. Thou art forever doomed to dwell?" Another : And am I born to die? To lay this body down; And must my trembling spirit fly. Into a world unknown? I must from God be driven Or with my Saviour dwell; Must come at his command to heaven, Or else — depart to hell. Christian Hymnology. Anon. AYLESBURY. S. M ^ ;^ :t=t And am I born to die? To lay this bod y down; And must my trembling spir-it fly, lu - to a world un-known Title, ^Tarting'': Farewell, ye blooming sons of God, Sore conflicts yet await for you; Yet dauntless keep the heavenly road, Till Canaan's happy land you view. Farewell, farewell, farewell. Title, "Self -Examination'' : Without such fruit as God expects, Knowledge will make our state the worse; The fruitless sinners He rejects. And soon will blast them with His curse. These are enough of their kind. Others are unique in the expression of the children's love for the Sunday School; love declared to far surpass their love for home or for play. I quote a few on this and other topics of interest, which only good, truthful children could honestly sing : I love to have the Sabbath come For then I rise and quit my home. And haste to school with cheerful air To meet my dearest teachers there. The clock has struck, I cannot stay, O let me rise and haste away; I'll quit my bed and leave my home; The hour of school at length has come. The Evolution of Our I love to join the joyful play, To sp©rt beside the shady pool, To watch my kite soar far away. But more I love the Sunday School. A PRAYER FOR OUR MINISTER. Bless our good minister we pray Who loves to see a child attend; And let us honor and obey, The words of such a holy friend. So when our lives are finished here, And days and Sabbaths be no more. May we along with him appear. To serve and love Thee evermore. ON BEHAVIOUR AT CHURCH. In God's own house for me to play When angels bow before the Lord, W^here Christians meet to sing and And devils tremble at His word, pray, Shall I, a feeble mortal dare Is to profane His holy place, To mock and sport and trifle there? And tempt the Almighty to His face. Another bears the title ''Dismission of an Incorrigible Scholar" How painful 'tis to turn away, A scholar from his place; May you be careful every day For fear of such disgrace. As in our time, so, then, some scholars were in the habit of coming late. Here are two verses on "Punctuahty'' : I would be there when prayer be- O, shall my teachers wait in vain? gins, While my neglect must give them To seek the pardon for my sins; pain; I'd ask the favor of the Lord No, let me rather strive to be, And pray to understand His word. The first that in the class they see. The following titles of others in these books give further indication of the solemnity of the Children's Songs early in the nineteenth century: "Beset with snares." "Time is winging us away." "Death of a Christian." Christian Hymnology. 153 "The fading lily." "The Har's portion." "Heaven and hell." "Self-examination." "Against swearing." "Importance of religion," "Wicked children." Fifty-two of the hymns in the 1821 book are set to seven tunes ; ten each to Coronation, MedHeld and Winter. First Hnes of others, selected ninety years ago by the A. A. S. Union for Children's Songs, are : "Before Jehovah's awful throne." "Plunged in a gulf of dark despair." "God moves in a mysterious way." "A dread and solemn hour." "Come, humble sinner, in whose breast." Where is there a twentieth century Sunday School book that contains a single one of these twenty-five hymns? Our schools and our prayer meetings, happily, are now singing praise and prayer-hymns Hke the following : ''Crown Him with many crowns," by Matthew^ Bridges. "Abide with Me," by H. F. Lyte. "Nearer, my God, to Thee," by Sarah F. Adams. "Onward, Christian Soldiers," by T. Baring Gould. "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling," by Will H. Thompson. "When peace like a river attendeth my way," by H. G. Spafford. "The Master is come, and calleth for thee," by Fanny Crosby. "Do you see the Saviour standing?" by Mrs. C. H. Morris. 154 The Evolution of Our ''I am thinking today of that beautiful land/' by E. E. Hewitt. ''Brightly beams our Father's mercy," by P. P. Bliss. ''Wonderful words of life," by P. P. Bliss. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine," by Fanny Crosby. "Almost persuaded," by P. P. Bliss. "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," by Elizabeth C. Cle-^ PHANE. "Forward be our watchword," by FIenry Alford. "Brightly gleams our banner," by Rev. T. J. Potter. "Fling out the banner, let it float," by Geo. W. Doane. "Golden harps are sounding," by Frances R. Havergal. "I think when I read that sweet story of old," Anon. "Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear," by John Keble. "Jesus, tender Saviour, hear me," Anon. "Tell me the Old, Old Story," by Katharine Hankey. "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult," by Cecil F. Alexander. "O Jesus, Thou art standing," by W. W. How. "What a Friend we have in Jesus," by C. C. Converse. "O what can little hands do." "Purer yet and purer, I would be in mind," by J. W. Von Goethe. "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning." "Welcome, happy morning, age to age shall say," by For- TUNATUS. "The King of Love, my Shepherd is," by Rev. Henry W. Baker. "O love that will not let me go," by George Matheson. "Come to the Saviour now. He gently calleth thee," a most admirable hymn by John M. Wigner, inseparable from F. C. Maker's tune. Invitation, and hundreds more of standard, inspiring lyrics, equally adaptable to teachers and scholars, whether young or old ; all these are now found in our best hymn- books. The advance in quality and fitness of our Sunday School Songs indicates more a revolution than an evolution. Chapter XII. COMMENTS ON DOGGEREL RHYMES. ''We learn by contrasts to enjoy the beauties that surround us." We have learned by contrasts to enjoy our chosen, loved hymns and their tunes, hymns that we cherish because of their concurrence with our Christian convictions and the comfort they give us when our hearts are weary and downcast. There is a contrast yet to be mentioned. It w^ould be unfair to the memory of the ancients to convey the impression that, of our perennial supplies of new hymns and tunes all are worthy a place in our service of song. I am not a pioneer among critics of shallow, so-called revival hymns, intruders into association with our consecrated hymns and tunes, old and new, of the kind that will never wear out. I refer to the class described by Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler as "Hymns that are no hymns"; and by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, as ''Worthless, heartless trash," the modern matches for those designated by Wesley as "doggerel and botches," some of the tunes accompanying which were described by Rev. Dr. Wa^dand Hoyt as "Trippling-diddle tunes." To particularize many here might hurt some worthy writer, yet a proper elucidation makes it necessary that at least one or two should be cited as examples, and I would suggest first, one entitled "The Old Time Religion," which is included in a book lately issued. Two of its verses follow : It was good for our mothers, 'Tis the old-time religion, It was good for our mothers, 'Tis the old-time religion, It was good for our mothers, 'Tis the old-time religion, And it's good enough for me. And it's good enough for me. A congregation of Jews or Mohammedans could sing these verses as heartily as we; but it is doubtful if even they would ever indulge in such doggerel. The title of another — "Take Time to be Holy" — conveys no (155) 156 The Evolution of Our pleasant thought to me, for holiness cannot be acquired in haste, nor yet by appointing a day or hour for it. It is a work of God's grace, just as sanctification is defined in the Shorter Cate- chism — ''A work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and to live unto righteousness." Excepting this first line, 'Take Time to be Holy/' which is repeated with every verse, the hymn is excellent, as is its tune, by Stebbins. 'Tull for the shore, brother," may be mentioned as one of a kind that may well be dropped. Another one that may be regarded as dispensable, pub- lished 1902, is entitled, ''Somebody Must." Its first verse and chorus follow: Someone must struggle that others may win; Someone the world's better day must bring in ; Someone the work that is hardest must do — , Somebody must, brother! Shall it be you? Chorus. Somebody must ! Somebody must ! Do then your duty, in God be your trust; Somebody must ! Somebody must ! Live like a hero, for somebody must ! It must be said for the book containing this hymn that it abounds richly in our best standard hymns and tunes, but of its 340 hymns, a hundred might be omitted with advantage. The fact is, there are far too many hymns and tunes being ground out these days. From the aggregate of current publi- cations, hundreds ought to be dropped. Rev. Dr. John F. Carson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., moderator of The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., in the course of a great sermon preached at the open- ing of the Assembly, May 21, 191 1, said: If there is anything we need in these days, it is a new emphasis on reverence. We sing our lilting hymns and we go Christian Hymnology. 157 out of church with smiles on our faces and say what a good time we had at the service. The world sees us smile and does not know whether we have been in a church or in a theatre. Surely, our prayers and our hymns should be more earnest and reverent. Bitter tears of repentance upon our faces would be more effective than the smile that follows some hymn sung to a miserable rag-time tune. Rev. Theo. L. Cuyler said of ''Let the lower lights be burn- ing" — "it is unworthy," etc., and of another, entitled "More to follow'' — "it is wish-wash.'' He said: "We should not be dragged down to doggerel suggested by secular events or watch- words such as holding forts or steering schooners into harbor," and, he added, "A wholesome reaction is setting in from this style of rhymes to genuine, great, solid, soul-lifting hymns," and he is about right. Let us watch and pray for it. Happily, the newcomers of the kind criticised have no staying qualities. Our fine standards have so elevated musical tastes and spiritual perceptions that this class of hymns and tunes will be as the early dew under a bright, rising sun. Writing of what he terms "rag-time" songs, and quoting from an address by Governor Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, Rev. Richard S. Holmes, D.D., in "The Continent," says: In the address the governor made an illustration of our caption. He displayed courage and sense in rebuking the nonsense embodied in some of the popular Sunday school hymns, one of which, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," had just been sung by the 6,000 people whom he was addressing in the armory at Trenton. In a somewhat old-fashioned way, Governor Wilson advo- cated a more direct teaching of the Bible from the Bible, and a general use in singing in Sunday school of the old psalms. Apologizing for a course which might seem in bad taste in criticising the hymn which had just been sung, he said, "It illus- trates many present-day hymns which contain neither poetry nor sense." * * We take our place with Dr. Wilson. He is eminently right. We have never seen nor heard sung "The Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," but if the hymn is as essentially idiotic as its title, we can give ourselves gratulation. Of course the author was writing about heaven, but it is not an "isle of somewhere," or 158 The Evolution of Our nowhere, or anywhere. God's isles are scattered over the vast oceans and rivers, lakes and seas, but we have never heard that any of them were heavens. * * * Where is the didactic value, the value as a spiritual appeal, in the following lines which were sung far and wide fifty years ago? "Oh, won't you be a Christian while you're young? Oh, won't you be a Christian while you're young? Don't think it will be better To defer it until later. But remember your Creator While you're young." It is an irreverent attempt to put into jingle for Sunday school children to sing the great sentiment of Ecclesiastes 12:1; it is neither sense nor poetry, and its tune was not dignified enough to associate with some of our present-day "rag-time" songs. From ''The Continent" of December 14, 191 1, I take the following two items by contributors: MORE ABOUT THE HYMNS. I have read with some amusement both the editorial "Sense Versus Nonsense" and the comment by D. W. Fahs on the song "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." As it happens I used as a Sunday school pupil to sing the song quoted by R. S. H., and of which he had forgotten the fourth line. He also omitted the chorus. I can supply that lacking fourth line and the chorus. Here it is: "Oh, golden hereafter whose every bright rafter Shall shake with the thunder of sanctified song, And every swift angel proclaim an evangel To summon God's saints to the glorified throng." Chorus. "Oh, chorus of fire that shall burst from God's choir. When the loud Hallelujahs leap up from the soul. While the flowers on the hills and the waves in the rills Shall tremble with joy at the music's deep roll." Surely doggerel was never before dressed in such a Joseph's coat of verbiage as that. Christian Hymnology. And then about that "Isle of Somewhere." That is not scriptural if it is poetastical. The twenty-first chapter of the Revelation gives what purports to be a picture of the habitation of the blest hereafter, but it certainly is not an isle, nor on an island; for John says (R. V.), "And the sea is no more." How can heaven be a "beautiful isle of somewhere" if there is no sea? Charles D. Hillis. SOME SONGS ODD OR UNTRUE. Apropos of "Sense and Nonsense" I wish to add a word. Much was done for Sunday school music in the sixties, but there was a great deal of criticism of some of it. One of the songs for a penny collection was positively untrue : "The mites have the blessing. The millions have naught. Our faith thus expressing Our gifts we have brought. Had we followed love's prompting. It miight have been such As to forfeit the blessing By giving too much." Two teachers confessed they could not understand some of the songs, and a critic cited this stanza as an instance of mixed metaphors : "We are coming, we are coming. We are coming in our youth; We'll fill the vacant ranks, As we're battling for the truth. And stone after stone In the temple of the Lord, We will lay, while in glory They are reaping their reward." One of our present songs, "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," if sung feelingly and at a time when many are deciding for Christ, is all right; but when rattled off "lively" the chorus only needs "you bet" at the close to complete the sacrilege. "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord" is certainly in line with our vows, but I think it is one of the hymns that should be used sparingly. I myself always avoid singing "My lifted eye without a tear," etc., though it is part of a hymn we could not well spare. i6o The Evolution of Our We must have hymns for all occasions, some of which may be childish, catchy, uncultured, perhaps, but never untrue; as well as those for special occasions, when the Spirit of God is so mani- festly present that our brightest aspirations can be voiced without being incongruous or sacrilegious. A. S. L. John B. McFerrins, the great commoner of Southern Meth- odism, on his deathbed, said: "Those Httle songs about 'Sweet by and by/ and 'Shall we know each other there?' may all be very nice, but don't you let any of them be sung at my funeral/' Chapter XIII. HYMN-MENDING. Another branch of the subject that, in any fair treatment of it, cannot be passed over without comment is : Alterations of the Original Text of Hymns. To suit the whims of later compilers or publishers, and sometimes to make them coincide with the doctrinal sentiments of particular sects, and again with the view of improving the poetry or of correcting grammatical error, alterations of hymns have been going on from the day of Watts or earlier until now. We recall the remonstrance of John Wesley,, in preface to his book (1779) demanding that if any future publisher should change a word of any of the Wesley hymns the original should be printed in a footnote. It does not appear that his demand has always been complied with. Dr. Timothy Dwight, of New Haven, in preface to his book of Watts' hymns (1800) wrote that in altering such passages as were defective, either in lan- guage or sentiment, he found two objects claiming his attention — the errors of the press and those of the writer. After compli- menting Dr. Watts for his learning and piety, he said that he was not distinguished as a correct writer, and must be charged with some errors found in his psalm book. Often alterations in the text of an author have been in the line of corrections of errors, either of an author or printer, or of improvement in the poetry or the sentiment, and in such cases may be considered justifiable, provided what is left of the hymn is worthy of esteem. In other cases alterations have been unjustifiable from any standpoint. Among the many alterations by the hymn-mending pub- lishers of our standard hymnals, I cite first : "Safely through another week," by Newton, 1779, now known as ''Sabbath," to Lowell Mason's tune. It was originally (161) The Evolution of Our named "Saturday Night/' Those days, the Sabbath began at the setting of Saturday's sun, when the family gathered for prayer and singing, in preparation for the morrow. Its first verse then was : Safely through another week God has brought us on our way: Let us now a blessing seek On the approaching Sabbath day. The last verse, referring to the ensuing morrow, was origi- nally : V^hen the morn shall bid us rise May we feel Thy presence near; May Thy glory meet our eyes When we in Thy house appear. There afford us Lord a taste Of our everlasting feast. From Henry F. Lyte's grand hymn, "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide," the following two verses have been dropped by general assent : Come not in terrors, as the King of Thou on my head in early youth did kings ; smile, But kind and good, with healing in And, though rebellious and perverse Thy wings; meanwhile, Tears for all woes, a heart for every Thou hast not left me, oft as I left plea, Thee, Come, Friend of sinners, and abide On to the close, O Lord, abide with with me ! me. Many hundreds of altered hymns are found in our latter- day hymnals, but I will cite only a few notable examples, leaving it to the judgment of the reader whether or not such alterations are meritable. "Nearer, my God, to Thee.'' — This hymn, by Mrs. Sarah F.Adams, has been severely criticised as the production of a Uni- tarian. One candid Trinitarian said : "It has been objected that it contains no word of Christ, ^as if the actual use of the name Christian Hymnology. of the Saviour was to be regarded as a proof of the infallible Christian spirit of a hymn ; but to those who have Christ in their hearts it has ever been made a blessing." The compilers of "The Baptist Hymn Book'' were so ill- pleased with the omission of the name of Christ from this hymn that they secured the services of Rev. A. T. Russell to make the lyric "perfect'' by verses of his own, and this is one of his sub- stituted verses : Christ alone beareth me When Thou dost shine; Joint heir He maketh me Of the Divine. In Christ my soul shall be Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee. Another, with the same intent, changed A cross to The cross, making the third line of first verse "E'en though it be the cross that raiseth me." Another alters it to read: Though by Thy bitter cross We raised be. Another changes the fifth verse from Or if on joyful wing, Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon and stars forgot, Upward I fly, etc. making it : And when on joyful wing. Cleaving the sky, Unto the Light of Lights Upward I fly. Hundreds of good hymns have been altered without appre • ciable reason. Some have made changes in well-known hymns with succeeding editions of their own publications. As an example, I name the good old dismission hymn, "Lord, Dismiss 164 The Evolution of Our us with Thy Blessing," which is included in the hymnals of all the principal denominations. Its authorship is ascribed to two, Rev. Robert Hawker, M.D., of Plymouth, England, and John Fawcett. It appeared first in 1774. Hawker wrote it evi- dently as follows. (I copy it from Dobell's Selections of 1806) : Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing, Fill each breast with consolation; Bid us all depart in peace; Up to Thee our voices raise; Still on Gospel manna feeding, When we reach Thy blissful station, Pure, seraphic joys increase. Then we'll give Thee nobler praise. Chorus. And sing Hallelujah To God and the Lamb, Forever and ever, Hallelujah, Amen. In "Parish Psalmody," 1844, it has three verses, as follows Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing. Fill our hearts with joy and peace; Let us each Thy love possessing. Triumph in redeeming grace ; Oh refresh us, Traveling through this wilderness. Thanks we give and adoration For Thy gospel's joyful sound; May the fruits of Thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound; May Thy presence With us evermore be found. So whene'er the signal's given Us from earth to call away. Borne on angel's wings to heaven Glad the summons to obey — May we ready. Rise and reign in endless day. The Episcopal hymnal gives the first two verses same as the preceding, but changes the third verse, making it : So that when Thy love shall call us, Saviour, from the world away. Fear of death shall not appall us. Glad Thy summons to obey — May we ever Reign with Thee in endless day. Christian Hymnology. 165 The "Endeavor Hymnar' has it : Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing; Fill each heart with consolation; Bid us now depart in peace; Up to Thee our hearts we raise; Still on heavenly manna feeding, When we reach our blissful station, Let our faith and love increase. Then we'll give Thee nobler praise. The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874, prints it the same as in "Parish Psalmody," 1844, excepting the last two lines of third verse, which they render: We shall surely Reign with Christ in endless day. In this hymnal of 1895 they make further amendments. Instead of : May thy presence With us evermore be found (verse 2) they give it: Ever faithful To the truth may we be found. And they again change verse 3 to read as follows : So that when Thy love shall call us, Saviour, from the world away. Let no fear of death appall us, Glad the summons to obey: May we ever Reign with Thee in endless day. These numerous alterations appear to be immaterial. For- tunately, enough of the hymn as originally composed remains for its identification. While, as has been said, this book is no compendium of his- torical incidents in the lives of authors, yet the following story about this hymn, and its author. Dr. Hawker, is so interesting, I copy it, by consent of the publishers, Messrs. Funk & Wag- nalls, of New York, from "English Hymns,'' by Rev. Dr. Samuel W. Duffield. The author was born at Exeter in 1753. He was an only child, and was educated to be a surgeon. At nineteen he mar- The Evolution of Our ried and, being induced by his love of God's work to enter the ministry, he was ordained at Oxford in 1778. In May, 1784, he became the curate of Charles the Martyr's Church, and there continued to officiate until his death, which occurred in his seventy-fourth year, April 6, 1827. His funeral was attended by thousands of persons, for, in his lifetime he was renowned as a controversial writer of the high Calvinistic order, and as a distinguished commentator on the Scriptures. Dr. Hawker was the grandfather of Robert Stephen Haw- ker, the eccentric "vicar of Morwenstow," whose oddities are so graphically described by Rev. S. Baring-Gould. In that enter- taining and unique volume we have a story which, although it has been seriously questioned on the score of accuracy, is still too attractive to be allowed to escape notice. In Charles Church the evening service always closed with the singing of the hymn, "Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing," composed by Dr. Hawker himself. His grandson did not know the authorship of the hymn ; he came to the Doctor one day with a paper in his hand, and said: "Grandfather, I don't altogether like that hymn, 'Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing'; I think it might be improved in metre and language, and would be better if made somewhat longer." "Oh, indeed!" said Dr. Hawker, getting red; "and pray, Robert, what emendations commend themselves to your preco- cious wisdom?" "This is my improved version," said the boy, and read as follows: Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing, High and low and rich and poor; May we all, Thy fear possessing, Go in peace and sin no more ! Lord, requite not as we merit, Thy displeasure all must fear; As of old, so let Thy Spirit, Still the dove's resemblance bear. May Thy Spirit dwell within us ; May its love our refuge be; So shall no temptation win us From the path that leads to Thee. So when these our lips shall wither, So when fails each earthly tone, May we sing once more together, Hymns of glory round the throne ! Christian Hymnology. Then, Mr. Baring-Gould tells us that the audacious young- ster actually read to his grandfather the original hymn, and added to his ofTences by the remark : "This one is crude and flat; don't you think so, grandfather?" "Crude and flat, sir ! Young puppy, it is mine ! I wrote that hymn." "Oh ! I beg your pardon, grandfather, I did not know that. It is a very nice hymn, indeed; but — but — ," and as he went out of the door — "mine is better." Rev. Charles Wesley's for a thousand tongues to sing/' fourth verse, first line, originally "He breaks the power of canceled sin," is now universally "He breaks the power of reigning sin." Five of its ten verses have been dropped. In Watts' hymn, "Come we that love the Lord,'' the line "But servants of the Heavenly King" is changed to "But children of the Heavenly King." Rev. Charles Wesley's ''Depth of mercy, can there be," is cut down from 48 lines to 16 lines, and this course of elimi- nation has been applied to hundreds of the eighteenth century hymns, to their marked improvement, for congregational use. Of the great; old hymn beginning : "Glory to God, whose sovereign grace." we find no more this verse : Suffice that for the season past Hell's horrid language filled our tongues; We aU Thy words behind us cast, And lewdly sang the drunkards' songs. The Evolution of Our A wholly justifiable alteration, now generally adopted, is in the first verse of Rev. J. S. Mo n sell's hymn, ''On our way rejoicing," a hymn found in almost every modern publication. As originally written, it was : The error contained in the above is so palpable it could not be carried along by conscientious editors, so, now in our best books, we have worthy alterations of this verse of which I here quote two : Contrast the sentiment of the second and fourth lines of the original first verse of this hymn with the above two verses and with the third verse of Rev. J. Burns' admirable evening hymn that we are singing to Aiirelia, beginning, ''This night, O Lord, we bless Thee:" Rev. Joseph H. Gilmore, in his precious hymn, "He lead- eth me," sets forth the truth in these lines : Oliver W^endell Holmes touches the truth that our God sends clouds and sorrows, bearing blessings, in this verse : Is there grief or sadness? Thine^ it cannot be; Is our sky beclouded? Clouds are not from Thee. Is there grief or sadness? Firm our trust shall be; Is our sky beclouded? Light shall come from Thee. Is there grief or sadness? Thou our joy shalt be; Is our sky beclouded? There is light in Thee. What may be on the morrow Our foresight cannot see ; But be it joy or sorrow, We know it comes from Thee. Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom. Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom, By waters calm, o'er troubled sea, — Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me. Our midnight is Thy smile withdrawn; Our noontide is Thy gracious dawn; Our rainbow arch Thy mercy's sign ; All, save the clouds of sin are thine. Christian Hymnology. 169 Joseph Addison, 1710, wrote, as printed in ''Sacred Har- mony,'' by William Little : The lofty pillars of the sky The unwearied sun from day to day. And spacious concave raised on high, Pours knowledge on his golden ray; Spangled with stars, a shining frame. And publishes to every land Their great Original proclaim. The work of an Almighty hand. This has been well altered to read as follows : The spacious firmament on high With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun from day to day, Does his Creator's power display And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. The sixth verse of our dear old "Coronation'' hymn was originally written : Let every tribe and every tongue That bound creation's call. Now shout in universal song, The crowned Lord of all. The Episcopal hymnal prints it : Let every kindred, every tribe, Before Him prostrate fall; To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all ! Other hymnals generally give it : Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball; To Him all majesty ascribe. And crown Him Lord of all ! Charlotte Elliott's grand hymn, Holy Saviour, Friend unseen," first verse, third line, generally reading: "Since on Thine arm Thou bidd'st me lean," appears in "In Excelsis," 1896 edition: "The faint, the weak, on Thee may lean." 170 The Evolution of Our Whichever of these two is the original should be univer- sally retained. In a handsomely gotten-up hymnal published in Boston in 1909, primarily for Unitarians, replete in its four hundred selec- tions of hymns and chants, there are many alterations made with the apparent purpose of ruling out certain doctrinal features. Bishop Heber's great hymn, ''Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,'' has been garbled to such extent as to confound the rhythm and entirely impair its adaptation to the tune. The last line of first verse, ''God in three persons, blessed Trinity," ten syllables, is eliminated, and the second line of the fourth verse — "All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea,'' — thirteen syllables, is substituted. Charles Wesley's hymn, for a heart to praise my God," is changed by striking out, "A heart that always feels the blood so freely shed for me," and substituting, ''A heart that always feels how good Thou, Lord, hast been to me." Dr. Muhlenberg's hymn, ''Saviour, who Thy flock art feeding," appears ''Father, who Thy flock art feeding." "Jesus sought me when a stranger" is made to read, ''Thou didst seek me," etc. Montgomery's perfect hymn-prayer, "In the hour of trial, Jesus plead for me" is altered to "In the hour of trial, Father strengthen me." For obvious reasons the first verse of Rev. Timothy Dwight's hymn, "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord," is omitted entirely. While in this book there are many such alterations, it would seem that a happy inconsistency is manifest in that it contains a great many of our choicest hymns in adoration of Jesus as Saviour and Son of God, of which the following are pertinent examples — none different from the generally accepted versions. "All hail the power of Jesus' Name." "Art thou weary, art thou languid." "Our blest Redeemer ere He breathed His tender, last farewell." Christian Hymnology. 171 "Come unto Me, ye weary, And I will give you rest. O blessed voice of Jesus, That comes to hearts opprest." "Hark, the herald angels sing." "Hark, hark, my soul." "I heard the voice of Jesus say." "In the cross of Christ I glory." "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult." "Jesus Christ is risen to-day." "Nearer, my God, to Thee." "Not worthy, Lord, to gather up the crumbs." "O Jesus, Thou art standing." "Onward, Christian soldiers." "O Sacred Head, now wounded." "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire." (Its last verse is a prayer to Jesus.) "Bread of the world in mercy broken." Besides all these familiar hymns there are in it some good ones, new to me, from which I will quote a few verses : I believe the great good tidings, How beauteous were the marks divine Life of God in man revealed, That in Thy meekness used to shine Glorious in the life of Jesus, That lit Thy lonely pathway, trod, By His cross proclaimed and sealed. In wondrous love, O Son of God. One is entitled : "For Communicants," to the good old tune, Dvindee, Ye followers of the Prince of Peace, The love which all His bosom fills Who round His table draw. Did all His actions guide; Remember what His Spirit was. Inspired by love. He lived and taught; What His peculiar law. Inspired by love, He died. Let none who call themselves His friends, Disgrace His honored name; But, by a near resemblance prove, The title which they claim. 172 The Evolution of Our From another good Eucharistic Elymn I quote two verses : Still, the Sacred Table spread, The loving cup and broken bread, With that parting word agree, "Drink and eat; remember Me." When my love for Christ grows weak, When for stronger faith I seek, Hill of Calvary, I go. To Thy scenes of fear and woe. Another fine one in this book, and I have found it no- where else until the issuance of the new (1911) Hymnal of the Presbyterians, where it is appropriately united to the tune Serenity, is by Rev. Samuel Longfellow : Beneath the shadow of the cross, O bond of union, strong and deep ! As earthly hopes remove, O bond of perfect peace ! His new commandment Jesus gives Not even the lifted cross can harm His blessed word of love. If we but hold to this. Then Jesus, be Thy Spirit ours And swift our feet shall move To deeds of pure self-sacrifice And the sweet tasks of love ! Many hymns, definitely Christian, in ''Orthodox" Trini- tarian hymnals are the product of other gifted Unitarians; among them : Oliver Wendell Holmes, author of : "O love divine, that stooped to share." "Lord of all being, throned afar." "O God of Hosts ! Almighty King," et al. William Cullen Bryant: north with all thy vales of green." "Thou whose unmeasured temple stands." Rev. Edmund H. Sears: "Calm on the listening ear of night." *Tt came upon the midnight clear." Henry Ware, Jr. : "O Thou in whom alone is found." "Lift your glad voices in triumph on high." Christian Hymnology. 173 Sir John Bowring: "In the cross of Christ I glory." "Watchman, tell us of the night." "God is love, His mercy brightens." William H. Burleigh : "Lead us, O Father, in the paths of peace." "Still will we trust though earth seems dark and dreary." Anna L. Barbauld: "Praise to God, immortal praise." Helen M. Williams: "While Thee I seek, protecting power." In view of this apparent inconsistency, with a decided drift towards what we are wont to call orthodoxy in these hymns of worship and service, may we not indulge the hope that the dividing barrier between us, if not crumbling, is not altogether insurmountable, and may we not pray God and cherish the hope that the time may soon come when it shall be broken down; when all who call themselves Christians shall unitedly and sincerely sing: In the cross of Christ I glory. Towering o'er the wrecks of time ; All the light of sacred story Gathers 'round its head sublime. John Dobell, in the preface to his ^'New Selection of Seven Hundred Evangelical Hymns,'' dated March ist, 1806, says : I deem it unnecessary to make any apology for taking many of the following hymns from authors who differ in doctrinal sentiments from myself, and the churches with which I am con- nected. The hymns, themselves, superior in their kind, and on subjects in which all real Christians agree, must and will be their own apology. Chapter XIV. CHRISTIAN UNIFICATION. Happily, it has come to pass that doctrinal sentiments provocative of trouble among the brethren are no longer in evidence in our standard denominational hymnals. As regards our praise service, we all can sing: We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Rev. Dr. Robert Stuart McArthur, a prominent Baptist minister of New York, speaking of the unification of the Chris- tian Church, regardless of sect, said: The church is vastly more practical to-day than ever before. True churchmen realize that there is no interest of humanity regarding which the church can rightly be indifferent. The words of Terence, "I am a man and I deem nothing common to man foreign to me." The church now believes these words might have been spoken or written by the Apostle Paul; indeed, they are not unworthy the lips of the Great Teacher himself. Never before was the church living up to this principle as to-day. It thus comes to pass that the church is interested in hospitals, orphanages, playgrounds, hours of labor for little chil- dren and the interests of working men of all classes. The church can never be indifferent to creeds, but it insists now, as never in the past, that good creeds shall be translated into good deeds. The right deed is the best proof of the right creed. The spirit of brotherhood is abroad as never before. Rev. Wm. Budd Bodine, D.D., Episcopalian, writing of Charles Wesley, said: The Methodists belong to our family. Reunion with them would help them greatly and it would greatly help us also. They need certain of the guiding and conservative qualities which we possess in large measure, and we need the strength of their num- bers and their enthusiasm. May God speed the day when they (174) Christian Hymnology. 175 shall be one with us in outward, visible fellowship, as a step and a long step towards the reunion of all who profess and call them- selves Christians. When James Freeman Clark lay dying at Lakewood, he asked that there should be read to him Henry Francis Lyte's great hymn, "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide." Was that a "Unitarian" or an "Orthodox" request? It was both, inasmuch as it came from a man who was outwardly a Unitarian, but whose life-long inward fellowship had been with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. He remembered his Master who had climbed the steep of Calvar}'', and so his spirit cried: Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes : Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies : Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee ; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Let that be the cry of our spirits also, and for us "the valley of the shadow" will blaze with light. Can we not see the morning light, or at least its glimmer, promising the breaking of the day when the people of all true religious creeds shall have discovered truth's kernel in a nut- shell of divine revelation? In the Old Testament this, Micah 6:8: ''He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and zvhat doth the Lord require of thee but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly zvith thy God/' And this, from the New Testament, the Epistle of James 1 : 27: ''Pure religion and vindeilled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their aMiction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world?'' UNITY OF THE SPIRIT A BOND OF PEACE. "Giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even also as ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one 1/6 The Evolution of Our faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, zvho is over all, and through all, and in all.'' — Ephesians 4: 3-6. R. V. OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYER. ''Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom Thou hast given me, that they may he one, as we are. ^ ^ That they all may he one, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may he one in us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me." — John 17: 11, 21. In these bright days of the Son of Man, era of great mis- sionary achievements in lands that have long lain in darkness, but upon which now the sun of righteousness has arisen with healing in his wings; this time of international peace con- gresses presaging the early fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy — "Nation shall not rise up against nation; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and shall learn war no more'' ; witnessing the desire of all Christian denominations for federation and co-operation in the spirit of Godly unity ; these days of active, broadening work by Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations, Christian Endeavor and other church societies, Brotherhoods and Sunday Schools; taking thought of this, that, while the Christian Church at large, comprising many scores of denomi- nations, a multiplicity of methods of organization and work- ings, the millions of their members and attendants are a unit in their services of praise, all singing the same hymns and tunes, heart melodies, answering to the echoing voices of the harpers with their harps before the throne of God, may we not, listening, hear as did St. John, the great voices in heaven, saying — "The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ?" Closing this labor of love in the hope that it may be of some help to somebody, hymns, hymns and more hymns are Christian Hymnology. 177 reverberating and making melody in my heart, but time and prudence counsel closing, which I do with the good words of others, in the singing of which I trust my readers will join me: Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. God be with you 'till we meet again, By His counsels guide, uphold you, With His sheep securely fold you, God be with you 'till we meet again. God be with you 'till we meet again. Keep love's banner floating o'er you, Smite death's threatening wave before you, God be with you 'till we meet again. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. (Slotv he to tit ifatjer, Slnh to ttt &on, ^nd to tfie ^ol^ (BJoiSt; Si^ it in t^e begmnmg, J0 noto, and eber sfSall be, motlti toitjout md- ^men. ADDENDA \ A MEDITATION. 'T thank Thee, O Lord, that to EUjah and to me Thou hast revealed a new and better way. I thank Thee that the still, small voice has taken the place of the wind, the earth- quake, and the fire. I used to think that law would redeem Thy world. I thought that stern penalties would repress the course of crime. I thought the thunders of Sinai would make the sinner pure. I thought the vision of the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone would put out the love of evil. Thou hast taught me better, O, my Father! Thou hast taught me that the love of evil can only be extinguished by another love. My heart cannot be conquered by the hand. If it is centred on the Prince of Evil, it will not be cured by the imprisonment of that prince; I should love him in his prison, I should love him in his bonds. If I am to cease loving him, I must have a new prince — the Prince of Peace. Send me this new Prince, O my Father; nothing but Christ will put out Barabbas from my heart! I love wrongly, but none the less do I love intensely; nothing but another love will set me free. Famine will not; Carmel will not; wind and earthquake and fire will not; the burning lake itself would not extinguish my love ! Therefore, my Father, let me love again, let me love anew ! Send into my heart a fresh ideal ! Send me a sight of the ^altogether lovely' ! Send me a vision of the 'chief among ten thousand' ! Send me a picture of Him who is 'fairer than the children of men' ! Break the old ideal by the vision of a higher beauty! Let my night fade in Thy morning, my thorn vanish in Thy flower! One leaf of Thy summer's bloom will disenchant me of the winter's charm. The idols will be 'broken in the temple of Baal' when I see Thy King on the holy hill of Zion." Rev. George Matheson, D.D. (i8i) The Evolution of Our New times demand new measures and new men; The world advances and in time outgrows The laws that in our father's day were best; And, doubtless, after us, some purer scheme Will be shaped out by wiser men than we. Made wiser by the steady march of truth. The time is ripe, and rotten-ripe for change; Then let it come; I have no dread of what Is called for by the instinct of mankind. Nor think I that God's word would fall apart Because we tear a parchment more or less. Truth is eternal, but her effluence, With endless change, is fitted to the hour; Her mirror is turned forward, to reflect The promise of the future, not the past. James Russell Loivell. These verses are from Toplady's well-known hymn, begin- ning ''Your harps ye trembhng saints/' 1772, originally con- taining sixteen verses, as in Palmer's "Book of Praise.'' Some unimportant alterations have been made in the wording and it appears in many hymnals as two or three separate hymns. If through unruffled seas. Toward heaven we calmly sail, With grateful hearts, O Lord, to Thee We'll own the fav'ring gale. LIVING BY FAITH. Soon shall our doubts and fears All yield to Thy control ; Thy tender mercies shall illume The midnight of the soul. But should the surges rise And rest delay to come, Blest be the sorrow, kind the storm Which drives us nearer home. Teach us in every state To make Thy will our own; And when the joys of sense depart To live by faith alone. A PRAYER. When on my day of life the night is Thou who hast made my house of life falling, so pleasant. And, by the winds from unsunned Leave not its tenant when its walls spaces blown, decay; I hear far voices out of darkness call- O Love Divine, O Helper ever pres- ing ent, My feet to paths unknown. Be Thou my strength and stay. Christian Hymnology. Be near me when all else is from me drifting, Earth, sky, home's pictures, days of shade and shine. And kindly faces to my own uplifting, The love which answers mine. Suffice it if, my good and ill unreck- oned. And both forgiven through Thy abounding grace, I find myself by hands familiar beck- oned Unto my fitting place : I have but Thee, my Father ! let Thy spirit Be with me then to comfort and uphold ; No gate of pearl, no branch of palm I merit. Nor street of shining gold. Tune, St. Olaf. Some humble door among Thy many mansions, Some sheltering shade where sin and striving cease. And flows forever through heaven's green expansions. The river of Thy peace. John G. Whittier. SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. Tho' glorious, O God ! must Thy tem- Who having once entered, hath shown pie have been, us the way, On the day of its first dedication, O Lord, how to worship before When the Cherubim's wings widely Thee: waving were seen. Not with shadowy forms of that ear- On high, o'er the ark's holy station. lier day. But in spirit and truth to adore Thee ! Tho' awfully grand was Thy Majesty This, this is the worship the Saviour then, made known, Yet the worship Thy gospel dis- When she of Samaria found Him; closes, By the patriarch's well sitting weary, Less splendid in pomp to the vision of alone, men. With the stillness of noontide Far surpasses the ritual of Moses. around Him. And by whom was that ritual forever How sublime, yet how simple, the repealed, homage He taught. But by Him, unto whom it was To her who inquir'd by that foun- given tain. To enter the Oracle, where is re- If Jehovah at Solyma's shrine would vealed, be sought, Not the cloud, but the brightness of Or adored on Samaria's mountain, heaven? The Evolution of Our Woman ! believe Me, the hour is near, When He if ye rightly would hail Him, Will neither be worshipped exclusively here, Nor yet at the altar of Salem. For God is a Spirit, and they who aright Would perform the pure worship He loveth, In the heart's holy temple will seek with delight That spirit the Father approveth. Bernard Barton. WAKE! MY SOUL. Wake! my soul, in joyful measure Christ to laud. His love proclaim, Love that passeth understanding. To Eternity the same. Spread the tidings ! speed the tidings ! Love and life in Jesus' name ! Empty-handed, poor, forsaken, Weary, wandering far from home, Jesus' sweet compassion finds me. Pleads with me no more to roam: Full forgiveness He assures me ! Jesus, Lord, I come, I come. None so lone, not one so friendless But can claim my Saviour's love; O, behold Him, waiting, waiting, For my lingering feet to move. Jesus knows me ! Jesus calls me ! Haste my feet. His kindness prove. Tune, Regent Square. Jesus, Lord, the One begotten Of the Father, praise to Thee ! Lloly Spirit, Guide and Comfort, Love of God in Trinity! O, the wond'rous revelation! God in Christ, and Christ in me ! F. B. R. HYMN FOR CHILDREN'S DAY. Accept, dear Lord, our praise: help Our path is strewn with blossoms us to pray ; sweet and fair ; Help us to dedicate this Children's Like breath of heaven on the balmy day air And every day to Thee, our Saviour, Without a word, they speak of God's friend; dear love; And now, upon us all, Thy blessing So may our voices rise, our love to send. prove. We come as scholars in the Master's Praise, praise to God, from whom all school, blessings flow; That we may learn and live the golden Hallow His name all creatures here rule; below; To find the way of life, the path of Toin with the songs of His angelic peace; host. Let joy abound to-day, and never Praising the Father, Son and Holy cease. Ghost. — Amen. Tune, Pax Dei. F- B. R. Christian Hymnology. 185 . GOD L( We thank Thee, Father, that Thy love for all Has brought to each of us Thy mercy's call ; That none may perish, but that all may come, E'en the lone wanderer far away from home. We rise to bless Thy name, most holy Lord; Forever be Thy name on earth adored; Let the sweet incense of our praise arise, And blend with angel-songs above the skies. Tune, Morecamhe. ^ES US. Give to each weary one a heart to say I thank Thee for the love that, day by day. Has shed its radiance over all my years. Has kept my heart from grief, my eyes from tears. Now, Father, this shall be our fervent prayer — In Jesus' name, that every soul may share In Jesus' love, may all in Him be- lieve, And by His mercy sweet. His life re- ceive. F. B. R., 1907. KING O Come, let us sing unto the Lord our God. In joyful song the name of Jesus laud; Glad hearts we bring this happy Christmas day, While in His house we come to praise and pray. Laud Christ the King, and celebrate His birth; Laud Him ye skies, O praise Him all the earth; Ring, ring ye bells, let mortals hear the sound. And let the echo wake the world around ! Twines: National Hymn, by G. Parker. KINGS. Born in a stall, yet King of kings was He; King of all kings He evermore shall be; Set up Thy throne in all our hearts we pray; Reign, reign supreme till breaks eter- nal day ! Join every voice, all hearts your trib- ute bring; Loud anthems raise to Jesus Christ your King; Praise Him for aye with heaven's angelic host; Glory to Father, Son and Holy Ghost ! F. B. R., 1909. /. Warren; or Pro Patria, by H. W. The Evolution of Our The following lines were written on a railroad train, returning from the funeral of Robert DuBois, who, for twenty- eight years, was the leader of the choir of the old First Pres- byterian Church at Bridgeton, New^ Jersey: VICTORY. Why should we heavy-laden be and why disquieted ? Why say the world is cold and drear and dark, Because the light he held aloft has been put out, — And men say — "he is dead?" Lo ! here and there the torch lit by his hand still burns. And gleams in hearts and homes near and afar; This will shine on and on while suns and stars endure; Surely, he lives ! he lives ! Though white-robed hosts of angel choirs have welcomed him, Yet in fond memory's ear we hear his voice, Just as of old we heard it oft in church and home; Yes, yes ! he lives ! he lives ! We cannot say we ne'er again shall see his face, His kindly, loving look, firm, eloquent Of loyalty to right, and hatred of all wrong. For Christ hath vanquished death ! Can it be death to live and love, and rest for aye From earthly ills ? To enter Heaven's gate And greet our loved ones on the shining shore, Is not this victory? F. B. R. Christian Hymnology. 187 HOW GLORIOUS ART THOU, O OUR GOD! (ST. ANNE.) WILLIAM CROFT, 1708. How glo - rious art Thou, r, -^^r—t- — 9 u 1 our God! 'Tis Thou and Thou a - lone :t=: -I— I — ! 1 i 1— I — I 1 1 — , — r-i — I 1 i 1— I i r Who dwell-est in Thy people's praise, On Thine e - ter - nal throne. I I .. . _ A-men. How glorious art Thou, O our God! 'Tis Thou and Thou alone Who dwellest in Thy people's praise, On Thine eternal throne. From all the towns that stud the hills Of teeming Galilee, From marts of Greece and misty lands Beyond the Western Sea. How many voices, differing tongues, Harmonious, join to raise To Thee, O Rock of Israel, Accumulating praise ! Fain would we catch the accents strange. Fain train our ears to hear The notes that hymn Thee through the years, O Israel's Hope and Fear ! From Charran and Chaldean Ur, The river's banks along. From Canaan's heights and Egypt's sands. Ascends the constant song, — 'Twas Thou didst teach Thy Sons of old Thy varied laud to sing. School Thou our hearts that we may too Our hallelujahs bring. How glorious art Thou, O our God ! How mighty past compare ! Thou dwellest in Thy people's praise, Accept the praise we bear. By permission. Rev. Benjamin B. Wariield, D. D. The Evolution of Our FOURTEENTH CHAPTER OF JOHN Feancis B. Reeves. > & ^ E. S. Uffoed. with troub 1. Let not your heart be 2. Think, troub - led soul, of 3. I would have told you 4. If in my name — I 5. Peace I leave with you — sweet prom - ise and true; I the man - sions if it were not now sav un - to op - press' d, so fair! so: you— Go with your List to His I go be - Ye shall ask Not as the bur - den to Je - sus and rest; prom - ise — I go to pre - pare fore, that the way you may know. an - y - thing, that ynll I do: world gives give I un - to you This is A place I am An - y - Sweet - est His coun - sel, heart - for you in my the way, and the thing! ev - 'ry - thing! as - sur - ance to cheer -ing and true, Love's dear- est words spok- en to me and to you. Father's bright home. And yoa shall be wel-come when-e'er you may come, truth, and the life; Then cease, troub-led soul, from your sor - row and strife, bless -ings un - told! No treas- ure worth hav - ing will Je - sus with- hold, all who draw near — The Spir - it shall come and a - bide with you here. N 6^ CHORrs. -M — i — 1 * ~1 — ' ^ ) ^ ^ «^ J J 1 J* ^ ^ J : 1 ' ' Christ with us ev - er! com-fort-less nev-er! Joy to thewea-ry and sad! From such a Sav-iour, noth-ing can sev - er Those whom His words have made glad. Christian Hymnology. CALL AND CONSECRATION. Francis B. Reeves. S. C. Foster. 1. in the still air, a voice calls soft and clear; Be not a-fraid: 'tis 2. "Come un - to me and I will give you rest;" This is love's call to 3. Je - sus, my Lord, O may Thy will be mine Make me to know my 4. My heart is glad, I trust Thy love dear Lord, Help me to serve Thee, ^. .m. ^. :^ N t . ^- -I 1 1 1 i«_i_S3_ -U — U — U — U — H -h ,h- b; — 1 -H # ^ H 1 #1 Je - sus' voice you hear; Come, wea - ry soul, your Sav- iour bids you come, He wea- ry hearts op- prest: "Come, comfe to me, your bur- dens I will bear;" I will is ev - er Thine Dark tho' my way may sometimes seem to be, Shine lean- ing on Thy word, Draw me to Thee by cords of ten- der love That ^. , . ^ ^ ^ t -\ — — Chorus. r calls His wandering child to Him, come home, come home.v hear the call and I will come,my Sav- iour dear. I My Saviour, I'm coming. Thou up -on my pathway, keep me near to Thee. 1 I may have a fore-taste here of heav'n a - bove. / ^ 1| -I — h/— L| -W 1 g- ■t^— b' b*— b*— |- I I hear Thy lov-ing call, I con- secratemy-self toThee,mylife, my all! ^ jft. j^. jft., ^ R ^. -p- ^ J i Used by permission. 190 The Evolution of Our Francis B. Reeves. A BRIGHTER DAY. Old English Air. 1. Theredawnsa day on ev - 'ry heart, Wiien earth ly pleasures cloy, 2. O why art thou d is- tressed, my soul, O why art thou cast down? 3. Fear not, O troub-led soul, fear not, List to theMas-ter's voice, 4. Come, cast your bur -den on the Lord; Our God is al - ways kind; "When clouds grow dark and fears dis - turb Our heart's-ease and our joy;.... Hope thou, for God will lead thee on Till thou hast won thy crown. Thy Father's love will nev - er fail, He bids thy heart re - joice..- Let naught but sin dis - turb your soul And you will ev - er find.... Then once a -gain the sun breaks forth. Be-fore the daylight dies,. Then in that land of glo-ry bright. Where sorrows nev-er come, Your faith in Him and heav'nly hope, Will lead you ev - er high - er, That life is sweet, your pathway bright, That God is lead-ing thee — IV-, a"^^^ — , ^- And o - ver-head the rain- bow paints God's promise in the skies. All per-fect-ness and peace are thine, In Thy e - ter - nal home. Un-til you gain a store of joys. Be - yond your best de - sire... In pastures green, by wa - ters still, From sin and sor - row free... Christian Hymnology. 191 GOD IS LOVE, would God's grace im On all who plore That grace our God bestoweth; Ask what thou wilt, He giveth more His heart with love o'erfloweth; Wonderful love. Unworthy we may be ; not one By right can claim His favor; Save through the merits of His Son, Our blessed Lord and Saviour; O, matchless love ! He hears my cry when sorrow's waves Roll o'er my soul in billows, And, hearing, bares His arm to save, While on His breast He pillows My aching head. Hast thou not known my Saviour's love ? Woulds't thou not have it ever? Thy Father waiteth now to prove, A tie that naught can sever, From His own Child. In Him I trust; in Him confide. His word cannot deceive me; Come gain or loss, whate'er betide I know He will receive me Just as I am. F. B. R. THE HYMNS OF LONG AGO. "There's lots o' music in 'em, the hymns of long ago; An' when some gray-haired brother sings the ones I used to know, I sorter want to take a hand — I think o' days gone by, 'On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, and cast a wistful eye.' There's lot o' music in 'em — those dear, sweet hymns of old, With visions bright of lands of light and shining streets of gold; And I hear 'em ringing — singing, where memory dreaming stands, 'From Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strands.' They seem to sing forever of holier, sweeter days. When the lilies of the love of God bloomed white in all the ways; And I want to hear their music from the old-time meetin's rise, "Till I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies.' We hardly needed singin' books in them old days ; we knew The words, the tune of every one the dear old hymn book through ! We had no blaring trumpets then, no organs built for show. We only sang to praise the Lord, 'from whom all blessings flow.' 192 Christian Hymnology. An' so I love the dear old hymns, and when my time shall come — Before the light has left me and my singing lips are dumb — If I can only hear 'em then, I'll pass, without a sigh, 'To Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lie !' " Atlanta Constitution. NEW PRAISE IN THE MORNING, NEW SONGS IN THE NIGHT. New mercies, new blessings, new light on thy way; New courage, new hope, and new strength for each day; New notes of thanksgiving, new chords of delight, New praise in the morning, new songs in the night; New stars for thy crown, and new tokens of love; New gleams of the glory that awaits thee above; New light of His countenance full and unpriced — All this be the joy of thy new life in Christ. Frances Ridley Havergal. INDEX OF FIRST LINES A mighty fortress is our God... 31 Accept, dear Lord, our praise... 184 Adam, the sinner, at his fall.... 80 Adore and tremble 52, 107 Again each morning as we pass. 135 Ah, guilty sinner 56 Ah, lovely appearance of death. . 93 Alas and did my Saviour bleed. . 117 All glory, laud and honor 25 All people that on earth do dwell 32 All praise to Thee, my God 33 All ye who laugh and sport 53 And am I born to die 150 And am I only born to die. 56 And His the gentle voice 107 Art thou weary 91 Arise the woman's conquering seed 79 As Isaac and Rebekah give 82 Asleep in Jesus 11 1 Awake, my soul, and with the sun 33 Awake, the woman's conquering seed 79 Behold, the Bridegroom cometh. 25 Behold the man threescore and ten 95 Beneath the cross of Jesus 105 Beneath the shadow of the cross 172 Blest be the tie that binds 177 Bless our good minister 152 Brief life is here our portion... 28 But bloody hands and hearts... 49 But few among the carnal 48 By the cross sad vigil keeping. . 28 By the moon so brightly 145 Call them in, the poor 103 Can a little child like me 104 Christ alone beareth me 163 Christ for the world we sing... 127 Christ is made the sure founda- tion 24 Christian, dost thou see them... 23 PAGE Christian, the morn breaks 72 Come, let us sing unto the Lord. 185 Come, my soul, thou must be... 35 Come not in terrors 162 Come unto me, ye weary 171 Dear refuge of my weary soul. 99 Death may the bands of life. ... 80 Down to the tomb our brother. . 149 Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel 20 E'en Anwoth was not heaven... 104 Faith of our fathers, living still. 74 False are the men of high degree 85 Far in the deep where darkness dwells 48 Farewell, farewell, dear friends. 89 Farewell, ye blooming sons 151 Father, I know that all my life. 109 Father of mercies, in Thy word. 100 Father, we thank Thee for the night 104 Father, whate'er of earthly bliss 98 Fill Thou my life, O Lord 124 For all the saints who from 74 For thee, O dear, dear country. . 27 From hands that would our 142 Fruit of a virgin's womb 79 Glory be to the Father 177 Glory to Thee, my God 35 God be with you till we meet. ... 177 God bless our native land 135 God give our President 136 God of nations, King of kings. . 136 God of our fathers, known of old 142 God of our fathers, whose al- mighty hand 141 God the all-merciful 14T God's word for all their craft. .. 32 Golden harps are sounding 108 Great God, accept our songs. . . . 147 Great King of nations, hear 138 194 Index of First Lines PAGE Hark, from the tombs 44 Hark! ye neighbors, and hear.. 146 Heavenly Father, God of nations 137 He comes, He conies to judge. . . 52 He Hves, the great Redeemer lives 68 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes 175 How dreadful. Lord, will be the day 149 How great, how terrible that God 51 How glorious art Thou 187 How painful 'tis to turn away.. 152 PAGB Lead, kindly Light 92 Let all thy converse be sincere. 34 Let every tribe and every tongue 169 Let not your heart be with trou- ble oppressed 188 Like a river glorious 108 Lord, and am I yet alive 53 Lord, dismiss us witJi Thy bless- ing 164 Lord God, we worship Thee.... 139 Lord, speak to me 109 Lord, what a thoughtless wretch 54 Lord, when we see a saint 84 I believe the great, good tidings. 171 I bow my forehead to the dust.. 125 I do not ask, O God no I know that my Redeemer lives. 120 I love to have the Sabbath come 151 I love to steal awhile away 102 I love to tell the story in I thank Thy sovereign power... 68 I think when I read that sweet story 103 I would be there when prayer begins 152 If I am raised to bear the sword 86 If through unruffled seas 182 In God's own house for me to play 152 In heavenly choirs a question rose 87 In heavenly love abiding 109 In the cross of Christ I glory... 173 In the still air a voice calls 189 In vain the wealthy mortals toil. 43 Is there grief or sadness 168 It was good for our mothers. . . . 155 Jerusalem, the golden 27 Jesus calls us o'er the tumult. . . . 102 Jesus, lover of my soul 119 Jesus, tender Shepherd 108 Jesus, the very thought of Thee. 29 Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts 29 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee... 133 Judges who rule the world 86 Judgment day is coming on 59 Just as I am, without one plea.. 91 Mine eyes have seen the glory. . 140 More love to Thee, O Christ... 113 My country, 'tis of thee 134 My God, I thank Thee, who hast made no My God, is any hour so sweet. . . loi My God, my Father, while I stray loi My God, what inward grief I feel 46 My Shepherd is the living Lord. 70 My Shepherd will supply my need 70 My soul, come, meditate the day 61 My thoughts on awful subjects roll 47 Nearer, my God, to Thee loi Nearer, still nearer 112 New every morning is Thy love 122 New mercies, new blessings.... 192 Not always as the whirlwinds. . 107 Not she with trait'rous kiss.... 98 Now I resolve with all my heart 99 O God, beneath Thy guiding hand 138 O God of love, O King of peace 139 O golden day, so long desired... 65 O golden hereafter 158 O Holy Saviour, Friend unseen. 100 O Jesus, Thou art standing 126 O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King 140 O Love that will not let me go. . 128 O Master, let me walk with Thee 126 O, must we bid you all farewell. 54 O Sacred Head, now wounded.. 29 O the love of God Almighty. . . . 130 Index of First Lines 195 Oh, thus be it ever when free- men shall stand 138 O what a lovely thing 145 O what a pleasure 'tis to see. . . . 148 O, what their joy and glory.... 30 Oh, won't you be a Christian... 158 Once in royal David's city 102 Once more we keep the sacred day 148 On all who would God's grace.. 191 One sweetly, solemn thought. . . . 105 Only this frail and fleeting breath 150 Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed 106 Our midnight is Thy smile with- drawn 168 Our youthful hearts for learning burn 146 Praise God from whom all bless- ings flow 18, 33 Raise, thoughtless sinner 49 Rise, crowned with light 120 Sacred head now wounded 29 Safe in the arms of Jesus 114 Safely through another week... 162 See in yonder house of prayer. . . 82 See the red flames around him. . . 43 Shepherd of tender youth 23 Sing the dear Saviour's glorious. 81 Sinners, can you hate this Sa- viour? 77 Someone must struggle that others 156 Sometimes 'mid scenes of deep- est gloom 168 Sowing the seed by the daylight iii Still will I strive 80 Still, the sacred table spread 172 Stop, poor sinner, stop and think 58 Stoop down, my thoughts 96 Sun of my soul. Thou Saviour dear 123 Sweet is Thy mercy, Lord 128 Swift to its close, ebbs out life's. 177 Take my life and let it be 108 Tarry with me, O my Saviour. . 109 PAGE Terrible God that reign'st on high 48 That day of wrath 30 Tell me the old, old story iii Terrible thought shall I alone... 44 The cherub near the viewless throne 77 The deluge at th' Almighty's call 50 The great Archangel's trump shall sound 44 The lofty pillars of the sky 169 The Lord has come unto His world 129 The Lord, my Shepherd is 70 The mistakes of my Hfe 108 The mites have the blessing 159 The rising morning can't insure. 94 The sands of time are sinking. . . 103 The shadows of the evening hours no The spacious firmament on high. 169 The summer harvest spreads... 50 The trumpet sounds, hell trembles 53 There dawns a day on every heart 190 There is a green hill far away. . . 102 There were ninety and nine 105 There's a wideness in God's mercy 107 There's lots o' music in 'em 191 Thine forever, God of love in Tho' glorious, O God 183 Though by Thy bitter cross 163 Thy life was given for me 108 To our Redeemer's glorious name 99 Two are better far than one. ... 81 Two empires by the sea 142 Unthinking mortals, ye must die. 150 Wake, my soul, in joyful meas- ure 184 We are coming 159 We are living, we are dwelling. 126 We are not divided 174 We see, tho' you perceive it not. 150 We thank thee, Father 185 What may be on the morrow. . . . 168 When Abr'ham's servant to pro- cure 90 196 Index of First Lines When God from His throne 51 When God, our Leader, shines. . 46 When on my day of Hfe 182 When the morn shall bid 162 Where do children love to go.. 144 Where shall a guilty child retire 150 While Thee I seek, protecting power 106 Whither goest thou, pilgrim, stranger 82 Who can describe the pain 79 Who is on the Lord's side 108 Who is this stranger in distress. 47 Why do the proud insult the poor 42 Why doth the man of riches grow 42 Why hast thou cast our lot 81 Why should we heavy laden be. . 186 With thy spirit's two - edged sword 80 Without such fruit as God expects 151 Ye followers of the Prince of Peace 171 Ye sons of pride that hate 42 Yes, for me, for me He careth. . 123 You cannot read the news 92 / <