Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-19
Hymns and their Authors.

REV. CHARLES WESLEY.
This most volumnious writer of sacred
Iyrics was born at Epworth in Lincoln
shire, December Is, 1908. The genius
for writing poetry is traceable TO the
father, who vas an excellent clergyman.
luthor of a versified Scripture history, and
If the hymn,
Behold the Savior of mankind"
When eight years of age, Charles was
placed at Westminster school, under care
of an elder brother, Samuel. who was also
II poet, some of whose verses are still in
the hymn books. At eighteen, Charles
entered Christ's college Oxford, where he
remained nine years. Laborious and
assiduous as student, lie made the best
use of his long continued, and unusually
helpful educational privileges. But few
men in the ministry, in their day and
since have been more thoroughly cultured
in all departments of knowledge than the
founders OF Melhodism, John and Charles
Wesley. At the age of twenty. as the
result of a loug season of unusual serious
ness, he formed, with two other kindred
souls the famous "Holy club" John
Wesley soon became member, and with
his wonderful power of organization. the
controlling spirit They devoted several
evenings in each week in reading together
the Greek testament and the ancient clas-
sizes, and Sunday evenings in the study of
divinity. They soon began to visit the
poor, the sick, and the prisoners, and to
labor and pray with them. Here Method
ism was born, and the most remarkable
religious reform since the days of Luther.
But it does not aprear that Charles Wes-
! ley employed his muse until this develop
ment within him of desire for more
deeply religious life. His poetry bears this
that it is historic and autobiographic. 1t
is his best expression of his own expert
ence. and of the spirit of that great revival.
Hence his poetry is intensely alive and
thoroughly practical. DR.. Watts wrote
his verses in the calm, reflective hour.
Charles Wesley's came to his lips when
IN his itinerant labors, and were called
forth by the peculiar fortunes and emo.
tions of the hour. This lends IL great
charm to the study of his hymns. His
manner OF Decomposition is very interestingly
told in the following: ale rode every day
a little horse gray with age. When he
mounted, if a subject struck him, he pro-
ceeded to expand and put it in order. He
would write hymn thus given him on a
card kept for the purpose, with his pencil
in short hand. Not unfrequently he has
come to the house in the City Road. and
having left the pony in the garden, he
would enter, crying out, Pen and ink
Pen and inkr These being supplied, he
wrote the hymn he had been composing
Thus he strikngly illustrated the Latin
maxim. which has never had exception
Poeta 7aaScitur, non ft. He is also the
most volumnious Of all hymnists. His
published poems reach nearly five thou.
sand, and his excellent biographer Jack
son says he left nearly as many more ir
manuscript.
The first hymn traceable to him wa;
written on his return from Georgia and is
known as the famous Hymn for Mid
night" commencing
Doubtful, and insecure of bliss"
When at length, through the counsel o
the pious Moravian, he attains by simple
faith to the spiritual experience for which
he has so long and anxiously sighed, il
the rapture Of his soul, he gives US th'
hymn
"wbere shall my wondering soul bexinqn
And n veor LATER as the anniversary q
,L.t ,.,:I ,.-,,a.;ao e., Ill, ~ ,,,rsto
"os for tho,,s,nd tonun.s to aim,
My great Redeemer,s praise, i"
GROWING in the mower and iov of an ex
perinental Christianity. he sings,
'Oh that the world might taste and see
The riches of His grace"
These laconic lines have always bee,
much admired:
"Faitb, mighty faith, the promise sees;
Relies on that alone;
laughs at impossibilites,
Ana cries. IL snall De done'
IL Is astonishing HOW lnucn Vi a4louati
WlSuoih IS clo"ueo, hnu yeC 81 hatuiall
'i''o ooiiio VI L'' ui,oso .,,e i'n0' Vi
~ sl"hN" Do''o. ,,luoeia aS ~ ti'''n .n.:
~ aiuio' 'oo' 10 1;n;no. ho ;" o r.iSt !,
| ~, 49,. "a 49, .,,.,,oaoi,
i,aS':;s ~ ;s,;aphIn w pl "NI' 'N '''' p'' f>''''
i0'' '''o ,!'l''l.' =, 1oo .,,,..,
whn sTpIoro r.,IAs II stranne dssirnq
,ris mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angels minds Inquire no more"
The last poem ever written by his owl
hand has peculiar charm. We find sucl
submissive and expectant lines rs
"oh that the joyful hour were come
Which calls Thy ready servant home"
And in his last illness,at the age of eighty
but little time before his death, his conse
Grated muse dictates some beautiful word
to his wife, closing with this coupet:
,,o, -, T .a..h a,, A. s.or., 49,.
And drop into eternity"
His hymns furnish the best expression
and utterance Of religious aspiration an
life. Many are SO familiar that only
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