Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-24

tate on the awful problems constantly presented
by his religious tendency Of mind. The famous
hymn,
"GOD MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAY"
Is believed to be the last he ever wrote. 1t was
written In the twilight Of departing reason, as
the shadows Of madness were settling around
him for the last time, and when the pathos OF
Its origin is remembered it Is impossible to re-
sist emotion in reading it. The lines,
II LOVE TO STEAL AWHILE AWAY"
were from the pen of Mrs. Brown, Of New
York. She was fond of retiring to pray in a
grove near her house, but was once deeply
wounded at having her action criticised by q
neighbor and wrote the hymn as a sort Of vim
dication. As 1t originally appeared the second
line read From children and from care" We
have one English hymn,
30 THOU MY SOUL. FORGET NO MORE"
which was the composition Of Hindoo named
krishnu-Pal. He was DR.. Carey's first convert
In HindOstan, and his abandonment of caste
caused an immense sensation. The effort was
made by other Hindoos to mob him, and he was
dragged before native magistrate, but was re-
leased tor want of a definite charge. He was
baptized In the Gauges in the presence of
thousands OF Europeans and natives, body of
English troops being drawn up in line to pre-
vent disturbance. Subsequently becoming an
DER OF tracts and hymns, many of which were
translated into English, and excited favorable
comment.
DC PrOfundis.
As certain flowers and plants send forth their
sweetest fragrance only when bruised and
broken, so certain Christian spirits are most
devOut in the midst of adverse circumstances
They really cry from the depths with confidence
that their prayer will be heard. Not unfre-
quently has it been the case that people who
seemed unfortunate are really most useful.
collins and COwper both struggled with in
sanity all their days Milton was blind, and
other instances are so numerous as to defy men
ton. notable case Of the kind was Mrs.
Steele. the author of the celebrated hymn,
GATHER. wITATE'ER OF EARTHLY BLISS"
In childhood she received spinal injury which
made her a lifelong invalid. Later in life she
was engaged to be married. and all preparations
had been made. the bridegroom being momen-
tarlly expected, when news arrived of his sud-
den and violent death. Her life was henceforth
given up to works Of piety, and she wrote many
hymns which We're deservedly popular. The
hymn,
JESUS, AND SHALL 1T EVER BE-"
was written by ten-year old boy, named Grlgg.
1t has since been much polished and greatly i'm
proved by additions and revision.
GONE, HOLY SPIRIT HEAVENLY DOVE"
mas royal origin. 1t was the production of
Robert Ii. of France, at time when the affairs
OF his kingdom were involved in much confu-
sion. Robert was deeply pious, and extremely
1ond OF church music, so much so that he would
often go to the Church of st. Denis and conduct
the music In person, baton in hand. greatly to
the admiration of his courters and the edfca-
ZION OF the godly. His hymn was written about
the year 1000. and has been translated into every
language in Europe. His life and reign were
very unhappy. his gentle nature rendering him
unit to cope with his able and INSCRIPTIONS
enemies. who even embttered his own sons
against him. and finally induced them to break
out into open rebellion. AS a king he was not
success, but his hymn is legacy which the re-
ligious world, even at this day, would be 10th to
surrender.
Historical Hymns.
The period Of strife known In German his
tory as the Thirty Years War; was productive
OF a large number Of very fine hymns, but none
superior to that beginning
FEAR NOT, o LITTLE FLOCK"
1t was known as the Battle Song of Gus
tavus, and was always sung by his army as
they moved forward to battle. The descriptions
OF his battles read much like those given by
Puritan historians of the days when the Iron
sides charged the royal cavalry, singing the
while at the top Of their voices q psalm of
David. The celebrated hymn
"MY GOD, LOVE THEE"
claims ST. Francis Xavier as it's author. It was
originally in Latin, but is now in every Ian
guage and loved wherever 1t is sung. Francis
Xavier was one Of the most noted Jesuits who
ever lived, his life being spent in the service of
the church. He died in China In 1852 only sixtv
years after the discovery of America. The
Christian world owes almost as much to Thomas
kemps for his hymns as for his 'Following of
Christ" His life was passed in such quiet seclu-
sion that few facts are certain, but we do know
that his family name was Hammerlein. or Little
Hammer. This was translated into Latin by it's
equivalent Malicious, and in religion he took
the name by which he is now known. His rell-
glOus works are vOluminous, but he is now re-
membered chiefly by the one already mentioned.
anu the hymn High the Angel Choirs are Rails
Ing" Sir Walter Raleigh is not often thought
OF as hymn-writer, but he-wrote several hymns
Which are now no longer used. They seem to
have fallen into disrepute from their lack of de-
Votional sentiment, though they are elegantly
written. and must in their time have been pop
ular.
COMMIT THOU ALL THY CRIES."
has received an honor accorded to few such pro-
auctions in having been the favorite HYMN Of
the German poet Schiller. It was written by
Gerhardt, the much prosecuted Lutheran preach
er. He had been ordered to quit his native
country on account Of his religious opinions,
and on foot, carrying all his worldly goods on
his back, with his wife trudging after him, he
set out, not knowing where he could find q
refuge. On the journey they came in the even
ing to an inn. but not having the money to pay
for their lodging, were refused admission. The
woman In despair sat down by the roadside
and began to weep Her husband tried to COM
fort her. ''GOd will provide" said he. Com
init all your sorrows into his hand" Just then
couple of armed and mounted strangers an
proashed and asked If his name was Gerhardt.
The poor preacher not knowing what new trial
was In store for him, answered that it was.
when they told him they had been sent by Duke
Christian to invite him to come to Merseburg
and live there under his protection. The hymn
was written that night in the inn from which
they had just been repulsed. and fully sets forth
the situation and confidence of the writer.
THE WESLEYS.
The Protestant world is probably Indebted to
the Wesleys for more hymns than to any other
two men. John Wesley's hymns are peculiarly
the OutgrOwth Of his own experiences. and
hardly one but can be referred to some definite
Incident as its stimulating cause.
chow HAPPY EVERY pucPIu'c rorn