Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-11
WOULD sOr LTVR xLWAs.
Tho Complete History OF Dr. Muhienbers
beautiful Hymn.

Tho COfupIete uHtOry OF Dt, Muhieubergs a
beautiful Hymn.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
rathor curious example u tho unex-
| pected outcome of a literary question is fur
nished by the result Of a brief editorial srti.
Gle on the word lurid " In tho Ledger q
lew weeks ago. correspondent furnished
letter. which WAS published, quoting DR..
Muhlenborg's hymn, al Would Not Live
Away" In which appeared the line, " The
few lurid mornings that dawn on us here"
aud stated that ho had seen the hymn
printed, 90 The few lucid moments" Instead
o. 90 The few lurld mornings" Follow ing
this the Ledger received several communi-
cations on the subject, most OF them deny ing
that Or. Mublenberg used either " lurid " or
lucid" This induced q search for the his
tory of the hymn and revealed the truth of
the later correspondents allegations.
sRErCH OF THE AUTHOR.
DIR. william Augustus Muhienberg, the
author OF the hymn, was native OF Philsdel-
phia, and was the great. grandson of tho Rev.
Henry Melchor Muhlenberg the founder Of
the German Lutheran church in America.
He was born September 6, 1896, graduated at
the University of Pennsylvania in 1914, ell
tered the ministry in 1917, aud in 1873 was
made assistant rector OF St James church,
Lancaster. This church he left TO found St
Paurs academy Of Flushing, l.. l., Of which
no WAS luhUy years. III 1915
he was elected rector OF the Church Of the
Holy Communion Of New York city. lie
founded St Luke's hospital, OF New York,
in 1885, and retained charge of that institu.
ton until his death, which occurred In New
York city April g. 1877. He was the author
OF numerous hymns, Of which " Would Not
Live Away" "Shout the Glad Tidings" I"
and 81 Like Noah's Weary Dove" are the
best known.
THE ORIGINAL HYMN.
In " Duflield's English Hymns, their Au-
thors and History" recently published the
following account Is given of the origin of
the hymn
has made the name OF Rev. William Angus
tus Mublenberg, ID. d., known TO ali lovers
OF sacred song. Yet 1t Is far from being his
best piece, either III sentiment or expression
Its precise text appears in Prof. Cleveland's
Lyra SGcrG americana, and its history de-
serves word in this connection. IL was
written in ls2i, and first appeared in the
Episcopal Recorder, Philadelphia, June 8,
1876, in six stanSas of eight lines each.
II was there printed as follows
WOULD NOT LIVE ALwAY.
| would not live alway-live Away below
Oh no IN not linger when hidden to GO;
hs dSs on G1r o Rg@e o us here f
Would shrink from tho paths which the
Apostles and martyrs SO joyfully trod
Like spirit unblost Ger tho earth would
While brethren and friends are all Fastening
home
would not live Away ask not 70 stay,
Where storm after storm rises dark Ger the
Where, seeking for rest, we bu, hover around.
Like the ,ratriarch's ,pird, and no resting is
Where hope, when she paints her gay bow in
Leaves its briIiance TO iAde in the night of de-
And Joys ticeting angel ue'er sheds CAD ray,
save the CLEAN OF the plunage that bears him
| would not live al way thus fettored with sin,
Temptations without and corruption within
In n moment of strength it sever the chain,
scarce the victory Is mine ere I'm captured
Zen The rapture of pardon Is mingled with
And the cup OF thanksgiving with penitent
The festival trump calls for iublIant songs,
But my spirit her own DitSerCre prolongs.
l would not live slway-no welcome the tomb {;
Since Jesus hath lain there / dread not its
where ne deisned TO sleep III too bow my hea q.
All peaceful to slumber on that balowed bed.
Then the glorious daybreak to follow that night,
The orient CLEAN OF the angels of light.
with the clarion call for the sleepers to rise
And chant forth their mathis away to the skies
Who, who would live alway. away from his
Away from yon heaven, that DlIssIul abode.
Where rivers of pleasure how Ger the bright
plains.
And the noontide of glory eternally reigns.
Where the Saints of all ayes in harmony meet,
Their saviour and brethren, transported TO
greet,
While the songs of salvation exuItingly roll,
And the smile OF the Lord is the feast Of the
soul
That heavenly music what is It l hear?
The notes OF the harper ring sweet in my ear
And see, soft unfolding those portals OF gold,
The King all arrayed in his beauty behold
., give me,.n, give me the wings ota dove,
To adore Him, be near Him, cnrapt with His
love;
| but wait the summons. l ist Tor the word
AIiCluiu-A nen-ey ormOre with the Lord.
The CHANGE TO \ HYMN.
DunIeld's English Hymns states that in
lsL6 a committee was appointed to enlarge
the Episcopal Hymnal. one of the number
IL fIur L dor,