Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-06-08
A GREAT WRITER OF HYMNS.

Charles Wesley was not only an EN-
inent preacher, as his labers in the
founding of Methodism prove, but he
also stands high as writer of hymns
and religious poetry. He doubtless
was aided TO great extent in his Ia
bors of this character by his brother
John, who, in addition to Charles 5
gifts, had also that organizing ability
which created the dissenters of his
time into a compact set. The poetic
talent of the two brothers was largely
derived from their father, who was
widely known as an author in his day.
From 1873 to 1888 Charles Wesley,
assisted by his brother, published thir-
tv-nine different books Of hymns and
poetry. Charles is said TO have writ
ten over seven thousand hymns, more
than three thousand Of which have
been printed. The total number of
hymns written by DR.. Watts number
only G97. Many of the hymns of Chas.
Wesley are of the highest order of ex-
cellence. and will be sung as long as
the English languageis spoken.
OF course the large part of his sacred
lyrics are necessarily forgotten. But
those which by common consent have
kept their place for one hundred years
in the songs of the sanctuary have
been treasured as among the choicest
expressions OF religious fervor and de-
votion. At all events, aside from the
English Protestant Church through
out the world, where the hymns of
Charles Wesley hold prominent places,
they are most warmly cherished by
the millions of Methodists who regard
his memory with such affectionate adj
miration.
His first hymn was written when he
was twenty-seven years old:
When midnight shades the earth o'erspread.
Two years later the brothers pub
lished volume entitled Hymns and
Sacred Poems fifty of which were
written by Charles. Among these are
the familiar hymns beginning:
"Chrlst the Lord has risen to-day
Hail the day that sees him rise"
"Hark! the herald angels sing"
The following year the two broth
ers, with friend, were holding one OF
their twilight meetings upon the com
mon, when they were assailed by
mob. They were pelted with stones
and other missiles, and compelled to
flee for their lives. After nightfall
they hid themselves in a spring house,
where they washed, struck light and
drank from the cooling waters bub-
bling around them. Charles took a
pencil from his pocket and, in the ex-
citement of the occasion, overflowing
with gratitude for their deliverance
from danger and secure refuge, wrote
that matchless hymn which made his
fame immortal:
Jesus, lover OF my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly;
While the billows near Inc roll
While the tempest still is high,
Hide me, my saviour, hide,
Till the storm OF life is past,
Safe into the haven guide,
oh, receive my soul at last.
Probably no sacred hymn had a
wider popularity or elected more un-
qualified praise than this. For more
than a century it has been sung in
cottage and palace, in the modest
house and lofty Cathedral, in
white-winged ships on distant oceans,
by millions Of dying beds, at the fire
side, and in mission lands, always
bringing rest and consolation. Its ex-
quisite sentiment, pure devotion, alb
sorbing trust, child-like faith and
glowing love, breathes in every line.
Christ as a refuge is the primal
thought.
Other refuge have none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee,
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed;
All my help from Thee bring
Cover my defence!ess head
With the shadow OF Thy wing.
The largest part of Wesley's hymns
were written in the midst of revivals,
and many of them bear testimony to
the intense earnestness of his mind and
heart. They are filed with visions of
forgiveness, faith, hope,
praise He sang because, like the
birds, he could not help it. Prose |
failed to express the tender outpour-
ings of his nature. They must have
vent in song. Hence we have hymns |
of faith, of Thanksgiving, of worship,
devotion, humility, conservation, ado
ration and joyous hosannas. Among