The Portland daily press., 1888-03-12
"ABIDE WITH Me-
Origin OF a Famous Hymn-The Au-
thor's Life OF Trouble.
REV. D. Morrison, in Toronto Globe.l

REV. ID. Morrison, in Toronto Globe.l
The name of the Rev. Henry f. Lyte, M.
A., the author, has already been introduced
in these notes, in connection with that no
less admired hymn, "Jesus, my cross have
taken" Though Of English parentage, he
was born in Scotland, near Kelso, June l.,
1793 Admitted to Trinity College, Dublin,
1872, he rose to distinction as student and
three times won the prize for the best Eng
lish poetry. In the same year he penned the
celebrated ode to a spring flower, Hail,
lovely messenger Of spring. reminding us OF
the yet more celebrated Ode TO the Cuckoo,
by Mr. Bruce, said to be the finest in the Ian
guage. He had intended the practice OF
medicine, but on his graduation we md him
taking orders in the English church, and
soon after serving as curate In different
places, one after the other, but all the while
making good use of his time and writing not
a few Of his celebrated hymns. These who
have had the joy of gliding on the waters OF
the lovely river. the Dart, IN Dey0nsnlre,
will remember point amid its green lawns
and fenny slopes where the Village Of Dette-
shan lies In dreamy stiffness and simple
beauty. Here the wandering curate nestled
in a cottage, going out now and then 70 OF
ficiate in Lower Brixham, which at length
became his parish Here for over twenty
years he toiled away amid many cloud OF
trouble-personal atfiiction, pastoral dlseour-
agement-amid a rough, sea-fafng people
that had been subjected to all the corrupting
influence peculiar to nelgh0orhood where
naval and military forces often had footing
during the French war. Here he carried on
his blessed work, caring both for the bodies
and the souls OF men. preaching the Moru,
making hymns-hymns for the children,
hymns for the hardy fishermen, hymns Tor
sufferers like himself. But the hymn most
admired of ALL unless it be Jesus, l my
cross" is the one under consideration-the
one that Is sure to find place In every col
lection. 1t was composed under very solemn
circumstances. His heath, not goo9 az any
time, had been rapidly declining, and heiwas
advised to make trip to the South to see
whether change of air and warmer eli
mate would not do something to arrest the
progress of consumption. Some twenty
years before this, when the symptoms first
developed, he had found relief by sojourn
on the Continent Of Europe, and on his re :
turn tried the air of Bristol, then Lyming-
ton, where he wrote his charming tales on
the Lords Prayer In the same way he
found relief in 1872 1874 and 1916. But now
the disease was far gone. and there was lit,
tie to hope from change OF climate. Stlll
that was the prescripti0n-leave the ocean
and 90 to the South. Concerning this COM
mand he wrote friend, saying - hope
mot. for know no divorce / should more
deprecate than from the ocean. From child
hood 1t has been my home, my playmate, ana
/ never have been weary OF gazing on It's
glorious face" However, there was nothing
for it but to 60. But before going, he, weak
and scarcely able to crawl, resolved to meet
once more with his people, administer to
them the Lords Supper, and say some part
ing words, and he did so. The scene was
peculiarly solemn, and his words must have
been memorable. There were the symbols
Of the Saviour's death-the broken bread ana
the poured fourth wine-there the people TO
whom he had ministered so long, that mad so
often grieved him by their coarseness and
carnality, but who we're still dear TO him
and there, too, was the weary minister,
standing on the great border land, with the
shadows of the long night gathering around
him. Feeling that this was the case-antici-
patng the change that was coming on his
mortal body-he spent the evening Of that
memorable day writing this hymn Originally
eight verses, and thereupon handed the
manuscript to friend.
but by the time he reached Nice, France, he
was entirely prostrated. There he died, ana
pointing upwards said. 10y, peace.
His age was "a. Now, In view OF these Iacts'
let us read over again this hymn
Abide with met fast falls the entidei
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail, and comforts hee,
Help Of the helpless, o abide with mel
Swift TO its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dun, its glories pass away;
Change and decay In all around see:
o Thou who changest not, abide with me!
Not brief glance | beg, passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord
Familiar, condescending patient free.
Come, not to sojourn, bur abide, with me
Come notin terrors, as the King OF kings,
But kind and good, with healing In Ihy,wmsSi
Tears for all wo es, heart for every plea
Come, Friend OF sinners, thus aoiae Win me
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And though rebeliious and perverse mean
while,
Thou hast not left me, oft as left Thee:
On TO the close, y Lord, abide with mel