The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-22
HORATIUS BONAR.

BN WM. G. PRIME, IL. d.
one dark night in the year 1856, il
the earthly city of Jerusalem, wand
cred into lighted mission room Oh
Mount Z on. where a small company OF
men and women Of various uationali.
ties and complexions were gathered
In the desk was a man of impressive
counten ance. whose voice seem
"a 10 me remarkably forcible,
though low and musical. Musical
% me at least, because in my
childhood was surrounded by Scotch
re.pl,. and 10 my fathers house WAS
always familiar with the voices Of
mighty meu Of the Scotch Church IN
America sucd men as Builions and
prniht sud-why name them Are
r.. their names recorded in the rolls Of
ihe saints. who after the war have bad
honor and refre-hment and rest in the
times Of etcrnil peace Very melodi-
Gus iu my ears are the tones Of any
voices. h0vsoever harsh to some ears,
which remind me of those gentle yet
sialwart champions Of the faith.
The preacher. as learned later, was
DR.. Horatius B0nar. Learned and elo-
onent. there was a wonderful charm in
what he said that night. because he had
eronci convictions on that subject Of
much speculation. the second coming
Of ,he Lord. lie believed II his per-
sonal coming. to reign on the earth.
Anl his faith, seconded by his rich
poetic Imagination and fervor all
0u.cs ned by the fact that We
were in Jerusalem. the city Of
the P4ssie1. the Crucif1iOn. the
II sure eli u. the city on which every
morning the dawn brok' over the
mountain Of the Ascension. these gave to
his words a winning power which you
may imagine, but which / cannot de
scribe. lie bad no idea of any specidc
time for the advent. lie did not argue,
nor was there controversial word ia
all that he said lie only gave himself
up. and gave AS up. top. to the scene
which shah bee sooner or later, when
the King shall come again to walk in
fhe streets of his abasement, when the
eHl sence of the light that will darken
the sunlight. snail attend him from the
Garden of Gethsemane. TO the Judg-
uent seats of Horod and Pila.e. and
aloog the ria doIorosa to Calvary and
the rock-hewn tomb.
To hear such man in Jerusalem hav
ing a firm belief IN the personal coming
and rel IN Of Christ, thus communicate
to others freely his confident hopes and
imagiuings. was a memorable event.
In the course Of The next few days |
was happy in making the personal ac-
ouaintance Of Dr. BOnaT: and from day
10 day WAS led TO admire and honor,
had almost said revere him. Accidents
Of travel threw US much together. His
party pitched their tents near mine at
the well Of Haramiyah. on the road
from Jerusalem northwaTd. and we
travelled for sometime thereafter IN
company.
one dav as We rode in single file along
q hill path sang aloud one OF the old
Latin HYMNS. lie turned to me and
commenced a conversation about this
lass Of hymuology. Of course, knew
Well enough his high rank among
writers Of sacred lyrics. rank estab-
shed by the presence Of his hymns in
tie books Of an the churches and the
hearts Of All Christian people, but | did
n0i know bis familiarity with medieval
literature Of this class. 20 which had
devoted some study. Ii was then that
first learned Of a little book he had
published about the old song, Oh.
Mother Dear jerusalem On my re-
,urn 20 America / endeavored 10 per
.u.de various American publish
ars " communicate with INN
and u5lish this book here. II
was because Of my failure in this re
.pect that 1 was Induced to prepare my
own box on the history of that hymn,
n which Randolph has published sew
ofal editions lis various forms. But the /
latter by DO means takes the place OF
DR.. Bonai Is book. The grand old song
is and must always be most closely a'so-
cialed IN my mind with the eminent
Scolch minister and poet. For all along
the roads Of the Holy Land. from tune
40 time. we referred 10 II in converse
ton, and its simple aud glorious phrases
Served often TO express the emotions OF
Pilgrim, weary of the rocky paths aud
mountainous travel in Syria. a constant
simile Of ;bis life. take It at its beet.
Two Incidents in that companionship
came back 10 me tonight, sitting alone
under the Starlight. with special force.
They are fully described in Tent Life
IN the Holy Land" y book published
thirty yeare ago and now forgotten.
TIE fret Occurred on the sea OF Gslilee,