The National tribune., 1890-12-04
History OF the Hymn, ''Abids With Net Yss
Falls the EYentideo

We are rejoiced ST. Luke left account Of the
beautiful incident Of Emmsus il for no other
reason than that it inspired one Of the most
cherished hymns in the English languages. No
one will ever be able 10 tell the story Of comfort
Rowing from those five stauzas:
Abide with me fast flI,s tie sventide:
HE darkness decpeus Lord with me abidsf
When other helpers fail, and comforts lee
EelP OF tae helpless, o abide with me.
Swin to is close sbbs out HES little dav:
E.trths JOYS grow "a, is glories pass away,
Change and decay in All around see;
thou "ho ehsnsesi not abide with me.
need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can iJii the tempter's powsrf
W no, ike thyssIL M guilds aud say can BET
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, ABIDE with ma.
fear no foe. with thee at hand to bless:
Ills have no weight. and tears bitterness.
Where - deaths siInZf where, grave thy victory
triumph still, II thou abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through The gloom. and point me 10 tho
Heavens morning breaks, and earth's vain shad-
flee;
In life, in death o Lord, abide with me.
This hymn is row found in most Of the
hymnals used by the different bodies Of Christ
ians. We must DO interested in its author.
origin and history. IL was written by Rev. III
+. Lyle. lie WAS born in KelsO, June I, 1893
Having studied during his earlier years in Ire
land, he 40 length graduated from Trinity Col
lege, Dublin. He prepared for the ministry Of
the Church Of England. In 1923 he settled az
rector at Brixham, and remained as such till
his death, which took place at Nice Nov. 90
l5l7. lie was, therefore, 81 years of age at
degease. He was always Of a rather feeble con-
stitution. He was author of italics in Verse,
Illustrative Of the Lords Prayer Religious
Poems" in 1928 The Spirit of the Psaims"
1884 He wrote, among others. the following
hymns besides abide With Me- Praise
My Soul the King of Heaven" PLEASANT
Are Thy Courts Above" "Jesus, NY Cross
Have Taken" The poet Lyte was very OBJ
seure during life, having only small curacy :;
but his stanZa5 have made him known eveTy-
whore. abide With Me-" was the last writing
of the author. We would not know of the
story Of its origin only that the daughter Of the
poet has given the particulars. He was very
anxious TO preach once more and in special to
celebrate with his flock the Holy Communion.
We have an extract from that solemn farewell
sermon:
20 brethren!" said he ''I can speak feel
ingly, experimentally on this point; and stand
before you ssasOnably to-day, ssalve from the
dead. If ! may hope to impress it upon you
and induce you TO prepare for that solemn hour
which must come to all, by timely acqusint-
anee with, appreciation of and a dependence
ON the death of Christ"
. No eyes were dry for tears The elements
of bread and wine were dispensed in mOurnfnl
silence. The service ended, be retired to his
room. In the evening he handed to a dear
relative that hymn suggested by Emmaus and
impressed by his own near departure from life
The words were accompanied By the music.
Thus the words and the tune having one au-
thor, have descended to us. Coming from a
dying man, they have helped many a one die.
The prayer of the two at Emmaus, a prayer in
all ages dear to the Church, the prayer abide
with Us" has through the sweet hymn of the
poet Lyle become the language of the followers
Of Christ in every cline. No hymual would
omit it. The Church needs it. Some one has
said, Gall hymns that last are born-nOt made"
Singing, "a we often shall the hymn abide
With Me-" there will hereafter be additional
interest and comfort In the fact we have be-
come acquainted with the author and know
under what peculiar circumstance be wrote
that immortal hymn. One to enjoy the verses
must be familiar with the stories of Emmaus
and Brixham.