The Irish standard., 1890-07-12
SOME FAMOUS HYMNS.
Nearly All Great Religious Songs tho Re-
Sult of InspirAtion.

l IL { { 4 s i {
Nearly All Great Religious Songs tho Re-
| suit of Inspiration.
It is more true, perhaps, Of hymns
than Of any form OF poetry that they
owe their origin to some sudden inspi-
ration that seldom is repeated, says the
Chicago Tribune. The great TIE
Deum," that pean Of Christianity, is
said to have been first sung at the bap-
tism Of st. Augustine. Certain tits that
it was the first Lyman which Columbus
and his sailors sang when they set foot
on the New World and planted the flag
of Spain.
Thomas di Celano, a scholar of st.
Francis, of Assist, wrote ''Dies Ira. y
One Of the best versions in English is
that of Lord Roscommon, who died with
two lines of it on his lips.
The event, Senate Spiritus" came
from King Robert, Of France.
They still show in Cornwall those
features of the landscape which proved
an inspiration to Wesley. He wrote
many hymns, however, and this article
has to do only with those who were OBJ
scure and had but one or two great mo-
ments Of inspiration.
Crock of Ages" a hymn which has
been great comfort to Christians, was
written by Augustus Toplady in ITS.
The authors life was troubled one;
his creed underwent changes; his temper
was fiery. The better part Of his ma
ture seems to have blossomed forever in
this hymn.
I RScyN Hnh 10 ,o1o hNo %1,o
missionary hymn 'From Greenland's
Icy Mountain;" but it is by that that he
will be chiefly remembered.
Joseph Hart, native of London,
where he was born in 1712, was tho
author of ''Come Ye Sinners, Poor and
Needy
Sir Walter Shirley, an English
Knight and preacher, who died III 1876,
composed the beautiful hymn, known as
'Sweet the Moments Rich in Blessing. y
DIR. Timothy Dwight, one of the early
presidents of Yale, wrote many ponder
Gus and learned works on theology; but
the reason why he will be longer re-
membered than many another theologian
is that he was the author of 81 Love
Thy Kingdom, Lord"
"Nearer! My God, to Thee" was COM
posed by Sarah Fuller Flower. She
married a civil engineer named Adams
In 1884. She died in 1910 at the age of
forty-four, and lies buried near Harlow,
in Essex.
! John Keble, the eminent English
divine, wrote many learned volumes.
He lives in the affections of his country
men, however, as the author of ''Sun of
| My Soul, Thou Saviour Dear"
"Just as I Am, Without One Plea"
was written by Miss Charlotte Elliott,
Of Chaplain, Eng. How she came 10
compose it was curious. "A clergyman
asked her one day if she were Chris
tian. She replied that she felt I'M
worthy to approach the Lord ''But
come just as you are,' suggested the
Clergyman. The words touched her
and she put them in the form by which
they are known to Christians all over
! the world Miss Elliott died in 1871.
81 Would Not Live Away" was
written fifty years ago by Rev. DR..
Muhlenberg. 1t is hymn which has
comfcrted many mourners and given its
! author lasting fame.
''Ninety and Nine" hymn which
was q great favorite with Moody and
Sankey congregations, was written by
Miss Elizabeth G. Clephane, a Scottish
lady. Mr. sankey supplied the music.
The LEAD, Kindly Light" of Dr..
John Henry Newman .(now Cardinal
Newman) was written during voyage
to England. This hymn is said to be a
| great favorite with Queen Victoria. 1t
seems to be loved equally by all Chris
tian sects Its venerable author is still
| living.
Tie late Matthew Arnold severely
criticised those hymns of a Salvation
| Army order in which, however COM
| mendable may have been the intention
of the author, the language descends to
| vulgar plane. "Bad music and bad
poetry in the end are dangerous" said
Mr.. Arnold. Among hymns that have
been degraded to commonplace uses Is
the "Sweet By and BY" Its history is
curious one: ....
Prof. Joseph P. Webster, the author
! of the music, was at times subject to
deep melancholy. Entering his Office
! one day in one Of his blue fits his part
ner, Bennett, asked him:
s'What is the matter xow?''
'No matter" was the answer; cit will
be all right In the sweet by and by"
''Sweet by and by!" echoed Bennett.
''That's good sentiment for hymn.
I'll try it,"
He turned to his desk, wrote three
stanzas rapidly, and handed them to
Webster. The latter was surprised and
| moved. He immediately made a draft
of q musical staff and began to fill it
with notes.
Bennett he said, GIVE set music to
your words; come, let US sing it,
And In few weeks, throughout the
length and breath of the country, old
and young were singing ''sweet BY and
| By"
Not Fallen So Low as That.
An English magazine, in an article on
restaurants, tells of New York specu-