The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-10-24
SOME FAMOUS HYMNS.
Nearly All Great IisII=ious Songs the Il;
suit OF inspiration.

Nearly All Great IisiI=ious Songs the Re
suit OF Inspiration.
II is more true, perhaps, Of hymns
than Of any form of poetry that they
owe their origin 70 some sudden inspi-
ration that seldom is repeated, says the
Chicago Tribune. The great 'Te
Deum," that pean of Christianity, is
said 70 have been first sung at the bap-
tism Of St. Augustine. Certain iti that
il was the first hymn which Columbus
and his sailors sang when they set foot
on the New World and planted the flag
Of Spain.
Thomas al Celano, scholar of st.
Francis, Of Assist, wrote dies lr;e.
One Of the best versions in English Is
that Of Lord RoscommOn, who died with
two lines OF it on his lips.
The ''Neui, 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 no
ments OF Inspiration
Rock Of Ages" 4 hymn which has
been a great comfort TO Christians was
written by Augustus Toplady in 175s-
| The authors life was troubled one;
his creed underwent changes: his temper
was fiery. The better part of his ma
| ture seems TO have blossomcd forever in
| this hymn.
Bishop Heber wrote much besides the
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 1872, was the
! author Of Come Ye Sinners, Poor and
| Needy"
Sir Walecr Shirley, an English
I knight and preacher, who died in 1896,
\ composed tho beautiful hymn, known as
| Sweet the Moments Rich in Blessing"
| Dr. Timothy Dwight, one of the early
| presidents Of Yale, wrote many ponder
| Gus and learned works on theology; but
| the reason why he will he longer re-
membered than many another theoloEian
| is that he was the author of Il Love
| Thy Kingdom, Lord"
Nearer, My God, 70 Thee" was COM
posed by Sarah Fuller Flower. She
| married a civil engineer named Adams
| in 1851. She died in 1888 at the age of
forty-tour, 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
Ny Soul, Thou Saviour Dear"
Just as I Am, Without One Plea"
was written by Miss Charlotte Elliott,
Of Clapham, Eng. How she came 10
compose it was curious a clergyman
asked her one day If she were a Chris
tian. She replied that she felt un-
worthy 70 approach the Lord But
como Just as You are" suggested the
clergyman. The words touched her
and shc put thcm in the form by which
thcy arc known 70 Christians all over
the world. Miss Elliott died in 1871.
u Would Sot Live Away" was
written fifty years ago by Rev. DR.
Nuhlcnberg. II Is a hymn which has
comfOrted many mourners and given its
author lasting fame.
Ninety and Nine" a hymn which
was a great favorite with Moody and
Sankey congregations. was written by
Miss Elizabeth c. Clephane, a Scottish
lady. Mr.. Sankcy supplied the music.
The Lead, Kindly Light" OF DR..
John Henry Newman (now Cardinal
Newmanl was written during voyage
70 England This hymn is said - be 4
great favOrito with Queen Victoria. II
seems TO be loved equally by all Chris
tian sccts. Its venerable author is still
living.
The late Matthew Arnold severely
criticised those hymns Of a Salvation
Army order in which, however com
mendablc may have been the intention
OF the author, the language dcscends 20
a vulgar plane. bad music and bad
poetry in the end aEe dangerous" said
Mr.. Arnold. Among hymns that have
been degraded TO commonplace uses is
tho sweet BY and By" Its history is
a curious one:
Prof. Joseph p. Webster, the author
Of the music, was at times subject 10
deep melancholy. Entering his office
one day in one OF his blue fits his part
ner, Bennett, asked him:
What IS the matter now?"
NO matter" was tho answer; ''it 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 a musical staff and began to al il
with notes.
Bennett" he said, 1--WE 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"