The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31
THE PULPIT And THE PEW.
The Legends That EnYelop the Subject
Of HymnOlOgy.
AUTHORS OF VERY FAMOUS HYMNS.
The Responsibility Of the Compilers of Hymn
Books-Errors That Have Been
Allowed TO Creep In.

The propensity of human narrators to adorn
with exaggeration, or with new and striking
points, the story they have TO tell is inveter-
ate. 1t Is the ungrateful task Of modern in
yestigators to strip history Of much Of its in
terest by depriving it Of many of its most ro-
mantle features. The Father Of his Country
appeals much more strongly to ingenious
youth when he is depicted az the truthful
owner of the little Ratchet" but we believe
1t is now universally admitted that DR.. Weems
was the fabricator Of the story. And in like
manner have a score of equally pleasant fc-
tons been exposed and discounted Of late.
The papers have recently contained dis
cusson Of that stirring lyric Hold the Fort
On the one hand 1t has been claimed as a true
picture OF critical event in Shernan's cam
palgn IN Georgia. the signal of promised relief
having been displayed at divers times to the
beleaguered garrison. To this 1t has been an
swered, and we are sorry 10 say with much
plausibility that the alleged incidents are
fabulous and necessarily so, because impossi-
bic. The music and moral Of the hymn lose
nothing by this, but it certainly would be
more impressive had It solid foundation of
fact.
The growth of legend around one hymn
naturally leads us TO "a mention of a similar
eillorescence in other well known quarters.
Within few months past prominent rellgl-
Gus weekly Of Cincinnati published a state
ment that Miss Charlotte Elliott of England,
"a young lady" of gay habits, made a saucy
answer TO the Rev. Asa Alalon, when he asked
her if she was q Christian and babe her 90 10
Christ just as she was. The story continues
that the admOnitiOn struck TO her heart and she
was finally impelled TO write the noted hymn,
. Irfct oa Am rom oil ngff
made out of the whole cloth. The hymn was
written about 1893. when its auther was past
fOrty-fOur. She had been an invalid and de-
yOut person for years previous. 1t has been
said that it signalized release from period OF
doubt and depression, but the young lady"
feature is the manufacture of some ones i'm
agination.
Still more remarkable legends have grown
around two of the most famous productions
of English hymn writer's. Augustus MOntagu
TOplady. a Jealous Cavanst. and Charles
Wesley, an equally jealous Armenian, were
contemporaries and bitter theological oppo-
nents. Yet they were fundamentally closely
united in sentiment, as Toplady's Rock OF
Ages" and Wesleys Jesus, Lover Of My
Soul" abundantly attest. An explanation Of
the kindred doctrine and occasional verbal re-
semblance OF the two lyrics IS even now tray-
cling through the press. though the slightest
acquaintance with the facts IS sufficient 10 re-
flute it. 1t is said that the two writers, having
become recOnciled after years Of controversy,
were DESTROYS of Signalling the fact. and 50
each wrote a hymn that should embOdy their
common faith.
As history shows, no such reconciliation
took place. Moreover. Wesleys hymn was
published in 174O, about the time Of Topadys
birth. The Rock of Ages" appeared some
thirty years later. There is further legend
about the sources of Wesleys inspiration. for
which, we believe, there is no gOodproof 1t IS
said that a dove pursued by hawk took
refuge IN his bosom one day. and thus sug-
gested to his poetic mind the opening lines:
Jesus. lover Of my soul.
Let me to thy bosom fly"
A more probable account makes the hymn an
expression of gratitude for dehyerance from
mob.
We do not suppose that these fctons have
grown in all cases from intentional falsehood.
They have usually started through some mis-
apprehension Of facts, though there IS GER
tain evidence of a desire 10 substantiate
theories by facts. IN the same way have the
apOcryphal gospels incrusted with sensational
additions the simple narratives Of the four
eyapgelists Thus The penitent thief, pardoned
on the cross was in early life "a rObber who
saved the infant Christ. on his way to Egypt
with his parents, from the murderous designs
of his comrades. The devOUt Cornelius be-
comes the centurion whose servant was
healed, and other dramatic incidents are IN
troduced to satisfy the human disposition to
square all accounts. even IN tins life.
Compilers of hymn books are responsible
for two crimes which would be condemned IN
any department of secular literature. FIRST.
they often change the text 10 suit sectarian
ideas or TO crafty personal sQueamlshness.
Hymn tinkering" has become a standard
phrase. To a limited extent II may be justified,
if properly acknowledged, but carried TO the
usual extent 1t IS often an outrage. HE sec
Ond Oiense is less helnous, but shows cupaDle
Il l. 81 H. hoo NHls lnl
same hymns Will be ascribed 70 as many dill
ferent authors, or buried under the subscup-
ton Anon"
This has contributed to the formation of
myth. Thus the Rev. Henry Lyle. an Eng
llsh clergyman, wrote the hymn beginning
Jesus, / M cross have taken" IL was
wrongly ascribed TO Sir Robert Grant. man
of high social and official position. who was
the unQuestiOnable author Of several hymns.
Next it was transferred to a mythical Miss
Grant" and fiction started. which we are
glad 10 say has utterly disappeared. The au-
thor. whether Miss Grant or some one else.
was turned out of her fathers house for being
religious. In her restitution her faith was
triumphant and hence the poem. AS sad
above the real author was Dir. Lyle.
There are several hymns which have stories
connected with them that are both true and
interesting. They need to be investigated,
however, for they belong 10 a suspicious class.
We believe il undeniable that Fawcetts
"Blest be the tie that binds" was written TO
signalize his determination 10 stay with a
country congregation, after receiving tempt
ing offer from prosperous London church.
There is pretty good authority also for the
origin of Dr. Watts How vain are all things
here below" in his being told by tho lady
whom he had long secretly loved that ne had
spoken too late, since she had just engaged |
herself to another Still, as we have said,
caution is necessary even in apparently we'll
cases, and the warning might |
be emphasized by a still larger number of |
than we have adduced.-Chicago |
lnter-Oceau.