The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-01
HYMNS WITH IMPROVEMENTS
DIR. ROBINSON EXPLAINS ABOUT THE
AMENDED LEAD, KINDLY LIGHEn

| DIR. ROBINSON EXPLAINS ABOUT THE
AMENDED "LEAD, KINDLY LIGHLn
Wesley Improved on Watts II Before J,.
hoovah's Awfa, Throne "-Noboay SINCE
Topiady's Original "Rock OF Ases"-
Four Versions or "Aias, and Did Ny "a.
viosr Bleed t"-Hymns Must be singaSie.
The Rev. DR.. Charles s. Robinson. the hym.
nologist. whose hymn books we're so objection.
able to DR.. Pennington OF Newark. and led to
Dr. Pennlngton's resignation from the First
| Presbyterian Church there. was seen YESTERDAY
by reporter for The Sun in regard to the
cancellations and careless editing OF famous
hymns charged against him by DR.. Penping.
ton. DR.. Robinson had Just moved into his new
apartments at $50 West Ffty.seventh street,
and his books and papers. he said. were all
packed away where he couldn't get at them.
II don't care to get into any controversy
| with DR.. Pennington" he said. "There Ia no
| need Of my answering his charges about the
garbled hymns further than to say that did
not make any one OF the changes he refers to.
but simply selected from the different versions
already adopted and approved. taking those
that seeme ed most satisfactory for singing and
for the sentiments expressed. What people
want is something that they can sing and u
makes very little difference whether or not a
WOTu u0IO euu tiicto HOS Uceu CndnGe0. i
have never made more than two or three
changes myself In my whole life. but have
often been very glad 70 ind an amended YER.
sion that had been published and approved"
To show how common the practice OF am end.
Ing hymns has been. DR.. Robinson referred 70
a count that had onoe been made BY an on.
thusiastic hymnologist. showing that In one
Of the celebrated collections there are GOT
changes in 345 versions OF psalms. and In
another collection 1888 changes In 774 Of the
most noted hymns. Very often. he said. the
hymns were not written to DO sung. and IL was
most desirable that they should be changed.
One Of the most notable liberties cited
against DR.. Robinson by Or. Pennington was
In Cardinal Newman's Lead. Kindly Light"
THAT hymn OF Newman's." DR.. Robinson
said. was sent to me over thirty years ago.
when was compiling my frst hymnsl By An
eminent minister. who copied It from news.
paper. It was printed In the newspaper with.
outsny name attached. and It was years after
before anybody was aware that Newman
wrote It The friend who sent It to me OF.
planned that in the newspaper the verses DO.
gan Lead. kindly light but the word Lead
he explained. was very probably mtsprtnt
rs ssppts %s
fh sna enc tbs wsh
s 81 f u, Ih,,ough Sseary doubt through
newspaper OF, By the ninisteE / put tho
h. sns ssSss s.vf ssy a's p *
thst IT, syaR9
Se Of tne
name and az that was the rst time 1t 50 aD-
il Vas too iata then Tor savsral raa.ons n,
lion Of Songs Of the sa'n.etusEyi The fact
The index. Nearly 100000 copies Of the book
the introduction Of ., new way would mako
i beea%e fnewn who 0A IL ~ n Was. soS
q sss.Sss s
:Sss : ss5sS Hss
ss: AZ ~
1so II tie rss the
he one contaned the 6d School Se Presby
ferian Hyn,n ma sPd when COMPLIED ny book
ions with Topiady's name attached toe to each
original lines ran:
Whilst I s.:x sS.: a:sss,ns breath
S'Sse sA
THAT isn't . very pleasant notion. and in
both versions 1t has been changed to
While draw this hestng breath
when my eysiids close In death.
%sS there yss the d!spgss
book. DR.. Pennington went to my publishers
Ind satd he would waive all other objections to
he book II they would restore that line. When
ny eye-strinRa break In DEATH They refused.
md he wouldn't have the book.
" Tho first stanZa OF 1suac Watts's Before
Iehovah's Awful Throne WAS all written BIZ
ohm Wesley and not by Watts. Watts's yer.
ion began:
Nations, attend before His throne
With solemn fear. with sacred Joy.
"wattss name is s!ways attached to the
ymn but nobody would wish to return to his
wkward opening lines. That other hymn by
Vatts, Alas. and Did Ny Saviour Bleed CON.
aimed this line:
When God. the mighty Maker. died.
That isn't q satisfactory line to most peo.
lie. and found three other versions rs folloWss
when Christ. the srsat Creator. died
when Christ our blest Rsdssmsr. disd
When Christ tho Lord Of glory. died.
II chose the first Of these for my book.
eople want hymns that they can sing, and
'hen they have learned one version It ID not
dvisable to upset them with another"