New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-02

Of D- Smith VII! be hung over the stage. In the
afternoon there Will be entertainment especially
for children. The venerable poet, who l. now IN his
e,rhty-sevcnth year. Will receive them and behind
him on the stage wifi be a chorus Of 200 schooi-chi-
drcn Lieutenant Governor Wolcott VIII preside and
make an address. Mrs. Jennie Patrick Walker VIII
sng america" ana other patriotic songs John
Hutchinson 81 the Hutchinson family, VIII sing
some Of his own songs a trihatc TO his lifelong
friend The proceeds ~ both entertainments VIII
60 TO the testimonial fund FOR pr smith
Governor Grccnhage viii preside At the evening
meeting ana WI deliver an address \ large chs
rus from the Handel and Hldyn S-cle'y, under
the direction II carr Zerrahn. VIII sing patriotic
songs The Harvard Cleo Cllb viii 80 honor 10 Or.
Smith by singing original oic 10 him. - the
tune OF "Fnir Harvard" II viii also sing Or.
Smiths latest production. Patriot sons OF Patriot
Sires" Mrs. Walker VIII sing The StdrSpangei
Banner" and Joseph T.. White "Our Native Land
Governor Grcsuhalgc VIII th"n Introduce Or.
Smith who viii tel how America was written
Iieutcnant-'iov cruor Wol-o't VIII speak on Amer
lea as the Spin, OF IAtr'ic citizenship Colonel
Albert \. Pope will talk about "DI. smith from
Soldiers Standpoint. President Ioyey. % the Nc~-
ton Theological seminary ail speak 81 "pr. smith
as a Ne ehbor.' ami Joseph W. Tha>cr. STATE Com
mander OF tho Grand Army Of th" Republic VIII
discuss America A. an Inspiration % veterans
Last Of ALL the who" aId'nr" Wil! sing America,
with orchestral accompaniment
There are cigh'y-sv men on ihe Reception Com
mlttcc one 10 represent each ycr ~ br Smiths
NE Among them ne ihr Governors ~ an tho N"w.
England States aud an the cN-Governors % Missa-
chusetts curtis Guild u.s. the chairman o. tho EN-
ecItye Committee. having direct chars" q the ar
rangcm'i's.
IL tho handsome souvenir OF the occasion Will 10
the follow uc account by Dr Smith OF how be came
10 write "Amcrica".
In the year 1881 William g. Woodbridge o. New
norK ho,ru "i' '.'s, ~.n ~ the hubble schools
that II he should iud IN them ans features ~ inter
fe' nnk9oTn TO our rGac g'n s fr sisi,l e
found that In the German schools much attention
was given H. music h' also iouiI iii} p,"hs .,
tanning music ana songs for children. h'i"rhlhg
home he brought several Of thcse music books ana
placed them iu tho hands Of Mr Lowell Mason.
I, ,Y hmeIf n5 knaviei%r Of The German Ian
gragc he brought them 20 me- AZ Andoyer, when !
then studying theology. I. 4H'F ing me 80
shoul ind time. 10 furnish Inn 'ranslauons OF The
German words. or 20 write ncw hymns and songs
adapted 10 the German music ,.,.. $500.
one OF these books my attention Was drawn 10 a
tune which attracted m" hy ~ simpc ana natural
CHANGING at the German words AT IA" i9ot
was Instantly Inspired 10 write rht'oui hymn
and in half an hour ! think The words stood upon
IL substantially as they Al" sung to-day. hip my
"GoI save the kin 10 not share the regret
Of those VINO deem Il an c',l hat the h@uo ma
contrary deem It now and beautiful tie Of union
between III" mother 3ni ne GiG Ina
the other the words
! did not propose 10 writ" a national hymn !
dld not mink that he'd done 90. ! laid the song
aside aud nearly forgot thu had made IT.. Some
weeks later sent u 10 Nj Mason and on the
following Fourth of July. much 10 my surprise. he
hrou.ht II ont ~ chilITrn's celebration IN the
Tark street Church. ia Boston. where u was first
sung ~ public.
Samuel Francis Smith was born In Boston on
October f. 1893: prepared Tor college NJ the Eliot
School and was graduated from Harvard In l@.
being a classinato of Dr. oliver Wendell Holmes.
whose quatrain about him.
And ;hcrc's q nice yOungstcr OF excellent pth-
Fate tried 10 conceal him by calling him smith;
/ But he shouted song Cor the brave and the free.
Just read on MS medal Ny Country, OF Thee.
rs so well known. Ia 1872 he was graduated from
Andovcr Seminary. having acquired four languages
during his course. In addition 10 those he had
studied I'm college. He then became a Baptist min
isjer and for a time edited THE Baptist Mission
airy Magazine" IN Boston. He became pastor Of
/ a church at Watory.llc Ne. and at the Same time
professor Of modern languages In WatcrvilIc col
lego CoIoy University. In 1872 he accepted the
pastoratc OF the FIRST Baptist Church of Newton.
Mass. and for a time edited The Christian Re
view" In s7i. and again In $3.50 he visited foreign
lands. with his wife. ana the recipient OF many
courtcsics and honors His published works have
been many. and he has been frequent contributor
10 periodical literature. Nearly coo Of his poems are
now in the hands of n publisher Tor carly issue.
He lives In the old home IA Newton Centre Mass,
With his honorcd wife more than elghty-two
years old. and his declining years made bright
by the love of his friends and the respect OF all
his countrymen.