The Monticellonian., 1895-11-22


 Dr Samuel Fraacts lsHtttH.
 lance was summoned but Dr. Smith, however, was dead when the amhu- lance arrived. He had evidently ex- pired within five minutes after the at tack. He had been very feeble for some time, but was q ble to appear out as usual.
 Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said faeetously that he supposed the three people in the world whose poems were the best known were himself one smith and one Brown. The "oue Brown" he had in mind was the Mrs Brown who wrote Il Love to Steal Awhile 1 Away The "one Smith was his old college elassmate and longtime friend samuel 1 Francis smith, D. D., the author Of My Goun- try, lis of Thee"
 Samuel Francis Smith was born October 21 l 1908, at Newton, Mass, a suburb of Boston 1 His home stood near the historic old North i church, where Paul Revere ordered his friend i To hang the lantern aloft. Raised in thIs at mosphere, young Smith mbibed the best tra- l ditions Of the American revolution. He was natural verstier, and began to write poems when he was but years old.
 As a boy Dr. Smith attended the Elliot school H Boston, and won the Franklin sehol- arship in 1925. Four years later he went to 1 Harvard. He graduated with signal honors and began studying for the ministry at Andover i theological seminary from which, in fs32 he emerged to accept the pastorate of the Baptist l church in WaterVille. Me. Later he became | professor of languages at Water He academy, now Colby university. He returned to BoS- Lon in JaHuury, 1642, as pastor Of the First Baptist church in Newton Center, and as the editor of the Christian Review leading Baptist organ Dr. smith then gave his time to foreign missionary work as editorial secretary of the Missionary union for period of fifteen years, during which time he also preached constantly and kept up his literary work and teaching without interruption From 1s75 to lsf6 he travelled in Europe, accompanied i by his wife, who, before her marriage. was Miss smith, a granddaughter of Dr. Hezebiah smith, of Haverhill, Mass, who was d chap | lain ill tine revolutionary army and one of the founders of Brown college.
 Dr. smith had meanwhile become famous through his hymn, America" and his services were constantly sought by the churches as q result Of this production.
 Many stories have been told of how the fa- nous preacher came to write the national an them. His own story is this
 Il did not know said Dr. Smith last sum mer, that had written a national hymu-not 1 until the conviction was forced upon me.
 When was student in the theological | seminary iu AndOver, Mass, Mr. Lowell Mason through whose efforts the study of music was introduced in the public schools of Boston and elsewhere In this country brought me a num- bcL rOl o4lB 4lS bpOhS, WHICH MT. " ltlldu O, l Woodbridge, who had visited Germany to in spect the school system there. had brought home with him and put into Mir Mason's hands.
 MT Woodbridge had been much impressed | with the German method of teaching music in the schools, and 1 was asked to look through the books and translate such Of the songs as seemed to me appropriate to our American | schools.
 Turning over the leaves of one of the music books, found one song Of a patriotic nature set te the tune which England claims as hers because she has 50 long sung t to the words God save the Queen, but which the Danes claim as theirs, and which the Germans claim aS original with them, and of the real origin Of which believe no one is certain.
 "Ihe music impressed me by It's simplicity and easy movement, and was at once moved to write patriotic hymn Of my own, which American children cod sing to the same tune, which did on a scrap Of waste paper prob l ably finishing it within half an hour.
 That was in February, 1s32. 1 gave the 1 hymn to Mr. Mason with others-some transla- tons, others my own-and thought no more of il. Fourth of July l happened into Park Street church in Boston, where Sunday-sehool children were enjoying patriotic festival. It was at thIS childrens Fourth Of July celebra- tion that America was first sunK, the words Of which l had written d few months before. Since then l have heard it sung all over the world.
 As to the story which has been told of the sending of the original of America to the pope, it is not true. An autograph copy was sent, framed by a friend of mine as an ndi- yidual, to be deposited in the vatican library at Rome; the original Is still in my own pos session
 The original copy of "America" was exhibited in Boston in september, at meeting held in honor Of the author.
 Dr. Smith, in the latter part of his life tray eled a great deal, visiting Europe and Asia in- specting missionary stations Of all denomina- tions in both continents. As an author he 1 published biographies of several distinguished | people, besides many articles for newspapers magazines and reviews. He was an enthusi- astic student of foreign tongues spoke several fuently and had reading knowledge of iif- | teen languages,
 were inseparable companions. It was of Dr. l Smith that Dr. Holmes wrote in his poem to "the boys, composed for one of their Harvard class reunions:
 And there's nice youngster Of excellent pith. 1 Fate tried to conceal it by naming him smith: i But he shouted song for the brave anu the
 free
 Justre on his medal, My country. Of theetu
 For the last few years of. Dr Holmes life the remnant of the class of 2g gave up holding their annual reunion at one of the l hotels, and dined at his residence as his l personal guests. These occasions lasted l from in the afternoon till late at night l and the "reminiscences exchanged were pecu- hariy entertaining, saddened only by the l dwindling members But there will be no re- union this year. The class Of '29 has passed 1 away.
 Among the most pleasing events in the life of 1 pr. Smith was the grand testimonial which was rendered him by the people of New En- gland in Music hall, Boston, April last. That was the last time Dr. Smith appeared on a | public platform, excepting his appear ance before the immense Saturday noon l day meeting of the Christian Endeavor ] on Boston commons, to read an original hymn, sung to the tune Of America"