The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-17
The Famous Author Of the
National Hymn, America"
LEAoERoF THE BAPTIST CHURCH
He Knew Many Languages and Wrote
the Missionary LYNN, The Morn
ing Light Is Breaking.''


ward. He was dead when the ambulance
which was called arrived from the hospi-
tai He had evidently expired within nve
minutes after the attack. He had been
very feeble for some time. but was able
10 appear out as usual.
Samuel Francis Smith was born In Bos-
ton, October. =. 1905 He attended the
Boston Latin school IN iS20-25. and was
graduated at Harvard In ls29 and az An
dover Theological Seminary IN iSSZ He
was ordained 10 the ministry CT the Bap-
t!st church at Watervilie. Me-, In lSS4-42,
and at Newton, Mass, In lSi2-A, and was
professor Of modern languages in Water
VILE college. now Colby University, while
residing in that city. He was editor Of The
Christian Review in Boston in iS42-4S. and
editor Of the various publications or the
Baptist missionary union in ls94-nS IN
1875 and 1SS0-S2, he visited the chief mis-
sionary stations Ia Europe and Asia. He re-
ceived the degree Of d. d. from Watsryille
college in 1s54. DR.. Smith did a large
amount or literary work, mainly in the
line of hymnology. his most noted compo-
sit!on being the national hymn, My Coun-
try. IT'S OF Thee which was written
while he was a theological student and first
sung at a children's celebration in the Park
street church. Boston. July T. 1852. The
missionary hymn. The Morning Light Is
bfSaE1NSx was written the sdiLlS place
and time. He translated from the Ger
man most OF the pieces in the Juvenile
Lyre," published in Boston in 1882, and
from the conversational Lexicon" nearly
enough articles 10 fill an entire volume
of he Encyclopedia Americana" CS2S-22l.
His collection Of original hymns and poetry
and poetlcal TRANSACTIONS have been pub
lshed under the titles Of Lyric Gems"
(Boston 1S40; The Psalmist, noted Bap-
list hymn book Gs40, and Rock of Ages"
in 1866. He also published the Life OF
Rev. Joseph Grafton" Missionary
Sketches" History OF Newton. Mass"
'Ramb.es in Mission Fields" and contri-
buttons 10 various periodicals. HIS class
mate, Oliver Wendell Holmes. In his re-
union poem, entitled. The Boys" thus
referred 10 him:
And here's a nice youngster OF excel
lent pith;
Fate tried to conceal him by naming him
But he chanted a song for the brave and
the free
Just read on his medal. My Country. of
This is DR.. Smiths own account OF how
he came to write America: In the year
1891, William c. Woodbridge, OF New
York, noted educator. was deputed to
visit Germany and inspect the system OF
the public schools. that If he should find
in them any features of interest unknown
to our public schools here. they might be
adopted in the schools of the United
States. He found that in the German
schools much attention was given to
music; he also found many books contain
ing music and songs for children. Re
turning home. he brought several OF these
music books and placed them in the hands
of Mr.. Lowell Mason. then noted COM
poser. organist and choir leader. Having
himself no knowledge u the German lam
guage. he brought them 10 me at An
dover, where I was then studying theol-
ogy. requesting me, as I should find time.
to furnish him with translauons of the
German words. or to write new hymns
and songs adapted to the German music.
on a dismal day IN February. 1882. look
ing over one of these books, my attention
was drawn 10 a tune which attracted me
by its simple and natural movement and
It's fitness for children's choirs CHANGING
at the German words at the foot of the
page, / saw that they were patriotic, and
I was instantly inspired to write a pa
triotlc hymn OF my own. Selling a scrap
OF waste paper, l began to write, and In
half an hour l think the words stood upon
IL substantially as they are sung today.
did not know at the time that the tune
was the British God Save the King. ! do
not share the regret OF those who deem IL
an evil that the national tune OF Britain
and America is the same. On the con-
trary I deem IL n new and beautiful tie
of union between the mother and the
daughter, one furnishing the music Or,
indeed, Il Is really English). and the other
the words. I did not propose TO write a
national hymn. I did not think that had
done so. I laid the song aside. and nearly
forgot that l had made II. Some weeks
later I sent 1t 10 Mr.. Mason, and on the
following Fourth Of July much 10 my
surprise he brought IL out at a children's
celebra ton in Park street church IN Bos-
ton. where II was first sung In public.
The results were surprising. The ferVent
/ lines leapcd Ike wIldfre from Up 20 up
and from heart 70 heart, all over the land
When the war came. they burned stu
deeper. ard kept spreading more and more
in the North. The Yankee soldiers sang
America" together. around Southern
swamp ard forest caupfires. behind re-
doubts and from their hospital cots after
the fighting was over; and they even mt
Ell IN their hearts with II In southern
prisons. Americans away from home, in
every city. have been glad 10 sing or hear
Il sung It's words have been chanted from
the decks OF ships. tslder the stars and
stripes and perhaps every other ensign.
/ IN rourn weather and calm. Or. Smith
himself. seated among the dead remains
/ az Pou-esl listened TO them there, vith
a swelling breast And for fifty years his
] college class. III Iessen!cr numbers. always
+ sang America" first al their reunions.
+ As rezrtt If his unhoun6ed human inter
+ est and ~ his sepc1al gifts as a student,
I H. Smith has learned no less than fifteen
/ languages: Latin. ancient Greek. modern
+ Greek French, German, italian. Spanish,
: Gned sh pOrt.ruese Hebrew, Arabic.
( Svrtac. A1gi5-Saxon. Danish ard SansSr.s.
When he was editlng me Christian Review,
/ somewhere along Ia ne f3rt!es. BoswoTtl' =
/ Dictionary u the AngI0~SaXou' was pub
/ NsAea tn England Ard as he wanted 70
write an intelligent review Of this book. he
thought IL would b better 20 know the
( language. and SO he got a grammar and
stua-e ed e. There IS a pleasant story told
! OF Dr Smith whieh shows not only the
readv powers - memory essential In p lin
/ g3st, tlt also an agreeable phase az his
character. Bes IL his v rk Is a pastor in
W1.erv3te. he also served there for eight
+ wears IN the chair of modern Greek during
/ tae absence ~ It's regular occupant. One
( week when u was his turn 70 lead early
morning PRAYERS 81 chapel, the boys r.
moved ana hd the Bible. day after day.
hoping 20 create 4 eceue. But the young
professor % languages. who really enjoy
"a the.r harmless mischief. even when *
+ Wonfr'. DO % show g.. repeated from
memory. wtta precision A different hap
+ ter every morning. on Friday morning. at
prayer time. the Bible was back IN its
I place. one az the students having remark
/ ed 20 .he rest,
'Irs ne 60 Why. Smith knows the whole
4 book BY heart. so whats the use n hiding
: H~''
( On October q. tes. ;hers was grea.
+ celebration SIS Eostes ard al over ne
+ co1~try-. - T- ta's sEth birthday.
Eugene Fisi5 said nat the success ~
r-. Sms-2's great hymn was due 20 ne
. frs- A-e, as-a-.~s. "Afy Country II lt
+ ha3 been "tHr Country" uE1 pie WCu.