The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-19
cowPER's FAMOUS HYMNS.
Special Services i'm COmmemoratiOn
at the First Presbyterian Church.


at the First Presbyterian Church.
The services al the First Presbyterian
church yesterday evening were unusually
interesting. being a continuance Of the
services devoted 10 the great hymn writ
ers. Yesterday "Cowper and His Hymns"
was the theme. BY the Rev. Dr. l. {. Nass.
sad indeed" said the preacher, was the
life Of that good man and great poet, Will
lam cowper. Indeed, his life has been call
ed living death for seventy years. He
was born Nov. Is, 1871, in the rectory, Great
Berkhamstead, Hartfordshire, England,
and all his life was a wintry November.
His family was ancient and honorable
His father Rev. John CoWper, ID. D., was
a minister Of the Church of England. on
his mothers side he was descended by
four different lines from King Henry III.
His mother died when William was only
years old, but he felt her loss keenly, and
his future troubles were greatly due to
her death and the consequent loss Of her
wise and gentle guidance and nurture of
a lad with such a timid, nervous, even
morbid disposition. His father knew Moth
ing about the proper care Of him and put
him in a boarding school, where he was
literally tortured for two years, and his
life permanently darkened."
schools he studied law and was admitted
to the bar when p years of age. He
never did much, as his time was wasted
and dissipation injured him. In 1852 his
first attack of melancholy began, and II
lasted a year. He fell in love with his
cousin, but her father refused his con-
sent. and this made Cowper more dis
spirited.
In 1863 he obtained a position as reading
clerk to the House Of Lords, but his
mind gave way and he was removed to a
private asylum. Religious troubles de-
pressed him, and he believed that he
was damned. A Bible was left in his way,
and he began studying it, and finally saw
his life truth and was converted. He then
began writing these beautiful hymns, the
first one composed beginning
How blest Thy creature is, o God,
When with a single eye
He views the lustre of Thy word,
The Dayspring from on high"
Cowper finally moved to Huntington,
and here he was thrown into Christian
associations that benefited him greatly.
THE eventful. poetic years, when his
sweet piety hourished, and the Olney
Hymns were composed" continued DR..
Vass, in his address. "were from 1867 to
1856, nine years, when this exemplary
Christian life and works proved him in
deed a son of God. He had no fixed aim
Olney, dirty, lace-making town in a fiat
country on the river Ouse."
The work done here by COwper was en-
larged upon by the preacher and the
hymns spoken of and several instances
given of the manner in which they were
written. some of them under queer and
peculiar circumstances. He had an at
tack of insanity but recovered and wrote
a great many more hymns, all of them
full of the praise of God and his mercy
to mankind.
A number of the hymns were sung and
touching references made to each. as to
the manner and circumstances that led
to its composition. Once Cowper tried to
drown himself, but after driving by a
river for over an hour, he could not find
a suitable place, and so desisted. He then
composed a most touching and thankful
hymn, one that has been sung and COM
mented on by thousands Cowper died
in 1900, aged SO. in a dense cloud, as to
his mental faculties.
Commenting on him, Mr.. Vass said:
Living in the atmosphere of misery, it
is astonishing how he wrote the finest
most humorous and beautiful letters in
the English language; the healthiest poe
try; the most refined and elevated Chris
tian hymns and translated. some of the
masterpieces Of Greeian poetry and classic
song"