The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-21
MOST POPULAR HYMN.
Which Has Most Influenced and
Helped Mankind.


There are some questions which are use
full enough as stimulants to interesting
IL sc ussion, but which can never re COD
clusively answered. Such question Is
that which the English editor, MIR. vii
liam 4. Stead, has been writing "a book
about--What are the hymns that have
most influenced and helped mankindy
10 solve this riddle Mr.. Sts~d has been
asking large numbers OF eminent men
and women 20 name their fayorite hymn
and give him their opinion as 10 the ex-
tent of its helpfulpess to humanity. The
result Is an entertaining book on the SUBJ
iecr, judging from extracts which appear
in the current McClure's Magazine He
gives high rank to Lutners hymn, "a
sure Stronghold Our God Is lie, as a
force on the building OF German national
character. This hymn was called by
Heinrich Helne The Marseillaise of the
Reformation, but 1t can hardly be said
TO have a popular vogue today. certainly
not outside of Germany. The battle
hymn composed by the valiant Gustavus
Adolphus Is in the same category of re-
ligious songs that nave steadied the souls
of fighting men in an age that is past.
but are today only a far-off memory.
Hymn writing was a fayorite occupation
of royal pens in the middle ages, 1t was
Robert H., King OF France, and son OF
Hugh Cape,, who wrote In Latin one of
the favorite hymns Of our day. the trans
lation of which in "Hymns Ancient and
Modern" begins with the line Come
Thou Holy Spirit, Come" The author
ship of this celebrated "Veni. Sancte
Spiritus" still sung in thousands of both
Catholic and Protestant churches. has bean
sometimes claimed for Pope Innocent
Ill, and again for stephen Langton,
one time archbishop Of Canterbury.
Scholarly research, however, has given
its verdict that King Robert H., who died
in l03l was its real author. and this
gives him the distinction OF having writ
ten hymn which. after nine centuries,
is still in general use in church worship
The great Emperor, Charleinagne is
credited with the authorship of the cole.
brated "Neni Creator Spiritus. OF which
Dryden's English translation is familiar,
beginning:
Creator. Spirit, by whost aid
The worlds foundations nrst were laid
This majestic hymn has been in use for
ages on great public occasions. such rs
the crowDlng Of kings and the assem-
bling Of great religious conclaves. But
Charlemagne's authorship is disputed
Some say it is AZ old as the time Of Am
misty morning uf civilization hymn
was written in tie monastery of Mar Saba,
in the valley of the Kedron. which Is
still-sung in nur American Episcopal
churches, and in others, too, every sun
day i'm the year. 1t was written in the
eighth century 10y "A monk named Step
hen, and DR.. Neales version of il begins
with the familiar words: art thou
weary, art thou laDguId, art thouhg sore
distrostg'
"ROCK OF AGES"
Some years ago the English magazine
Sunday at Home collected tho sentiment
of its readers as TO their favorite hymns
and reported that the majority favored
"Rock OF Ages, while its nearest rivals
N popularity wers abide with Me" and
Jesus, Lover of My Soul" Ther5 Is no
doubt of the immense favor of Rock of
Ages among English speaking religious
people. Toplady, Calvinistic vicar Of
an English parish, wrote it for the pur-
pose of assailing John Wesley's dot trine
of entire sanctiiication, but Re died
without having the slightest idea thaf IL
was destined to immortality. The late
Prince Consort asked TO hear 1t In his Gy-
inc boIr. Mr.. Gladstone has translated
il into Latin, Greek. aud Italian. DIR.
Pussy pronounced it 1.-THE most deservedly
popular hymn. The poor Armenians
SANG it while they were being slaughtered
In last years. fearful massacres. General
Stuart, the confederate cavalry leader,
sang Il with almost his last breath.
When the London went down n the Dny
of Biscn,, Jan. II, 1866, the last thing
heard by the last boatload of the saved
who left tho ships side was the voices OF
the passengers singing Rock Of Ages.
Mr. stead concludes. therefore, that no
other English hymn has laid so broad
and firm grasp on the English speaking
world.
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT"
This may he true but ii is really I'M
possible to decide. The popularity OF
hymn may be greater on peculiarly solemn
occasions suon "a tho sinking OF pas
senger ship, and yet, takine all occasions,
IL may bo no more favorito than some
others. 1t may well he doubted If among
modern hymns Newman's famous Lead
Kindly Light" is not iirst, and 10 Is
certainly one OF the two or three first In
the general esteem OF all Christian people
who speak English. At tho great Chi
cago congress of religions, cvory creed
being represented. this singnlarly beauti-
ful hymn was found 10 be the one they
could oil sing together. And there are
many Others which would need tn he con
sidercd in any fair enumeration OF the
hymns that have most powerfully swayei
a lac