The gold leaf., 1899-07-13
"SUNShiNE IN MY SOUL. d"
A Word About It's Author.
By JOHN X. CLEMENTS.

busiest pens lalu down. hen. on
the afternoon of April 10. Prof John
Robson Sweeney said farewell to
earth, the book of an eventful life
closed.
He was born in 1887. His musical
career began with study under Pro-
fessor Barili when he was nineteen
years old, and he was a bandmaster
in Delaware regiment during the
Civil War. 1t is as the author of
gospel hymn tunes that have found
their way around the world that he
will longest be remembered, though
his work as leader of music in
Bethany Presbyterian Church. Phila-
delphia, as musical director at the
Ocean Grove camp-meetings, and as
teacher of music at the Pennsylvania
Military Academy, has made him
known to thousands. and no one ever
met him but to love him.
We stood together on the platform
of a railway station one afternoon,
manv miles from the scenes of any of
his labOrs, and where he had little
thought of being known, when a lady
stepped up to him and said ..Profes-
sor Sweeney, | believe9 l met you at
Ocean Grove last year. l want to
tell you what help your songs have
been to me-" Everywhere he went
he found friends to admire him. be-
cause of the enjoyment and help he
had afforded them.
So busy was his pen that always
once year, and some years oftener,
his Publishers put on the market "a
new book of gospel songs edited by
him. These books had large sales.
Perhaps no single composition has
been sung more than '.Beulah Land" :"
one of his earliest productions.
Stories of its use have come back to
him from every quarter, to cheer
him and make his heart glad with
the knowledge of having been a
source of help to many through IL. A
traveller climbing the Alps one day.
came upon an old lady rocking a wee
baby in her arms, and singing in her
native tongue, while she swung it to
and fro
80 Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land"
AS illustrating how often the most
signal success in composition may
be thought failure at the start,
Professor Sweeney told me that just
after the first appearance OF "Beulah
Land" he was besought by his pub
Usher to try his hand at changing it,
"as it didn't seem to bo taking very
fast" The young author brought it
back in little while with the re-
mark, 81 can't better it by any
change can think Of" "All right,
said the publisher, '.let it stand as it
is. The song is beginning to 60"
and it has been going from that day
till this.
can never forget the impression
made upon my mind by his Sun
shine in my Soul'' the first time |
heard it. The California delegation
to the Christian Endeavor Inter
national Convention at Montreal came
marching into the large drill-hall
singing the sweet, cheering melody,
and the song and the singing made 4
decided hit. This work of Professor
Sweeney was the first of a long line of
'sunshinc songs" by many authors
that have scattered cheer and bright
ness everywhere. 1t is n notable fact
the words of .'Sunshine in my Soul
and More about Jesus, two songs
which have won for themselves 4
lasting name,-both came from Miss
Hewitt to Professor Sweeney in the
same mail.
One of the unique pictures hung on
the walls of my memory is = Sunday
afternoon scene in the Elmira, n. Y,
Reformatory, where Professor Sweeney
led the convicts for an hour in a
service Of gospel song. The large
chapel was filled, and as the hundreds
of men entered heartily into the
| spirit of the service, the effect can
readily be imagined.
Hon. John Wanamaker paid very
touching tribute to the worth Of Pro-
fessOr Sweney's work at his funeral.
and said, This blessed man has only
climbed up the mountain, and like
Moses entered the Land of Promise.
God sent down His angels from the
upper sky with message for this
sweet singer to come to the Land OF
Song"
The singers voice is still. and 1.-The
pen of ready writer" shall never
fashion melodies for earth. He has
found sweeter employment in the
Gland of unending song" of which
he has so often sung. We shall miss
him here, but we are thankful for
what he has left behind to cheer us
ION our pilgrim way. "-Binghomton
". y, Christian Endedror World.
was seriously afflicted with a cough fol
several years and last fall had a more
severe cough than ever before. ! have uset
many remedies without receiving much re
lief, and being recommended to try bottle
Of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, by ;
friend, who, knowing me to be a poo
widow, gave it TO me, tried it, and will
the most gratifying results. The first bo,tl'
relieved me very much and the second bot
tie has absolutely cured me. | have no
had as good health for twenty years.
give this certificate without solicitation
simply in appreciation Of the gratitude fel
for the cure effected Respectfully, Mrs
MARY A. BEARD, Claremore, Ark. Fo
sale by Dorsey Drug Co.
The little cub hedgehog spied
which he began to whine for:"Hedge
hogs are not" the old bear cried, 9TH
lind of norE-you-nine for - -(bepo