Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-01
TWO rAvoRITE HYMNS.


ing of the president has included the
authors of the two favorite hymns of
the NJ artyr-''Lead, Kindly Light, "
and Nearer. My God, 10 Thee" There
are many inqAiries in relation TO the
life and worn of the authors of the two
hymns. and the following biographi-
Cal sketches, prepared under the di-
rection of Librarian Wilcox, will be
of interest, the points being taken
from the latest biographical works
extant:
Sarah Faller Flower Adams, au-
thoress of Nearer. My God to Thee. !"
poetess, was born at Great Harlow, Es-
sex, Feb. p, 1905. In 1884 she married
w. B. Adams and died of decline in
1913. Her principal work. VIVA
Perpetual" q dramatic poem, was
published in 1871. She is likewise
authoress of numerous contributions
to the Monthly Repository, and of a
long poem in ballad metre, entitled
Tine Royal Progress" on the surren-
der of the sovereignty of the Isle OF
Wight to Edward 1. by Isabella,
countess of Albemarle. she also
composed several hymns, set to music
by her sister; numerous unpublished
poems on social and political subjects,
principally written for the Anti-Corn
Law league, and a little religious
catechism entitled The Flock az the
Fountain" The authorizes, however,
was most happily inspired in her
by INNS, which as simple expressions
of devotional feeling at once pure and
passionate. can hardly be surpassed
Nearer, My God, TO Thee" often
enormously attributed to Harriet
Beecher Stowe, is known wherever
the English language is spoken, and
the lines beginning: "He sendeth
sun, He sendeth shower" are more
exquisite in their blended spirit of
fervor and resignation. Her uncle,
Richard Flower, emis grated to Amer
lea in 1922, and founded the town CT
Albion, county seat of Edwards
county, Ill.
The music to which Nearer, MY
God, to Thee" is usually sung was
Composed by Dowen Mason.
John Henry Newman, author of
Lead, Kindly Light, " was cardinal of
the holy Roman church, and was born
in the city of London on Feb. 2l,
1901. Newman was the eldest of six
children, three boys and three girls.
At the age of seven he was sent to a
private school of high character, con-
Quoted on the Etou lines by DR.. Mich
olson at Ealing. He was entered at
Trinity college, Oxford, en- the 18th
of December, 1916, when he was yet
two months short of 10. In Decem-
Der, 1882. Newman and his colleague,
Hurrell Froude, went to the south of
Europe for Froude's health. In COM
pany with Froude and his father,
Archdeacon Froude, he visited Gibral-,
tar, Malta. the Ionian islands, parts
of Sicily, Naples and Rome. Il YVES.
in Rome that Newman and Froude
began the "Lyra Apostt lica." In
April. 1888, the Froudes left Rome
for France. and Newman returned to
Sicily. At Leonforte he fell danger
ously i'll of a fever. and during the
heighth of his malady kept exclaim
ing, Il shall not die; have q work to
do" In June, 1888, he left Palermo
for Marseilles in An orange boat. 1t
way during this voyage, when be-
Gained for a whole week in the straits
of Bonifacio, that his most popular
verses, Lead, Kindly Light" were
written.
In 1S45. II years after writing this
hymn, Newman renowned protes-
tantism and joined the Catholic
church. The music to which LEAD,
Kindly Light" is usually sung, was
composed by the Rev. John b. Dykes,
Durham, England.