The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-24
me Famous Hymns. -
- and Their Inspiration.

~A.xr< ~
convincing and converting sermons ever
M roa h.,n spoken through the music and the
la Ayh The gospel of song. The famous and the
Grows ,,rely penned them the finished effort Of
ksr hsse las never produced them. Rather are thew
n fsfPO exnresson of some SOUL trimming with
ss''in' % divine love, sureharged with the wall OF
sSV big with yearnings for the Joy and calm
u vct y rsey have burst forth from hearts full of
<sr Of compassionate sorrow, of patient en-
hH.Ms serene rapture OF souls Sabbath calm
Zae o.. overflow OF souls that Of sudden were
~ INV easing word, stirred by the unconscious
ktk t;,h, incident moved by the mighty force
Fne s.,.ter and spilled their song of loving and
fri r.., 70 be gathered together again"
"a ho.d;,te circumstances that inspired these soul
X mn nI oerhaps give added interest to both the
]. I'd the singer
a.u, longing and the abiding faith of Rock Of
hs -, Me" has WON for it universal love that
VN rt.sl;sh hymn has known. 1t was written
20 naT opady, an English clergyman, whose pous
sgsu, fervor found expression in many HYMNS
% ~. sione would have immortalized him
s;Ea I;,,, OF the Gospel Magazine in I776 and in the
VIZ Safer and keenly personal controversy with John
certain doctrinsl points, Topady published in
w. four stanzas, described as "A living and dying
In ID. hottest believer in the world Those four
w, the immortal Rock of Ages hymn loved
md peasant the favorits- kkc of the wise and
fA IN Il Prince Albert found his death-bed COM
es,one translated it into Latin, and it is sung in
/ :. .r,ry living tongue OF today.
m ,o;ration of the imagery of this hymn was sug.
" i. .,id while Topiady riding through deep
4 N nv, among the Mendip hills, in the midst Of
sr,d.r,torui Whatever the immediate inspiration
y t.rent expression OF the deep pentence and the
IT,. 9Th Of the man whose grave tablet bears these
n. III. wrote Rock OF Ages, Cleft for MeP'
4 =
y toking out through open window, he saw little
PIn,ly seeking escape from a pursuing hawk
E.d weak and desperate, the little 7uttered
4. ,lety OF Wesleys bosom Wesleys present distress
II. n. incident divine message; he SHAPED il into
-. Of this hymn Jesus, Lover of My Soul through
IN ssussnds of souls have poured forth all the sorrow
Eb,yug Of their troubled being.
I'm with natural gift of song Wesley seemed to have
u ,,tur,ed with the inspiration and impulse of hymn
[s He said TO have published some four thousand
~, and to have left two thousand in manuscript
IN AS he was desperately i'll, and during his illness
d ovtrted to the true faith as he expressed IT, under
u secular circumstances When somewhat recovered he
4 ir his friend Peter Boehler, a noted Moravan, to
~ lie story was told. Boehler urged Wesley to make
ES ii. peculiar change in his spiritual life saying If
lad thousand tongues you should publish 1t with them
H Thus inspired Wesley wrote the hymn oh. For d
.rt Tongues Sing in eighteen stanzas only FIVE Of
Ia are in general He wrote it, he said For the
r4vs.ry day OF ones conversion
r encyclopedia would tell US that Rev Henry Francis
Ii vas Scotch curats in Lower Brixham Devonshire
Z h. maker OF many hymns. Among them would be
.xlsn,i Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above, Jesus My
las Have Taken and Abide With Ne; Fast Falls the
s=at,a But it would tell US nothing Of the touching
,.i that wrung from his soul this exqusitey beaut-
1 lynn Abide With Me; Fast Falls the Eventide %
als heart because of ambition sacrificed desoate
ax Of his failure in love, weary OF "a fruess struggle
I'll shattered health he had decided break loose his
ar home ties and journey to Rome. With spirit spent
4 weary and flesh worm he able endure the
Va Of administering the last communion and telling the
R isrewels to his little flock On that afternoon,
s7s touched by those last sad tender services the
tf sun setting tngeng all the sky with its rainbow
p hope and peace, he forth from his chamber
placed this hymn in the hands OF Of his knsmen.
God Moves in Mysterious Way" was the expression
aar' filled with the solemn conviction of ovcrruug
rndsHee William Cowper wrote this hymn under cir
faness OF awful interest in the twilight Of the poet
krs reason In his oftrecurring seasons of melancholy
I t1uled reason CoWper became possessed of the con
1a nat It was his duty drown himself at certain
Z the river Ouse With full intent accomplish this
Na he started his way he got lost darkness set in
Hsr driving hither and thither he found himself safely
efHsd home and with purpose diverted In this hymn
Nt expression to his great penitenoe All the deep
a0ae OF soul escaping from the clouds OF dreadful
s reverent thanksgiving for the Smiling face behind
FoEnns providence saturate this solemn song of
~ II Is one OF the sixyt-tWo hymns included in the
Hma
"l ;nLt