The Newtown bee., 1902-08-01
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
AN INTERESTING PRAISE SERVICE

AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
 SUNDAY NIGHT.
 A service of more than ordinary in- terest was held at the Congregational church on Sunday evening, July 27, when the pastor told the origin of many of our best loved hymns. One sings these old favorites with more | heartiness and feeling when there flash into his mind, the instant a hymn is announced, the peculiar cir cumstances under which it was born. William Cowper had ordered his ser want to drive him in haste to the river Ouse, in whose waters he intended to end his melancholy existence. By a happy overruling of Providence the driver of the post chaiSe missed the road and Cowper's design was not car ried out. Returned home, a sense Of Gods goodness overwhelmed the poet; and he sat down to write the wonder full hymn, God moves in mysterious way" Mrs Steele (so the hymn-books never married) was lifelong sufferer from a severe accident in childhood. She never knew what it was to be free from pain, but in her most ShadoWed hours she bore her lot bravely and with sweet resignation. The day for her marriage to one whom she dearly loved had been set; in fact, many of the guests had already arrived. While | waiting for the groom messenger ar rived with the news that he had been drowned. This double blow nearly crushed the expectant bride; and from that day, more than ever, her life was given to the sweet ministrations of Charity, piety and the inspiration of her pen. The beautiful hymn, "Fa- ther, whate'er of earthly bliss," tells the story of her life. She had little of ssearthly bliss", but through every bit ter experience she maintained "a calm and thankful heart''. Gods presence shone through her journey; and when all was over, her lifelong wish was gratitied, Gods presence crowned the severely criticized Saaet1so by sso a wealthy thy in the habit of retiring toward nightfall to a grove or wood, amid ''the ivy, the balsam and the wild eglantine,'' to spend a while in secret communion with God. Accus- toned to express her deepest senti- ments in verse, this dewout Christian mother wrote the hymn, "I love to steal awhile away" How many of our best hymns have been flung of
 
 from the hOOf of the fleet charger! Rev J. H. Gilmore was sitting with others making some further comments on the Shepherd Psalm, on which he had spoken at the Wednesday evening lecture of the First Baptist church, Philadelphia. He hurriedly jotted on a slip of paper the words ot the hymn, "He leadeth me, O blessed thought" He handed the slip to his wife, who was one of the company, giv. ing it little further concern. She sent the hymn without her huSband's s
 knowledge to the "Watchman and Re
 tiectOr' MT Gilmore thought little more about this poetic child of his
 until being afterwards in the Seconc
 Baptist chapel of Rochester, N. Y.
 while taking a view of the surrounding of the place preparatory to presenting
 himself as candidate, he casually asked
 "What hymn-book do you use in you
 social meetings?" "The Devotiona Hymn and Tnne Book" was the reply A copy being handed MT Gilmore, il opened almost of it's own accord tt "He leadeth me, o blessed thought ,
 Thus God uses men as humble instru
 ments to sing the sweet cadences O.
 the Gospel story on down through thu s years.
 Q An encouraging feature of this Sun g day evening meeting was the offerin, " to the Missionary work of the church
 $7.O8 was received.