The Newtown bee., 1902-08-01
Eight Pages.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
AN INTERESTING PRAISE SERVlCI

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 hymn is announced, the peculiar cir 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 everything 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 a life long 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 inspirat ation 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 1 ter experience she maintained ia calm and thankful heart". Gods presence shone through her journey; and when all was over, her lifelong wish was gratified, Gods presence crowned the the severely criticized by a., wealthy lta in the habit of retiring toward nightfall to a grove or wood
 amid "the ivy, the balsaln and the wild eglantine," to spend.a while ir secret communion witil God. Accus
 toned to express her deepest senti
 ments in verse, Ghis devout Christian mother ::"rote the hymn, "I love tt steal awhile away" How many o1 our best hymns have been flung of from the pen as sparks are thrown 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 church, Philadelphia. He hurriedls jotted on a slip of paper the words o1
 the hymn, "He leadeth me, o blessed thought" He handed the slip to hi!
 wife, who was one of the company, giv
 ing it little further concern. She sem
 the hymn without her husband'!
 knowledge to the "Watchman and Re tflector." MT Gilmore thought littl, more about this poetic child of hi
 until being afterwards in the Secon'
 Baptist chapelo of Rochester, N. Y.
 while taking 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 Tune Book" was the reply A copy being handed Mir Gilmore, i f 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 tn s years. Q An encouraging feature of this Sur z day evening meeting was the Offerin to the Missionary work of the churct
 $7.08 was received.