The Republican journal., 1903-09-17
Familiar Songs and Their Authors.
ROCK OF AGES.

"A
an English army officer, was born No
yember 4, 174O, at Farnham, Surrey,
England. His widowed mother gave him
a good education. He graduated from
Trinity college, Dublin, and entered the
ministry. and became popular preach
err author and hymn writer. He an
taponized the Wesleys, writing and
preaching against them. Brock of
Ages is the best known of his hun
dreds of hymns. 1t appears in nearly
all the Protestant hymnals, has been
adopted by the Roman Catholic church.
and has been translated into nearly all
the languages of Europe. The words
are as follows:
Rock of Ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Ihee,
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Cleanse me from it's guilt and power.
Not the labors OF my hands
Can fulfill Thy laws demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand | bring;
Simply to Thy cross cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or | die.
While draw this feeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When soar through tracts unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne
Rock of Ages, cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in Thee!
This is the original form, which diff
fers in various collections for the rea-
son that the hymn members or improv-
ers have made changes to suit them
selves.
Our readers will enjoy in this connec-
ton Edward II. Rice's pathetic lines
bearing the title of Crock of Ages"
Crock of ages, cleft for me-
Thoughtlessly the maiden sung;
Fell the words unconsciOusly
From the girlish, gleeful tongue.
Sang as sing the birds in June;
Fell the words like light leaves down
On the current of the tune
Crock of ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
''Let me hide myself in Thee
Felt her soul no need to hide
Sweet the song as song could be,
And she had no thought beside;
All the words unheedlngly
Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not that they might be
On some other lips prayer
crock of ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Crock of ages, cleft for me-
Twas woman sung them now,
Pleadingly and prayerfully.
Every word her heart did know.
Rose the song as storm-tOssed bird
Beats with weary wing the air;
Every note with sorrow stirred,
Every syllable prayer
Crock of ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Crock of ages, cleft for me,
Lips grown aged sung the hymn
Trustingly and tenderly,
Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim
"Let me hide myself in Thee
Trembling though the voice and low,
Ran the sweet strain peacefully,
Like river in its flow;
Sung as only they can sing
Who behold a promised rest
Crock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee
Crock of ages, cleft for me-
Sung above a cotfin-lld;
Underneath, all restfully,
All life's joys and sorrows hid;
Nevermore, storm-tossed soul.
Nevermore from billow's roll
Wilt thou need myself to hide
Could the sightleSs sunken eyes,
Closed beneath the soft gray hair,
Could the mute and stitfened lips
Move again in pleading prayer,
Still, aye, still the words would be
"Let me hide myself in Thee"