The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-28
ORIGIN OF FAMOUS HYMNS,
Stories About the Writing of Some
of the Greatest Favorites.


Every one perhaps has his or her ia
vorite hymn, yet few know its author
and under what circumstances it was
composed. Hitherto there has been no
good book on the subject, but that de-
feet Is now remedied, thanks TO the
patient industry of Mr.. Francis a.
Jones, whose volume, Famous Hymns
and Their Authors has just been pub
lished by Messrs. Holder & Stoughton.
1t Is full of curious and interesting in
formation. Take the Christmas hymns,
for example. ''Hark, the Herald An
gels Sing!" when originally published
by Charles Wesley in 1879 began
"Hark, how all the welkin rings"
"Cbristians, Awaken was composed
by John Byron in 1745 as a carol for
his little daughter Dolly, "for her and
for no one else" In the original the
manuscript is headed "Christnas Day
For Dolly" 1t was first published in
1746 In Harrops Manchester Mercury
and was set to music by the organist of
the Manchester parish church, John
Wainwright. while Shepherds Watch
ed" another carol, was written by
Nahum Tate 200 years ago. The pop
ular abide With Me- was written By
the Rev. II. e. Lyle in 1S47 at Brix-
ham. He had become so i'll that he
was ordered to Nice. On the Sunday
evening prior to his leaving he walked
by the seashore alone for half an hour
of hnt he
had spoken to his congregation for the
last time. When the sun had set, he
went back to his study, and an hour
later the hymn was finished. Dr. Monk
composed its beautiful setting in an in
spired ten minutes.
Canon Ellerton's popular Saviour,
again to thy dear NAME" was COM
posed so recently as 1886, but has since
then been translated into nearly every
language and dialect. The story of
how Newman wrote Lead, Kindly
Light" in an orange boat while be-
Gained in the strait of Bonifacio is well
known. Rock of Ages" probably the
most popular hymn in the English Ian
guage, was written by Toplady when
caught in thunderstorm near Blag-
don in the Mendips. AS the London
went down in the bay of Biscay in
1866 the doomed passengers sang this
hymn. 1t was once translated into
by an enthusiastic native
and his rendering, literally
read thus:
Varu old cfora c,,fi+ for rvo,,
Let me absent myself under one of your
fragments.
Many stories are told Of the hymns
Of Isaac Watts. It is said that he
wrote mot All the Blood of Beasts
aftersa visit to Smithfield market, while
the charming hymn "There Is Land
Of Pure Delight" was suggested by the
view of Southampton water as seen
from the Isle of Wight. He is believed
to have written 500 hymns. Many are
mediocre: few will last as long as
The English language. Jesus, Lover
Of My Soul" was suggested to Charles
Wesley by sea bird flying to him for |
protection during a storm. It was one
II the earliest that he wrote A good |
story is told of Keble and DR.. Neale, |
both writer's of hymns.
DR.. Neale was invited by Mr.. KebIe |
ind the bishop of Salisbury to assist
hem with their new hymnal, and for
his purpose he paid a visit to Hinsley
parsonage. On one occasion Mr.. Keble,
iavfng to 60 to another room to find
ome papers, was detained a short |
lime. On his return DR.. NeaIe said,
Why, Keble, thought you told me
hat the Christian Year was entirely
'riginalY "Yes." he answered, sit GER
ainly is" "Then how comes this?"
Ind DR.. Neale placed before him the
ATTN OF one Of Keble's hymns. Keble
rofessed himself utterly COMPOUNDED.
lie protested that he had never seen
he original. After a few minutes of
uiet enjoyment Neale relieved him by
wning that he had just turned it into