New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-07
FAMOUS HYMNS.
"A Book of Record and Discussion.

FAMOUS HYMNS AND THEIR AUTHORS. BY
Francis Arthur Jones With Portraits sno Fac
SMILES. $40. ID. 81. $50. Edwin ;. Gorham-
Few people have ever sat down ana reso
their hyInnal through. and we fear that even
6 book which selects the most notable compost
ticns snh successfully makes them the subject
~ record and discussion VIII hold the attention
az but a small number from cover TO cover
Mr.. Jones's book is compilation Of biographi-
cal fact and tradition He groups the famous
hymns as the hymnals group all, by subject ana
church season. and takes UP one author AFTER
another With an index OF authors and one OF
first lines this makes good book OF reference
and as such since IL is in way ponoerous
and is thoroughly epproa enable. II viii De most
useful. II is pity. as due attention rs given
20 the composers that an index OF tune names
not added
One cannot but regret that authenticity Is
lacking TO the story about Onward. Chr1stan
Soldiers" where the organist and the CHOIR
master had their revenge on the Low Church
,,,car uho affected 10 the cross being carried
IN the procession When every argument had
been exhausted, they had their brief revenge
The choir began their march round the church
next Sunday with the words:
Onward Christian soldiers,
Marching as 70 war,
With the cross OF Jesus
Left behind the door.
Sir Arthur Sullivan, whose tune for this hymn
IS. Gertrude" supplanted the original one oy
Gauntlet. was surprised ST its popularity. he
nas thought that Il would prove too orassg
anc martial for church singing II may be the
composer by his happy skill. has lent the church
come OF the courage in devotion that tne ne
h-ews HAD OF old. Within recent years we had
~ sia on ~ &
s.szetions celebration OF religious festival, to
heer .s. Gertrude" rendered in Durham Cattle
AVS, with a fun choir and organ and two
marching brass bands. The effect was GER
.a,nlv bra sy" but instinct with vigorous
dignity.
The habit OF singing hymns TO tunes which
were not originally intended for them was Sc
verely condemned by Sir Herbert oakeleY ana
The late DIT Dykes, who on several occasions re-
fused the use OF a tune for new words From
osreerland's Icy Mountains" Of which a few
lines as IN the case Of many others in this book,
are REPRODUCED in facsimile. was written in
twenty minutes one OF the best examples OF
mountainous hymn writing recorded On the
Saturday preceding whtsunday, 1873. DR.. Ship
ley, dean OF St Asaph. who was 70 preach next
morning In aid Of the Society for the Propaga-
ton Of the Gospel IN Foreign Parts, being in his
library with several friends. asked bis son-in-
law Reginald Heber. then q vicar, TO write
something appropriate. Heber retired TO the
further end OF the room, and in fifteen minutes
resd On question three stanzas. His listeners
d.saonroved addition, but Heber answered NO.
the sense is not complete and quickly added a
fourth stanza. Later he would have ADDED
another. but the dean refused TO permit It. II
.s recalled Of Martin Rinkarts great hymn
Now Thank We AL Our God" and its late
singing in 81. Paul's on the conclusion OF the
South African War. that the name Of the COM
noser who set Il to music IN 1919 was Johann
Cruger.
The compilation OF this book has been LABOR
Of love TO the author for some ten years, ana
81. -es,,lt ought 10 meet with wide apprecia-