Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-01-30
ORIGIN OF FAMOUS HYMNS.
Stories About the writing OF some
OF the Creates, ErnNorifea

stories About the writing of Some
OF the Greatest Favorttes.
Every one perhaps has his or her Ia
vorite hymn. yet few know it's author
aud under what circumstances II was
composed. Hitherto there has been 10
good book on the subject. but that de-
feet is row 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. Hodder'& Stoughton.
IL 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 wellxin rings"
Christians, Awaken was composed
by John Byron in 1745 as "A carol for
his little daughter Dolly, "for her and
for no one else" Ia the original the
manuscript Is headed christmas Day
For Dolly" 1t was first published in
TAG In Harrop's 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. III. II. Lyle in 1S47 at Brix-
ham. He had become so ill that he
was ordered to Nice. On the Sunday
evening prior TO his leaving he walked
by the seashore alone for half an hour
after service, fully convinced that he
hod 20,
last time. When the sun had set, he
went back to his study, and an hour
later the hymn was finished. DIR. Monk
composed it's beautiful setting In an In
spired ten minutes.
Canon Ellerton's popular Saviour,
again TO thy dear name" was COM
posed so recently as 1856, 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 a 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
Hindoostanee by an enthusiastic native
convert and his rendering, literally
translated, read thus:
Very old stone. split for my benefit.
Let me absent myself under one of your
Fragments
Many stories are told Of the hymns
OF Isaac Watts. 1t is said that he
wrote Not All the Blood of Beasts"
after visit to Smithfield market. while
the charming hymn There Is a 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 seq bird flying to him for
protection during a storm. 1t was one
OF the earliest that he wrote. a good
story Ia told of Keble and DR.. Neale
both writers of hymns.
DR.. Neale was invited by Mr. Keble
and the bishop or Salisbury to assist
them with their new hymnal, and for
this purpose he paid visit to Hinslsy
parsonage. On one occasion Mr.. Keble
having to go to another room to find
some papers, was detained n short
time. On his return DIR. Neale said
why, Keble, 1 thought you told me
that the Christian Year was entirely
or1ginalf" EYES," he answered. 'it Ger
tainly Is" Then how comes thisS'
And DR.. Neale placed before him the
Latin OF one Of Keble's hymns. Keble
professed himself utterly confounded
he protested that he had never seen
the original. After 81 few minutes OF
quiet enjoyment Neale relieved him by
owning that he had just turned it into
Latin during his absence