The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-07


 been printed and the others are preserved in manuscript. About 600 are now in use in the hymnals of the Methodist and other denominations. Although this greatest of the Wesleyan hymns was written early In Charles Wesley's life, it was not sung widely until a century had gone by, and it remained for an American to give 1t the tune which made it's popularity world wide
 Simeon B. Marsh was an old-fashioned itinerant singing master in rural New York. On his way from Amsterdam to Johnstown one day he sat down by the roadside and jotted down the air which mad just come to him as he rode along. He taught his singing class at Johnstown to sing 1t, using the words of the hymn, Mary, to Her Savior's Tomb" A few years later Dr. Thomas Hastings, lead CT in the production of modern church music, suggested that the air was better adapted to Wesleys Jesus, Lover of My Soul" The excellence of the hymn and the tune at once caught the popular taste, and within few years 1t was at the head of the list of popular American and English songs. In 1772 Rt the worlds jubilee in Boston, Patrick Gilmore, the bandmaster. selected the tune which is American air, and Simeon Marsh was present to hear it played.
 Two or three stories are told of the inspiration of Jesus, Lover of My Soul" It is generally accepted that the idea oe- cured to Wesley during the great storm on the Atlantic on the occasion of tha visit of the Wesley brothers to Georgia. The twenty-six Moravians on board wero not frightened, even the women and chill dren singing through the storm. John Wesley asked why they were not afraid, and the answer of simple faith was the turning point In his life. Another version is that sparrow pursued by hawk flew in Charles Wesleys bosom for protection, and that the idea for the hymn came to him then.
 It is said that when Charles Wesley, Methodist and Arminian, met Augustus Toplady, Calvinist and Presbyterian, who shares with Wesley and Watts the honor of being the three greatest hymn writers of the English language, there was d de- bate royal The topic of conversation was theology, and the nature of the con
 
 two men parted, each convinced that he had trlumphed completely over his adver- sary. Each went to his home to write hymn. Wesley wrote. Jesus, Lover of My Soul," and Toplady wrote ]" Rock of Ages"
 Rock of Ages" is also among the first in tue list of great hymns. It was the fa- vorite of Gladstone, who translated it into Greek and Latin and several modern tongues his translations being almost as perfect as the English poem. differ ent fate was that of the version done into Hindoo at the request of missionary The Indian scholar translated the lines Rock of Ages. cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee" most literally. The re- suit wasi Very old stone, split for my benefit; let me get under one of your fragments" Which is. as must be ad- mitted very good companion piece to the French translation of Mark Twain $ Jumping Frog story.
 Another English hymn which waited for many years for the quiekenlng in- finence of an American tune to bring it into universal popularity is, Nearer, My God to Thee" This sublime hymn was written by Mrs. Sarah Flower Adams. The tune which gave 1t life was coni- posed by Dr. Lowell Mason, who has done more tnan any other one man, perhaps, for the psalmody of the United States. The words of this hymn were breathed | by President Mckinley just as he was passing into the great beyond. and since that time it has been considered part of the national hymnology without regard to creed
 My Faith Looks Up to Thee" one of the most inspiring of the hymns of faith was written by Dr. Palmer, native of Rhode Island, and is perhaps one of the | most popular hymns of American origin. Dr. Palmer wrote it when he was 22 years old, just out of Yale. and an instructor | in private school for young ladies in | Fulton street, New York. He copied 1t l in little book which he carried in his | pocket, and there it remained for two or | three years, seen by no one but himself. l He had gained some little reputation as song writer, however, and one day Dr. l Thomas Hastings met him and asked him | to contribute to Hymn and Tune Book'' aboue to be published. Palmer showed him the hymn in the little book they walked into store and Dr. Hastings copied it. Lowell Mason wrote the tune l 'Ohvet' to which 1t has been sung, and | it became popular the world over in a very short time. Ray Palmer afterwards entered the ministry of the Congregation al church and lived many years. l Blessed Assurance. Jesus Is Mine, Rescue the Pertaining and "Safe in the Arms of Jesus." are among the popular I hymns written by Fanny Crosby. the blind singer. Miss Crosby became blind l when but years old. but her songs and poems are always of the sunniest and | cheeriest kind of rhymed optimism She 1 had the distinction in 1S44 of being asked