The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-07-25


and = graceful poet. -
We are all familiar with the life Of
the Wesleys. John Wesley, the saint,
whose lofty spirit, and noble person.
Atty has been . source of inspiration
for centuries, is probably better
known, but it is doubtful II he did
more lasting good than brother,
Charles. the famous hymn writer,
who gave to as so many stirring
hymns. There Is not q hymn book
that does not contain some Of his
hymns One Of these, which il best
known and most often sung, Is Jesus
Lover Of NV SOUL
Fannie Crosby wrote more than
Eve thousand hymns. When she was
only six weeks old, slight inflama-
tion Of the eyes necessitated the at
tention Of physician. It is said that
it was through his lack Of skill she
became permanently blind. Long
years after, she cheerfully said: AL
though it may have been blunder on
the physicians part, it was no mis-
take Of Gods. / verify believe it
was His intention that / should live
my days in physical darkness so as to
be better prepared to sing His praises
and to incite others SO to do. - She
was an optimist from early childhood.
Her first verses were written when
she was eight years old, and were
very creditable for one so young.
When she was nine years of age, she
moved to Ridgefeld, Conn.,, and there
lived with Mrs Hawley, who fire.
quently read 10 her from the Bible
and from books Of verse. Within q
year she had committed to memory
the first four books of the Old Tesla
ment and the four Gospels, and could
recite many poems. When she had
reached the age of fifteen, she was
sent to school for the blind in New
York City. Her mental development
was RAPID and at the age Of twenty
two she became teacher in the school
where for seven years she had been .
pupil. In 1853 she was married to
Alexander Van Alstyne, a blind
teacher of the school in which she
taught. They lived happily to-
sether until his death on June IS,
1902. It was at his request that she
continued to sign her maiden name to
her writings. At times she wrote as
many seven hymns day. On one
occasion friend came to her and
said: 81 have hardly forty minutes
to catch train for Cincinnati; during
that time you must write me hymn"
He hummed the tune to which be
wished the hymn to be written, and
in fifteen minutes. she had produced
one of her most popular hymns
sSafe in the AIMS of Jesus In every
gathering where the chief object of
concern Ia the salvation Of souls, one
or more of her compositions are sung.
The career Of Robert Robinson, the
author of the great revival hymn
Come, Thou Fount of Every Bless.
ng"-was very remarkable one,
and his character seems to be perfectly
summed up in one of it's phrases:
"Prone to Wander. ]" He was born
September ~, 1885 His father was
Scotch and his mother English, both
were members Of the established
church. Robert was remarkably
bright boy, and at the age of six was
attending Latin school. His father
died when he was quite young, and
his mother, left in almost destitute
circumstances. was compelled to take
boarders to keep the family together.
After time, the needs Of the family
made it necessary that the boy seek
employment. At the age Of fourteen
he was apprenticed to barber in
London. He served as barber five
years, and then went to Mildenhall
with the intention of devoting him
self to farming. Soon after he began
to preach. At different periods in
his life, he was connected with no
less than four religious denominations.
It is DelieYad that Come Thou
Fount Of Every Blessing" was written
in 1857, when the author was only
twenty two years Of age. and shortly
after he made his full surrender to
Christ.
He died in 1870, at the age Of fifty.
five.
It was the privilege of Charlotte
Elliott to write Just as Am," the
greatest Of evangelistic compositions,
and one which above all others has
been successful in convicting men Of
sin and giving them sense Of their
need Of Christ.
Charlotte Elliott was born in
Brighton England March Is, 1889, and
died Sept. %, 1871, st the age Of
eighty two. She came Of cultured
family and was herself highly educated.