Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-29
FAMOUS HYMNS.
Aneedotes and Incidents Connected
With Their origin.

Struuke ana putuetlc are many VI tuo
stories connected with the origin Of IA.
nous hymns. la some cases. however.
fictitious romances have been built
around beautiful words sung In our
chapels and churches. For many years
u was believed that Cowper's God
Moves In Mysterious Way" was
written as an outpourlng OF the poets
soul In gratitude for the Illustration OF
his attempted suicide In October, 1918.
The fact. however says London Tit
Bits. that this hymn has been found
In manuscript Ia which the latest
date IL August. 1913. proves that II
was written before Cowper's attempt
on his life.
Then. again. II IL II popular belief
that Augustus roplady wrote Rock OF
Ages" while sheltering from storm
between two limestone rocks In the
Mendips No proof of the story Is
forthcoming. however. and consequent
~ Il must he accepted with caution.
But there Is no doubt that the author
Of christians. Awake" John BYRON.
composed that magnificent hymn ms
Christmas gift to his favorIte daugh-
ter Dorothy for lie inscribed upon the
manuscript. "Christmas day for Dolly
II was characteristic OF the late Bish.
OF BickerSteth. who wrote Peace. Per
feet Peace" that he always found II
easiest To express In verse whatever
subject was uppermost In his mind.
one day he heard sermon delivered
by Canon Gibbon. vicar Of Harrogate.
on the text Thou wilt keep him In
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on
thee" and shortly afterward went TO
visit nm aged and dying relative. Arch
deacon Hill ~ Liverpool Bishop Bick-
ersteth found the archdeacon some
what troubled In mind and. II being
natural TO him 10 express In verse the
spiritual comfort which he desired To
convey. the bishop took up II sheet OF
paper and there and then wrote down
the hymn Just exactly a II stands and
read it 10 his dying friend.
An example OF a hymn being written
TO suit a certain tune Is furnished by
the Grand old faNoritc Il Think When
Read That Sweet Story of Old. Mrs.
Luke. the author was very Inuch Inn
pressed one day by an old Greek tune
V hich she had seen the children OF the
Normal lnlant school. Gray's Inn road.
marching 10. aud while going home on
the S,agccuach she wrote the words to
suit the music on the back OF an old
envelope.
There are two accounts Of how Just
as | .Anl" came to be written one au-
thorlty assciis that il WAS while she
lay in great physical weakness on Il
sofa. the other members Of the family
being present at bazaar In which all
hut the invalid were taking an active
part. that charlotte Elliott. the author
of the hy nm. wrote The words which
have stirred the hearts of thousands.
On the other hand the story Is that
Il young rr was going 10 the town 10
choUsc new dress for Il ball On her
way She met 1t priest. who said she
ought not To 90 However she went.
but did not enjoy the evening at all
and returned home miserable Char
lotte Elliott tor that was the young
girls na;Icl Went 10 confess 10 her
priest ;.ii ;.,Out Il and ..sked what she
should DO. lie adv ised her TO 20 home
aud tell IcSds all about II, Just rs
ann" Size said Yes. Just as you are"
She returned hoIhe aud un her knees
cOmpo cd that lovely hymn Just us
Am. The proofs, however. seem to
point 10 The FIRST story. which is given
IN Dr. .Iu'ian's Dictionary OF IIymnol-
ogy." ~, Icing the correct one.
Dr. Julian. by the way. tells MS that
the total number OF Christian hymns
In the 800 or more languages and dia
lects in which they have been written
Is not less than 10000. German com
ing first with 10000 and English next.
The most popular hymns. according to
census which he has taken. are
when Survey the wondrous Cross"
Awake. My Soul. and With the sun, :
"Hark. the Herald Angels Sing and
Rock OF Ages Cleft For Me"