Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-28
FAMOUS HYMNS.
Anecdotes and Incidents Connected
With Their Origin.

Ansedotes and Incidents Connected
With Their Origin.
Strange and pathetic are many OF the
stories connected with the origin OF IA
nous hymns. In some cases. however.
fictitious romances have been built
around beautiful words sung in our
chapels and churches. For many years
1t 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. l773.
The fact, however. says London Tit
Bits. that this hymn has been found
In a manuscript in. which the latest
date is August, 1773, proves that 1t
was written before Cowper's attempt
ON his life.
Then, again, it is popular belief
that Augustus Toplady wrote Rock OF
Ages" while sheltering from a storm
between two limestone rocks In the
Mendips. No proof Of the story, Is
forthcoming, however, and consequent
" It must be accepted with caution.
But there is no doubt that the author
of christians, Awake" John Byron.
composed that magnificent hymn as a
Christmas gift to his favorite daugh-
ter Dorothy, for he inscribed upon the
manuscript. christmas day for Dolly
1t was characteristic Of the late Bish-
Cd Bickersteth, who wrote peace, Per-
feet Peace" that he always found 1t
easiest to express in verse whatever
subject was uppermost in his mind.
| One day he heard a 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 an aged and dying relative, Arch
deacon Hill of Liverpool. Bishop Bick-
ersteth found the archdeacon some
what troubled in mind. and. 1t being
natural to him to express In verse the
spiritual comfort which he desired to
convey, the bishop took up sheet Of
paper and there and then wrote down
the hymn just exactly as 1t stands ana
read it to his dying friend.
An example Of hymn being written
to suit certain tune is furnished by
the grand old favorite 81 Think When
I Read That Sweet Story of Old" Mrs.
Luke, the author. was very much I'M
pressed one day by an old Greek tune
which she had seen the children OF the
Normal Infant school, Grays Inn road.
marching to, and while going home Oh
the stagecoach she wrote the words to
suit the music OH the back OF an Old
envelope.
There are two accounts Of how Just
as Am" came to be written. One au-
thority asserts that 1t was while she
lay In great physical weakness ON
sofa, the other members of the family
being present at bazaar in which all
but the invalid were taking an active
part. that Charlotte Elliott, the author
of the hymn, wrote the words which
have stirred he hearts Of thousands.
On the other hand, the story Is that
young girl WAS going to the town to
choose new dress for ball. On her
way she met priest, who said she
ought not to so. However, she went
but did not enjoy the evening at all
and returned home miserable. Char
lotte Elliott for that was the young
girls nance went to confess to her
priest all about 1t and asked what she
should DO. He advised her to go home
and tell Jesus all about 1t. Just as
am?' she said. "Yes, just as you are.
She returned home and on her knees
composed that lovely hymn Just as
I Am" The proofs, however, seem tc
point to the first story. which Is given
; in DR.. Julian's Dictionary Of Hymnol
ogy." as being the correct one.
DR.. Julian, by the way, tells us thai
the total number Of Christian hymns
in the 200 or more languages and dia
lects In which they have been writer
is not less than 100000, German com
ing first with 100000 and English next
The most popular hymns, according tt
census which he has taken, are
when I Survey the Wondrous Cross,
awake, My Soul, and With the Sum-
clark, the Herald Angels Sing" and
Crock Of Ages, Cleft For Me-"