The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-16
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How Two Favorite Hymns Originated.
Written Especially for Tie Washington Herald
BY DR.. f.. j. EDWARDS.

When reading. few days ago the
biographical sketches or the life of
Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer.
my attention was attracted to an anec-
dote purporting to describe the manner
in which she wrote one OF her most IA
nous hymns. OF which the first line is
Safe in the arms OF Jesus" II the
anecdote has good foundation. the author
was called upon one evening by COM
poser of church music who said TO her
that he had composed music for a hymn.
but that he had no words to fit il to. lie
had. therefore. come to her to ask he-
to write a poem which in metre and
sentiment would be appropriate for his
music. Having heard the music. she
pressed a paper to her forehead and
seemed for a few moments TO be in
something like a trance. Then she re-
cited the poem and the composer wrote
il down. 1t was admirably suited to the
music, and as soon as published was
widely accepted as one OF the choicest of
religious hymns
This anecdote reminded me OF a con
versation l once had with the late Parke
Goodwin. VINO when editor of Putnams
Magazine and also associate editor with
his father-in-Iaw. William Cullen Bry-
ant OF the New York Evening Post. was
brought into intimate relations with all
who were making American literature
what il was In the mIdyears OF the nine
teenth century.
l had asked Mr.. Goodwin II he We're
acquainted with the Cary sisters. Alice
and Phoebe. He told me that some of
the pleasantest hours OF his life. at least
so far as literary associations were CON-
cerned. were spent at the home Of the
Cary sisters, who at that time lived on
Fourth avenue. New York City. a stones
throw from Union Square. Among other
"reminiscences of his association with the
Cary sisters Mr.. Goodwin narrated the
following:
There have been several versions of
the way in which Phoebe Cary wrote
what has possibly become the most wide
ly sung and recited religious poem writ
ten by any American. That is the poem
beginning with the line One sweetly
solemn thought IL has been translated
into almost every language and has been
accepted by people who have a different
religion from that OF the Christian faith.
Its metre was so poor and its grammat-
ical slips so apparent that il was neces-
sary TO change the poem slightly so as
to make IL metrical and to perfect its
grammar. Yet it is read and sung by
people of all religious faiths. Miss Cary
never told me how she was inspired to
write the poem, but l did learn that it
and was written one evening after she
had returned home from church She
was really not conscious OF what she had
done. I think she was under twenty
years of age when she wrote il.
by the way" continued Mr.. Goodwin.
another of the American hymns which
will live always was written by a wOm-
an who had already gained fame as a
writer of fiction. She was Anna Warner
who collaborated with her sister in writ
sale for some years was surpassed only
by that of Uncle Toms Cabin One
Sunday evening a circuit rider Of the
circuit every Sunday in the country back
Of the Warner sisters-who lived on Com
thoroughly exhausted. The weather had
told Miss Warner what his difficulties OF
fatigued. saying. however. that il did
work for Jesus. That evening. Miss War
ner wrote the poem. inspired by what
the circuit rider had said. the first line
Of which is one more days work for
Jesus When published. it was accepted
instantly and it remains-as Phoebe
Cary's poem does-a permanent contrIbu-
tion TO religious hymnolory''
Copyright. 1915, by J. Edwards. All rights 70
srrrdl
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will ten Of
The Career OF a Distinguished Ameri-
can