The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-02
CHARLES wEsLEY's HYMNS.
Folr Great Poems which Voice
Sentiment Of Human Heart.

Love Divine. All Love Excelling.' II
John Wesley was the thinking mind and
deciding spirit Of the Methodist move
ment. his brother Charles was the sing
Ing spirit. lie gave utterance in his
Hymns to the enthusiasm and loyalty 10
Christ OF the great congregations. writes
Isaac Ogden Rankin in the Congregation
olist. but his chief work in a movement
which changed the face of Christianity
In England was That OF voicing the
sentiments OF the heart In hymns OF
faith and Rove which the English speak
Ing peoples can never forget. The first
words OF this hymn that sings OF love
Irvine might be taken as a keynote OF
the whole evangelical movement. Wcs-
ley n Whitfield and their helpers
went out TO the unchurched multitudes,
to the miners and the workmen and all
those who had drifted beyond the
reach of a fossilized church.
Jesus. Lover Of My Soul This is
perhaps the most popular and best loved
hymn In the English language. 1t cx-
presses the heart and soul OF Christian
ity which Is built up by the combina-
ton OF personal and individual Royalties
and enthusiasms for Christ into a work.
ing unity for witness and n transforma-
ton Of the world in righteousness. In
this hymn Charles Wesley expresses the
intimate communion OF confidence In
which tho individual soul stands with
Its Redeemer and Lord. Wesley. who
wrote this hymn, and Toplady. who
wrote that other famous and beloved
ny mn. Rock Of Ages" were severed by
sharp differences Of theological views.
but the Christianity Of to-day passes
from one hymn 20 tho other with no
sense OF jar or difference, since both
live IN this air OF personal loyalty to
Christ.
SOLDIERS Of Christ. Arise Wesley
shared in a little Of his brother Johns
hard Medicines He was brought into
close contact with tho difficult realities
Of life as experienced by tho poor. He
knew that a merely contemplating
church was helpless for the reconstrur-
ton OF the community In the image
Of Gods thought. This hymn Is a call
to action. a trumpet blast that chal-
lenges tho selfish ease OF those who bear
the name of Christ. The reproach of
quiet!Sn has too often been thrown
upon the singers Of tho Christian faith.
The charge Is contradicted by the lives
Of the hymn writer's. Navier. who
wrote one OF the great hymns of the
church. was a missionary. John and
Charles Wesley were missionaries to the
neglected poor OF England. The highest
contemplative type of Christian requires
and usually obtains the supplement of an
active. ministering spirit.
"A Charge to Keep I Have" In wit
ness to the responsibility of Christians
Charles Wesley struck a note OF obliga-
ton which helps to complete the SYM
phony of his Christian music. Wherever
Christianity tends to become a matter
Of delegated responsibility. whether to
the minister. the priest, the bishop or
any other channel OF authority from
without. We need this message OF per-
sonal responsibility for a wise use of
our powers n opportunities. II Is tho
completing note for the deeper and moro
personal traits of the Christian life. Tho
way Of closer access to a sympathetic
acquaintance with the Ma ster Is the way
Of life with our fellow men.