Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-21
The Story of a Beautiful Hymn

The Story of Beautiful Hymn
On September 5, 1908, there was
printed in The Atlanta Journal, a
beautiful story-written by Rev. 10y
mind that I preserved it for my scrap
book. After all these years-since
September, 1908, it has retained its
charm, and L hope the readers of the
Tri-Weekly will now clip it and pre-
serve it for their own scrap books.
In this reconstruction period, sue
ceeding the world WARMTH turmoil
in Europe and restlessness in the
United States; it is well to turn aside
occasionally and think of something
that will bring solace to the bereav-
ed and delight to the lovers of peace
and civic Righteousness.
Rev. Mr.. Warwick did us a great
kindness in thus presenting the
words of the poet-and the ,Tri-
Weekly will now pass it on, to the
multitudes, who read its pages i'll
by REV. 10y WARWICK
Those who love the great songs of
the soul and the sanctuary are al
ways glad to know something o.
their origin and history.
Of modern hymns none are Surer
of enduring fame than Matheson' S
go Love That Will Not Let Me Co
1t is a masterpiece in form and feel
ing. The most intellectual and cul-
tured worshiper as well as the sim
pie minded among those who know
God can appreciate this great song.
Its appealing tenderness unseals
the fountain of tears in every heart
| which has felt, never to forget, the
mystery of pain. 1t is a great song
married to great music.
DR.. Matheson always modestly in
sisted that his hymn was greatly in
debted to the music written for 1t
by DR.. Peace, the musical editor OF
the Scottish Hymnal. What Lux
Beningna" did for Newman's Lead
| Kindly Light" st. Margerets did fol
20 Love That Will Not Let Me Go
] suppose you knew that Mathesor
was blind for the greater part of his
life, losing his sight in his young
manhood. Yet in spite of this handi.
cap his fame has filled the world and
his books and sermons nave blessed
| son. DID, LID, F. r. S. E.
What a rebuke his life is to many
of us who give up and will not try
| because of difficulties.
He wrote this famous hymn II
1S82-the year that saw the publ
cation of his first volume of Medi'
| tationS. .
1t was composed in the manse oil
| Jnneilan on the evening of June the
| 6, 1882. I Twas at that time alone. Il
was the day of my sisters marriage
and most of the family was staying
over night in Glasgow. Something
| had happened to me which was known
only to myself and which had caused
me the intensest mental suffering
| The hymn was the fruit of that sui
| fering 1t was the quickest bit o.
| work I ever did in my life. I had thu
| impression rather of having 1t die
| tated to me by some inner voice rath
| err than working it out by myself.
| was completed in five minutes ant
never received any retouching or cor
| rection."
Much has been written about thi
hymn which has been sung all aroun
| the world.
| A striking illustration of its heart
melting power is given in the follow
! ing communication by a missionar
| from India narrating his experience
| in public worship in port, on HI
| homeward voyage.
'The hour had at last fled. 1nVo
cations. lessons, prayers, sermon
| collection, announcements We're al
| over. What had been a most un
eventful service to me was now, t
be punctuated by a hymn and
benediction. The minister announce
| George Matheson's o Love That WI
| Not Let Me Co When the min
lister was reading the first verse
! noticed a man of perhaps, fit
change seats with the lady organis
1t was nothing to mark. He is tn
! local organist,' [ thought, and tn
| lady is a visitor Suddenly the note
| were touched and the little America