Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-17

trolled Justify was this carol beloved
by old and young.
Charles Wesley 1707-SS), younger
brother Of John Wesley, the founder
Of the Methodist denomination. shares
with Isaac Watts the honor of being
the greatest producer Of hymns. Wesley
is credited with the authorship of over
5000 hymns, including such well known
favorites as Love Divine All Love
Excelling." Christ the Lord Is Risen
Today" Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
and "a Charge to Keep | Have" While
his hymns have been used by many
denominations the only one printed IN
the hymn book accompanying the
Church Of England's Book of Common
Prayers is 'Hark! The Herald Angels
Sing" The original hymn was pub
lished in 1879 and has undergone many
changes in the hymn book just men
toned.
The music is by that distinguished
Jewish composer, Felix Mendelssohn-
Bartholdy (1S09-1S471 and hence was
written long after Wesley died. 1t is
an apt setting for the text and rises
TO n high point of exultation the
glorious song Of the heavenly hosts.
30 Little Town of Bethlehem"
One of the finest Christmas carols
Of the less traditional group is 20
Little Town of Bethlehem by Phillips
Brooks. the beloved Boston divine
1S35-1S93l. This was written for Sun
day school singing when the composer
was bishop of thes Episcopal diocese
Of Massachusetts. He first sent it out
anonymously. but as the hymn gained
favor the authorship became known.
The words of this carol we'll portray
the spirit of simplicity and tranquility
of Bethlehem and its Inhabitants who
so little suspected that a King was in
their midst. Although written especi-
ally as q Christmas song. it is Of such
a nature that it is often used on other
occasions.
Many musical settings of this beauti-
full poem have been made but the two
that are most used are the English
composer, Joseph Barnby (whose
Sweet and Low" is a universal favor
itel, and the American composer, Louis
II. Redner (1S31-190S).
30 Come All We Faithful
It is not surprising hat this sturdy,
whole-hearted tune (sung with it's
alternative test, How Firm Il Founda-
TOM was the favorite hymn of that
full-blooded American. Theodore Roose-
velt. His preference has been shared
BY hundreds of thousands Of men,
women, and children throughout the
world.
The text of 20 Come All Ye Faith
full is translated from a Latin hymn
Of the seventeenth or eighteenth cen
fury. The original words, beginning
Adestc Fidelis, are still frequently
used, The translation which we sing
was made in England by the Reverend
Frederick Oakley about 1850.
The source of the music is not de-
~finiteIy known. Various reasons are
given for its name-the Portuguese
hymn. Some investigators say it was
written by a Portuguese cbapel-master
named Marcus Portugal; others that it
was first sung in the Portuguese chapel
in London. but was written by an
English organist named John Reading.
But whether this joyful manly hymn
be the work of this or that man, or
like a folk song. the combined product
of several men. it is one of the hymns
OF the ages which apparently is to live
for centuries. When we sing it We are
keeping alive the spirit and expression
which stirred many happy folks who
have gone before and countless num-
bers which will follow afterHus. !