The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-10-06
AMERICA" AND THE
MAN WHO WROTE tT

Fame has q most unaccOuntablc
way Of doing things, particularly
when picking her favoritcs and de.
Gliding who shall be included IN the
circle Of immortals and who shall
die unsunR. She has an uncanny
way Of eluding those who most per-
sistently pursue her, only 10 Irvine
the chaplet around the brow Of those
who never 40 much AZ dreamed OF
the honor. And 80 IL sometimes
happens that what seems n trivial
act or verse written No random,
may land one in the company Of
those whose names will live. 50 Il
was with the New England minister,
Samuel Francis Smith, when he COM
posed the hymn beginning with the
well known lines, my country, It's
Of thee" All he expected or hopcd
for was that the verses might find
a place IN the hymnnls of his church.
never dreaming that a nation would
stand with uncovered heads and rev.
erent micn while they were being
rendered. While not legally the
national hymn, in the popular mind
II is; and possibly more people are
familiar with its words and music
than with those of the Star Span
gled Banner" officially adopted and
played at sunset when the flag is
lowered in every fort and garrison
and on every American battleship
around the world There is a subtle
mingling in the poem OF patriotism
and worship. Of deity and native
land, that holds the imagination in
a way few songs do, the closing
verse, particularly, rising 20 the mai
csty Of great national prayer,
equalled only by kipling's famous
"Recessional. The first time that
the hymn was sung in public was at
a children's Fourth of July celebra-
ton in Boston in 1882, when Il NJ
once caught the popular fancy and
captured the popular heart, and since
that time has grown in favor until
it has come 20 be regarded as the
expression n the nations spirit and
aspirations. The music that has been
set % the words was composed b.
Henry Carey for Englands rational
hymn, Cog Save the King about
one hundred and eighty years ago.
So The music Is nearly a century old
or than the words, but the two seem
% have been made for each other,
So perfectly do the dignified strains
fit in with the compelling majesty
Of the poem. One Of Germany's
popular patriotic songs as wen as
The national hymn If Switzerland,
are both set 20 the music Of God
Save the King so four nations love
the same solemn notes that in our
land are listened 20 with barred
heads and grateful hearts.
The author Of America" was
born at Boston IN 1909, and twenty
years later graduated from Harvard
IN the same class with Oliver Wen
deli Holmes. and yeats afterwards
At a class reunion Holmes read a
humorous poem written for the oc-
gasion, IN which he alluded 10 Smith
and the fame his hymn had brought
him as the man that Fate had tried
90 conceal hy naming him smith,"
but failed After leaving Harvard.
he pursued his studies M the An
dover Theological Seminary. and m
1894 was ordained IN the Baptist
ministry and the same year became
pastor Of a church az Waicrvil,o. Me.
To supplement salary hat was lit
tie more than nominal he accepted
The chair Of modern language in the
Waterville College. His next church
was al Newton, Mass. where Tor he
next - years he edited the Christian
Review and also took an active part
in the publications Of the American
Baptist Missionary Union. As his
knowledge Of the great evangelical
movement Of his church grew. his
interest along that line deeDened,
which finally resulted in his severing
all other relations and degOting his
entire time 90 the interests Of the
Union. Not satisfied with getting
his information second hand. he
made two trips around he world IN.
vestigating and getting into person
al touch with the far-flung stations
He was a prolific writer and. not I
withsianding the fact that h. WIS
never long in one place. he was the 1
author Of several books on mission I
AIRY topics which have become class /
ics iu his denomination, besides a
great number " hymns, ore 81 I
which IS. "The Morning Light is 3
Breaking
II he had never written Amer /
lea" his name would have been for /
gotten along with the countless
Smiths that have preceded and fell F.
lowed him. Charles A. David
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