HYMNS FOR PALM SUNDAY

HERE are volumes of sermons in the songs we sing. In the choosing, therefore, of the hymns we use we should give special thought both to theme and melody. If we fail to do this we will do violence to the spirit of the hymn and rob it of its special meaning. To illustrate, in a service of thanksgiving, immediately following a sermon on the blessings of the harvest, to sing "Alas! and did my Saviour bleed," as was done on a certain occasion, is to do violence to the sermon, the occasion and to good common sense.

ear.

In the choice of hymns attention must not only be given to the selection of a tune which will jingle pleasingly on the If the song is to reach and touch the heart, as it should, due attention must be given to the times and seasons, as well as to the words and melody. When all blend in perfect harmony the hymn becomes a vital part of the worship of the day. It will often bring out, impress and send home the lessons of the sermon. For these reasons the most beautiful hymn may be entirely out of place, as was Watts' "Good Friday Hymn" in a service of thanksgiving.

Giving special thought to the time as well as the theme, certain hymns have become closely identified with certain festival days. Thus when Palm Sunday comes and the children approach the altar to ratify their baptismal vows and give their hearts to Jesus in the beautiful confirmation service, and when we realize that the day is the first of the

"week of woe" for the suffering Saviour, we logically think of that special Palm Sunday hymn, "Gloria, Laus, et Honor," by Theodulph of Orleans. The wording as well as the origin of this hymn make it peculiarly a hymn for the day. To know the story of this hymn is to find much more in its beautiful lines and to get much more edification and worship out of it than otherwise would be possible.

THEODULPH'S PALM SUNDAY HYMN

All glory, praise, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer King;
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King, the blessed One!

The company of angels

Are praising Thee on high,

And mortal men, and all things
Created, make reply.

The people of the Hebrews

With palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy passion

They sang their hymns of praise,

To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,

Who in all good delightest,

Thou good and gracious King!

The author, Theodulph of Orleans, was born in Italy in the eighth century. He was Abbot of a Benedictine monastery in Florence, but on the invitation of Charlemagne removed to France, where, about 785 A. D., he became Bishop of Orleans. After the death of Charlemagne he continued for some time on friendly terms with the Emperor Louis, but falling under suspicion of being implicated in a plot in favor of Bernard of Italy, he was imprisoned at Angers. The story is that while thus imprisoned the emperor was in the procession on Palm Sunday morning. This procession on its way to the church passed the prison where Theodulph was. As the procession passed his window he sang the words of this hymn, "Gloria, Laus, et Honor." The singing is said to have reached the ear of the emperor, touched his heart and secured the liberty of the singer.

The hymns of Theodulph were the best of the age in which he lived. Certainly his "Palm Sunday Hymn,' which has been preserved for us through the centuries and furnished to us in these latter days in a most excellent English translation by John Mason Neale, is full of scriptural truth and so vivid in its imagery as to make it most edifying and helpful as a part of a Palm Sunday service.

Another hymn which has been written especially for Palm Sunday and which seems out of place at any other time is,

MILMAN'S RIDE ON, RIDE ON IN MAJESTY

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die!

O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin

O'er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

The angel armies of the sky

Look down with sad and wondering eyes,
To see the approaching Sacrifice.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh:
The Father on His sapphire throne
Expects His own anointed Son.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die!

Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain,

Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign.

The imagery of this hymn is so true to the scriptural facts of the triumphal entry and the tragic events of Holy Week that when it is sung to its proper tune we can almost see the hosts entering Jerusalem and follow with the eye the weary march to Calvary as we sing.

The author of this hymn was Henry Hart Milman, the youngest son of an English court physician. He was born February 10, 1791. He gave promise of being a poet of note and contributed thirteen hymns to the collection of Bishop Heber. He turned, however, to general literary work and became an historical and theological writer of note. As an illustration of pure devotion we know of nothing that is superior to that hymn of his which begins:

"Oh, help us, Lord! each hour of need

Thy heavenly succor give;

Help us in thought and word and deed,
Each hour on earth we live!"

A hymn which the children love to sing and which is missionary in its note as well as Palm Sunday in its imagery is in extensive use today. We might call it