REV. ARTHUR CLEVELAND COXE, D. D. and his highest reputation reached, this son made public profession of religion, and his name stands still upon the roll of the members. In 1838 Arthur Cleveland Coxe graduated from the University of New York, changed his name and his church affiliation, and was thereafter reckoned as an Episcopalian. He was admitted to the diaconate in that denomination in St. Paul's Chapel, New York, June 27, 1841; to the priesthood, September 25, 1842. His first charge seems to have been that of St. Ann's Church in Morrisania, but shortly afterward he became the rector of St. John's Church in Hartford, Conn., and then in 1854 he removed to Maryland, and was the rector of Grace Church in Baltimore. Nine years of faithful and brilliant service there brought him to the rectorship of Calvary Church in New York city. While thus settled he was elected to the office of Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York. He was consecrated to the Episcopate at Geneva, N. Y., January 4, 1865, since which he has resided in Buffalo, and exercised his office with great vigor and wide popularity among the churches. 3 With bounding steps the halt and lame, 4 Despairing madness, dark and wild, 5 Through paths of loving-kindness led, James Montgomery included this needeJ but rather commonplace hymn in his collection, and entitled it," For the Opening of the Sheffield General Infirmary, October, 1797." This date marks the time when, under his somewhat peculiar persecutions, the author was held in prison, and solaced his tedious hours by writing religious poetry. It is possible that these stanzas, so patiently commending the miracles of our Lord as exemplary of the truest and the highest benevolence, were composed behind the grating of a cell. 2 Lord, should my path through suffering lie, Forbid it I should e'er repine; Still let me turn to Calvary, Nor heed my griefs, remembering thine. 3 Oh, let me think how thou didst leave To fast, to faint, to watch, to grieve, 4 To faint, to grieve, to die for me! Shall I not love thee more than these? 5 Yes! I would count them all but loss, This plain piece of versification, first published in the Star in the East, 1824, owes its popularity and power, not so much to poetic excellence in its construction as to spiritual fervor in its sentiment. It might be offered almost as the chief motto of Josiah Conder's life; he wrote it from his full heart. It aims to identify one's life with Christ's life; to accept him as the Leader, the Model, the Master, of one's entire existence. It is this intense regard for Jesus the Saviour that makes itself felt in Conder's hymns, this loyalty, this love, this longing, which will explain the fact that the number of his accepted pieces in common use ranks next to that of Watts and Wesley in all the churches. Dr. Isaac Watts included this in his Hymns, Book II., No. 139, as illustrating "The Example of Christ." It is a tame sort of poem; it is useful, however, in certain exigencies, to follow a discourse upon the believer's conformity to Christ. It depicts the process of studying the pattern, of transcribing the virtues, and so attaining the image of the Lord Jesus in one's self. The familiar text (Ephesians 5:1), "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children," is rendered rightly in the Revised Version, "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children." This command of the apostle is not obeyed so easily as, at first sight, one would think. It requires care and patient labor. We have just learned of the death of the famous painter, Meissonier; in one of his obituaries this incident is related concerning his persistent and ingenious industry in doing his best work: "Meissonier spared no pains to make his pictures accurate in detail and faithful representatives in every respect. When he painted the 1814' he borrowed the emperor's famous blue overcoat from the museum where it was carefully guarded and had it exactly reproduced by a tailor. To secure the desired atmospheric effects, he put the coat on, mounted a lay' horse, and painted before a mirror in an open room on his roof in a snow-storm. He was equally exact in the details of all his important pictures." 373 An unseen Saviour. O SAVIOUR, precious Saviour, Whom yet unseen we love, O name of might and favor, All other names above; CHO.-We worship thee, we bless thee, To thee alone we sing; We praise thee and confess thee, Our holy Lord and King. 2 O Bringer of salvation, Who wondrously hast wrought, Of love beyond our thought;-CHO. O Son of God, is thine;-CHO. 7s, 6s. D. become to thousands of Christians in all parts The name of Frances Ridley Havergal has of the world a household word. Born December 14, 1836, she was the youngest daughter of the Rev. W. H. Havergal, then rector of Astley, Worcestershire, afterward of St. Nicholas, Worcester, England. She was a singularly bright, clever child, early giving promise of the gifts so fully developed in later years. The little book in which she wrote her childish hymns and rhymes begins with verses written at the age of seven; from nine years old upward she wrote long and amusingly-descriptive letters in perfect rhyme and rhythm. Miss Havergal was never married. She lived a happy, peaceful, and useful life, engaged in writing books of prose and poetry. Her health was precarious, and at times she suffered painfully from disease. But her Christian trust was supreme over every trial. She had an intense love for music and a rare and excellent gift in the composition of tunes. While I was in Leamington once a friend pointed out to me the very piano on which she used to play familiarly from memory the most glorious of Handel's strains as well as those of Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Her voice was wonderfully expressive and sweet, though never very strong. So she lived along with a rich growth of divine grace derived from her sorrows every day. By and by she died at Caswall Bay, near Swansea in Wales, June 3, 1879. It is impossible to epitomize a life that seems so full of courage, faith, sympathy for others, forgetfulness of self, industry and intense devotion, as this of that minister's daughter seems to us who judge it as a whole. She wrote so many books, and sent so many letters: it was marvelous. And God blessed everything she did. This hymn was written at Leamington in 1870, and published in a volume of Miss Havergal's poems, Under the Surface, 1874, with the title, Our King.-Psalm 45: 11." It has four stanzas and a chorus. 374 "With Palms." ALL glory, laud, and honor 2 The company of angels Are praising thee on high, With palms before thee went, Our praise and prayer and anthem Before thee we present. 3 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 Thou good and gracious King. 7s, 6s. D. In the ninth century, very near its beginning, for the author died in 821 A. D., the old Latin hymn beginning, "Gloria, laus, et honor," was composed by Theodolphus, the Bishop of Orleans. The translation of it into English was made by Rev. Dr. John Mason Neale, and will be found now in his Mediaval Hymns. At one time in his history this excellent bishop was accused by his enemies of aiding a conspiracy against the reigning monarch. He was thrown into prison at Anjou, and it is said by some authorities that it was during this period of confinement that he wrote the fine poem which bears his name. At all events it is a historic fact that he chanted it himself on one Palm Sunday from the grated window of his cell. It commemorated the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, when the people of the Hebrews with palms before him went, and when the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. 375 "God, our Saviour." To thee, my God and Saviour! Almighty King of kings! Of thy redeeming love. 2 Soon as the morn with roses Well pleased the Lord shall hear: 3 By thee, through life supported, What could an angel more? 7s, 6s. D. Rev. Thomas Haweis, LL. B., M. D., was born at Truro in Cornwall, 1732, of an aristocratic family, and received a liberal education. He was converted while still very young, and became a devoted Christian. ALthough he had begun the study of medicine, he entered at Christ's College, Cambridge; he was graduated, and immediately took holy orders. Appointed in 1757 to a curacy in Oxford, his success as a preacher was marked, but he was not allowed to remain long. The bishop of the diocese disagreed with his views, and he removed to London to assume a charge at the Lock Hospital, a place where peculiarly depraved characters were to be met. His work there was faithful, but in 1763 he was transferred to the rectorate of All Saints, at Aldwincle; there he remained to the end of his honored and prosperous life. He was chaplain to Lady Huntingdon, and officiated for several years at her private chapel. He died peacefully at Bath, February 11, 1820. Dr. Haweis was a man of great learning and wrote about two hundred and fifty hymns, many of which are still in common use. He said of them: "They are such as my heart indited, and they speak of the things which I have believed concerning my God and King. They all point to one object—to a crucified Jesus." 376 Children's Hosannas. WHEN, his salvation bringing, Well pleased to hear their song. 2 And since the Lord retaineth 3 For should we fail proclaiming The tribute of our words? They, too, should be the Lord's. 7s, 6s. D. Instantly, upon reading these stanzas, we have a vision of the triumphal entry of the Christ into Jerusalem: "And the children crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David!" The name of the Rev. John King has been affixed to the hymn, but to establish his identity as its author is rather difficult. It appeared first in the Psalmist, A Selection of Psalms and Hymns, published in London in 1830, with the signature "J. King." Rev. John Gwythe, one of the compilers of that book, stated that this stood for "Joshua King, late Vicar of Hull." From the registers of Eyton Church, Wellington, Shropshire, where Mr. King was at one time curate, we learn that his Christian name was John; that he graduated from Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1814; and became incumbent of Christ Church, Hull, in 1822. He died September 12, 1858. This hymn is very familiar to congregations on both sides of the sea, and is a special favorite with the children of the Sunday Schools. It has been deemed worthy a place as a Third-Rank Hymn of the future in Anglican Hymnology. 3 "Come unto me, ye fainting, 4 "And whosoever cometh 66 This is another of the excellent hymns of the surgeon-"the beloved physician" he might well be called-William Chatterton Dix. It was published first in the People's Hymnal (English), 1867. Its plaintive sentiment (like that of Lead, kindly Light," by Newman) owes much to the matchless music of Dr. Dykes, to which it is usually sung. Vox Jesu is a worthy sister to Lux Benigna in the circle of seraphic tunes on earth. The dramatic force of the piece comes from its simpleness. The compiler of Laudes Domini would like to record one memory which is full of longing for a chance of acknowledgment. Broken in health almost to hopelessness, he went over the ocean in 1881 for rest. At St. Pancras' Protestant Episcopal Church in London, he was privileged to listen to a purely gospel sermon, preached by Rev. Canon Spence. It was one of the plainest, the strongest, the gentlest, of all discourses he ever heard from a Christian pulpit; the most truly evangelical in doctrine and tender in invitation. And now as he sits here writing, he humbly hopes some chance wind or bird may take his thanks to that preacher for the help he brought him in his sore weakness and heavy trouble. Then one male voice broke the silence after prayer with two lines of song slowly and intelligibly spoken, as Jesus may have spoken them-"Come unto me, ye weary, and I will give you rest." A short pause of an instant, and the arches rang with the full choir: "Oh, blesséd voice of Jesus!" After service I waited, found out where tune and hymn came from, and gave them my highest place of honor as the best I shall ever hear this side of heaven. Of pardon, grace, and peace, 2 My merry heart is springing, And knows not how to pine: 'T is full of joy and singing, And radiancy divine. The sun whose smiles so cheer me Is Jesus Christ alone: To have him always near me Richard Massie is an English Episcopalian, a gentleman of wealth and leisure, residing at Pulford Hall, in Coddington, Cheshire. Some very fine translations of Spitta's, Luther's, and Gerhardt's hymns into English have rendered his name familiar on both sides of the ocean. He is the eldest of a family of twenty-two children, and was born June 18, 1800, in Chester, where his father was for many years the minister over the parish of St. Bride. This hymn was rendered by him from the one of Rev. Paul Gerhardt beginning, "Ist Gott fur mich, so trete." 2 My Lord, my Master, help me Far from the world's loud turmoil, 3 Oh, keep my heart at leisure Thus with thee to abide- Mrs. Rebekah Hope Taylor, daughter of Hon. Samuel Morley, M. P., was the wife of Herbert W. Taylor, and belonged to the religious body known as the Plymouth Brethren. there are to be found four of her poems, the In the Enlarged London Hymn Book, 1873, one given here being the favorite. Mrs. Taylor died November 8, 1877, and in the following year her Letters were published. This hymn is useful in that it presents one passage of Scripture which illustrates one phase of our Lord's life; it gives voice in song to Hebrews 13:11-13: "For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high-priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." 381 "Friend of Sinners." ONE there is above all others, They who once his kindness prove 2 Which of all our friends, to save us, This was boundless love indeed! 3 When he lived on earth abaséd, Still he calls them brethren, friends, 4 Could we bear from one another 5 Oh, for grace our hearts to soften! We, alas! forget too often What a Friend we have above: 8s, 75, 75. But when home our souls are brought, We will love thee as we ought. |