less in use in church worship, and eight for Sabbath school collections. THE TUNE. "Millennial Dawn" is the title given it by a Boston compiler, about 1844, but since the music and hymn became "one and indivisable" it has been named "Webb," and popularly known as "Morning Light" or oftener still by its first hymn-line, "The morning light is breaking." George James Webb was born near Salisbury, Wiltshire, Eng., June 24, 1803. He studied music in Salisbury and for several years played the organ at Falmouth Church. When still a young man (1830), he came to the United States, and settled in Boston where he was long the leading organist and music teacher of the city. He was associate director of the Boston Academy of Music with Lowell Mason, and joint author and editor with him of several church-music collections. Died in Orange, N. J., Nov. 7, 1887. Dr. Webb's own account of the tune "Millennial Dawn" states that he wrote it at sea while on his way to America-and to secular words and that he had no idea who first adapted it to the hymn, nor when. "IF I WERE A VOICE, A PERSUASIVE VOICE." This animating lyric was written by Charles Mackay. Sung by a good vocalist, the fine solo air composed (with its organ chords) by I. B. Woodbury, is still a feature in some missionary meetings, especially the fourth stanza If I were a voice, an immortal voice, I would fly, I would fly, on the wings of day, I would fly on the wings of day. Charles Mackay, the poet, was born in Perth, Scotland, 1814, and educated in London and Brussels; was engaged in editorial work on the London Morning Chronicle and Glasgow Argus, and during the Corn Law agitation wrote popular songs, notably "The Voice of the Crowd" and "There's a Good Time Coming," which (like the far inferior poetry of Ebenezer Elliot) won the lasting love of the masses for a superior man who could be "The People's Singer and Friend." He came to the United States in 1857 as a lecturer, and again in 1862, remaining three years as war correspondent of the London Times. Glasgow University made him LL. D. in 1847. His numerous songs and poems were collected in a London edition. Died Dec. 24, 1889. Isaac Baker Woodbury was born in Beverly, Mass., 1819, and rose from the station of a blacksmith's apprentice to be a tone-teacher in the church. He educated himself in Europe, returned and sang his life songs, and died in 1858 at the age of thirty-nine. A tune preferred by many as the finer music is the one written to the words by Mr. Sankey, Sacred Songs, No. 2. "SPEED AWAY! SPEED AWAY!" This inspiriting song of farewell to departing missionaries was written in 1890 to Woodbury's appropriate popular melody by Fanny J. Crosby, at the request of Ira D. Sankey. The key-word and refrain are adapted from the original song by Woodbury (1848), but in substance and language the three hymn-stanzas are the new and independent work of this later writer. Speed away! speed away on your mission of light, Take your lives in your hand, to the work while 'tis day, Speed away, speed away with the life-giving Word, Speed away, speed away with the message of rest, And the banquet is ready. O gather them in; "ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!" Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, the author of this rousing hymn of Christian warfare, a rector of the Established Church of England and a writer of note, was born at Exeter, Eng., Jan. 28, 1834. Educated at Clare College, Cambridge, he entered the service of the church, and was appointed Rector of East Mersea, Essex, in 1871. He was the author of several hymns, original and translated, and introduced into England from Flanders, numbers of carols with charming old Christmas music. The "Christian Soldiers" hymn is one of his (original) processionals, and the most inspiring. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, Going on before. Christ the Royal Master See, His banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers, etc. Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod; We are not divided, All one body we, THE TUNE. Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan, Doctor of Music, who wrote the melody for this hymn, was born in London, May 13, 1842. He gained the Mendelssohn Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, and also at the Conservatory of Leipsic. He was a fertile genius, and his compositions included operettas, symphonies, overtures, anthems, hymn-tunes, an oratorio ("The Prodigal Son"), and almost every variety of tone production, vocal and instrumental. Queen Victoria knighted him in 1883. The grand rhythm of "Onward, Christian Soldiers"-hymn and tune-is irresistible whether in band march or congregational worship. Sir Arthur died in London, November 22, 1900. “O CHURCH ARISE AND SING.” Designed originally for children's voices, the hymn of five stanzas beginning with this line was written by Hezekiah Butterworth, author of the Story of the Hymns (1875), Story oft he Tunes (1890), and many popular books of historic interest for the young, the most widely read of which is Zigzag Journeys in Many Lands. He |