CHAPTER XII. FIELD HYMNS. Hymns of the hortatory and persuasive tone are sufficiently numerous to make an "embarrassment of riches" in a compiler's hands. Not a few songs of invitation and awakening are either quoted or mentioned in the chapter on "Old Revival Hymns," and many appear among those in the last chapter, (on the Hymns of Wales;) but the working songs of Christian hymnology deserve a special space as such. "COME HITHER, ALL YE WEARY SOULS," Sung to "Federal St.," is one of the older soulwinning calls from the great hymn-treasury of Dr. Watts; and another note of the same sacred bard, Life is the time to serve the Lord, —is always coupled with the venerable tune of "Wells."* Aged Christians are still remembered who were wont to repeat or sing with quavering voices the second stanza, *One of Israel Holroyd's tunes. He was born in England, about 1690, and was both a composer and publisher of psalmody. His chief collection is dated 1746. The living know that they must die, But all the dead forgotten lie; Their memory and their sense are gone, Alike unknowing and unknown. And likewise from the fourth stanza, There are no acts of pardon passed In the cold grave to which we haste. "AND WILL THE JUDGE DESCEND?" Is one of Doddridge's monitory hymns, once sung to J. C. Woodman's tune of "State St.," with the voice of both the Old and New Testaments in the last verse: Jonathan Call Woodman was born in Newburyport, Mass., July 12, 1813, and was a teacher, composer, and compiler. Was organist of St. George's Chapel, in Flushing, L.I., and in 1858 published The Musical Casket. Died January, 1894. He wrote "State St." for William B. Bradbury, in August, 1844. "HASTEN SINNER, TO BE WISE" Is one of the few unforgotten hymns of Thomas Scott, every second line repeating the solemn caution,— Stay not for tomorrow's sun, --and every line enforcing its exhortation with a new word. "To be wise," "to implore," "to return," and "to be blest" were natural cumulatives that summoned and wooed the sinner careless and astray. It is a finished piece of work, but it owes its longevity less to its structural form than to its spirit. For generations it has been sung to "Pleyel's Hymn." The Rev. Thomas Scott (not Rev. Thomas Scott the Commentator) was born in Norwich, Eng., in 1705, and died at Hupton, in Norfolk, 1776. He was a Dissenting minister, pastor for twenty-one years until disabled by feeble health-at Lowestoft in Suffolk. He was the author of Angels roll the rock away. "MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE ?" This emotional and appealing hymn still holds its own in the hearts of millions, though probably two hundred years old. It was written by a clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. Thomas Shepherd, Vicar of Tilbrook, born in 1665. Joining the Nonconformists in 1694, he settled first in Castle Hill, Nottingham, and afterward in Bocking, Essex, where he remained until his death, January, 1739. He published a selection of his sermons, and Penitential Cries, a book of sacred lyrics, some of which still appear in collections. The startling question in the above line is answered with emphasis in the third of the stanza,— No! There's a cross for every one, And there's a cross for me, —and this is followed by the song of resolve and triumph, The consecrated cross I'll bear, Till death shall set me free. And then go home my crown to wear, For there's a crown for me. O precious cross! O glorious crown! Ye angels from the stars flash down The hymn is a personal New Testament. No one who analyzes it and feels its Christian vitality will wonder why it has lived so long. THE TUNE. For half a century George N. Allen, composer of "Maitland," the music inseparable from the hymn, was credited with the authorship of the words also, but his vocal aid to the heart-stirring poem earned him sufficient praise. The tune did not meet the hymn till the latter was so old that the real author was mostly forgotten, for Allen wrote the music in 1849; but if the fine stanzas needed any renewing it was his tune that made them new. Since it was published nobody has wanted another. George Nelson Allen was born in Mansfield, Mass., Sept. 7, 1812, and lived at Oberlin, O. It was there that he composed "Maitland," and compiled the Social and Sabbath Hymn-book-besides songs for the Western Bell, published by Oliver Ditson and Co. He died in Cincinnati, Dec. 9, 1877. "AWAKE MY SOUL, STRETCH EVERY NERVE!” This most popular of Dr. Doddridge's hymns is also the richest one of all in lyrical and spiritual life. It is a stadium song that sounds the startingnote for every young Christian at the outset of his career, and the slogan for every faint Christian on the way. A beavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown. Like the "Coronation" hymn, it transports the devout singer till he feels only the momentum of the words and forgets whether it is common or hallelujah metre that carries him along. A cloud of witnesses around 'Tis God's all-animating voice Tis His own hand presents the prize In all persuasive hymnology there is no more kindling lyric that this. As a field-hymn it is indispensable. |