THE TUNE.

Dr. W. H. Doane was present at the International Conference of the Y. M. C. A. at Montreal in 1867, and heard the poem read—with tears and in a broken voice-by the veteran Major-General Russell. It impressed him so much that he borrowed and copied it, and subsequently set it to music during a vacation in the White Mountains.

The poem of fifty stanzas was entitled "The Story Wanted;" the sequel or answer to it, by Miss Hankey, was named "The Story Told." This second hymn, of the same metre but different accent, was supplied with a tune by William Gustavus Fischer.

William Gustavus Fischer was born in Baltimore,

Md., Oct. 14, 1835. He was a piano-dealer in the

firm (formerly) of Gould and Fischer. His melody to the above hymn was written in 1869, and was harmonized the next year by Hubert P. Main.

THE PRODIGAL CHILD.

This is not only an impressive hymn as sung in sympathetic music, but a touching poem.

The author is Mrs. Ellen M. H. Gates, known to the English speaking world by her famous poem, "Your Mission."

THE TUNE

To "The Prodigal Child" was composed by Dr. Doane in 1869 and no hymn ever had a fitter singing ally. All a mother's yearning is in the refrain and cadence.

Come home! Oh, come home!

"LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING!"

An illustration, recited in Mr. Moody's graphic fashion in one of his discourses, suggested this hymn to P. P. Bliss.

"A stormy night on Lake Erie, and the sky pitch

dark."

'Pilot, are you sure this is Cleveland? There's only one light.'

'Quite sure, Cap'n.'

'Where are the lower lights?"

'Gone out, sir.'

'Can you run in ?'

'We've got to, Cap'n-or die.'

"The brave old pilot did his best, but, alas, he missed the channel. The boat was wrecked, with a loss of many lives. The lower lights had

out.

gone

"Brethren, the Master will take care of the great Lighthouse. It is our work to keep the lower lights burning!"

Brightly beams our Father's mercy

From His lighthouse evermore;

But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
CHORUS.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave;
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Both words and music-composed in 1871are by Mr. Bliss. There are wakening chords in

the tune and especially the chorus-when the counterpoint is well vocalized; and the effect is more pronounced the greater the symphony of voices. Congregations find a zest in every note. "Hold the Fort" can be sung in the street. "Let the Lower Lights be Burning" is at home between echoing walls.

The use of the song in "Bethel" meetings classes it with sailors' hymns.

"SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER."

Included with the Gospel Hymns, but of older date. Rev. William W. Walford, a blind English minister, was the author, and it was probably written about the year 1842. It was recited to Rev. Thomas Salmon, Congregational pastor at Coleshill, Eng., who took it down and brought it to New York, where it was published in the New York Observer.

Little is known of Mr. Walford save that in his blindness, besides preaching occasionally, he employed his mechanical skill in making small useful articles of bone and ivory.

The tune was composed by W. B. Bradbury in 1859, and first appeared with the hymn in Cottage Melodies.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

"O BLISS OF THE PURIFIED! BLISS OF THE FREE!"

Rev. Francis Bottome, D.D., born in Belper, Derbyshire, Eng., May 26, 1823, removed to the United States in 1850, and entered the Methodist ministry. A man of sterling character and exemplary piety. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. Was assistant compiler of several singing books, and wrote original hymns. The above, entitled "O sing of His mighty love" was composed by him in 1869. The last stanza reads,—

O Jesus the Crucified! Thee will I sing,
My blessed Redeemer, my God and my King!

My soul, filled with rapture shall shout o'er the grave
And triumph in death in the Mighty to save.

CHORUS.

O sing of His mighty love (ter)
Mighty to save!

Dr. Bottome returned to England, and died at Tavistock June 29, 1894.

THE TUNE.

Bradbury's "Songs of the Beautiful" (in Fresh Laurels). The hymn was set to this chorus in 1871.