the sacred music. Instead of the inevitable apis that follows mere entertainment, a gentle but eager request for more secured the repetition of the delightful duet. This occurred again and again, every one in the car-and some had never heard hee or words before-must have learned them For beart. Fatigue was forgotten, miles had been ced to furlongs in a weary trip, and a company rangers had been lifted to a holier plane of shought. Besides this melody there are four tunes by Dr. Gordon in his collection, three of them with his own words. In all there are eleven of his hymns. Of hes the "Good morning in Glory," set to his music, is an emotional lyric admirable in revival meetings, and the one beginning "O Holy Ghost, Ais still sung, and called for affectionately as "Gordon's Hymn." Rev. Adoniram Judson Gordon D. D. was born New Hampton, N.H., April 19, 1836, and died in ton, Feb. 2d, 1895, after a life of unsurpassed fulness to his fellowmen and devotion to his Devine Master. Like Phillips Brooks he went to his "in all his glorious prime," and his loss is grave ally lamented. He was a descendant of John Robinson of Leyden. CHAPTER IV. MISSIONARY HYMNS. 'JESUS SHALL REIGN WHERE'ER THE SUN." One of Watts' sublimest hymns, this Hebrew ode to the final King and His endless dominion expands the majestic prophesy in the seventysecond Psalm: Jesus shall reign where'er the sun The hymn itself could almost claim to be known "where'er the sun" etc., for Christian missionaries have sung it in every land, if not in every language. One of the native kings in the South Sea Islands, who had been converted through the ministry of English missionaries, substituted a Christian for a pagan constitution in 1862. There were five thousand of his subjects gathered at the ceremonial, and they joined as with one voice in singing this hymn. THE TUNE. "Old Hundred" has often lent the notes of its great plain-song to the sonorous lines, and "Duke Street," with superior melody and scarcely inferior grandeur, has given them wings; but the choice of many for music that articulates the life of the hymn would be the tune of "Samson," from Handel's Oratorio so named. It appears as No. 469 in the Evangelical Hymnal. Handel had no peer in the art or instinct of making a note speak a word. "JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD IS COME!" This hymn, also by Watts, is often sung as a Christmas song; but "The Saviour Reigns" and "He Rules the World" are bursts of prophetic triumph always apt and stimulating in missionary meetings. Here, again, the great Handel lends appropriate aid, for "Antioch," the popular tone-consort of the hymn, is an adaptation from his "Messiah." The arrangement has been credited to Lowell Mason, but he seems to have taken it from an English collection by Clark of Canterbury. "O'ER THE GLOOMY HILLS OF DARKNESS." Dros y brinian tywyl niwliog. This notable hymn was written, probably about 1750, by the Rev. William Williams, a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, born at Cefnycoed, Jan. 7, 1717, near Llandover. He began the study of medicine, but took deacon's orders, and was for a time an itinerant preacher, having left the established Church. Died at Pantycelyn, Jan. 11, 1781. His hymn, like the two preceding, antedates the great Missionary Movement by many years. O'er the gloomy hills of darkness Look my soul! be still, and gaze! See the promises advancing Let thy glorious morning dawn! Let the dark, benighted pagan, Loud resound from pole to pole. This song of anticipation has dropped out of the modern hymnals, but the last stanza lingers in many memories. Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel! Win and conquer, never cease; Sway Thy scepter, THE TUNE. Oftener than any other the music of "Zion has been the expression of William Williams' Missionary Hymn. It was composed by Thomas Hastings, in Washington, Ct., 1830. "HASTEN, LORD, THE GLORIOUS TIME." Hasten, Lord, the glorious time Shall the Gospel call obey. Satan and his host o'erthrown Bound in chains shall hurt no more. Miss Harriet Auber, the author of this melodious hymn, was a daughter of James Auber of London, and was born in that city, Oct. 4, 1773. After leaving London she led a secluded life at Broxbourne and Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, writing devotional poetry and sacred songs and paraphrases. Her Spirit of the Psalms, published in 1829, was a collection of lyrics founded on the Biblical Psalms. "Hasten Lord," etc., is from Ps. 72, known for centuries to Christendom as one of the Messianic Psalms. Her best-known hymns have the same inspiration, as— Wide, ye heavenly gates, unfold. Sweet is the work, O Lord. With joy we hail the sacred day. Miss Auber died in Hoddesdon, Jan. 20, 1862. She lived to witness and sympathise with the pioneer missionary enterprise of the 19th century, |
