and, although she could not stand among the leaders of the battle-line in extending the conquest of the world for Christ, she was happy in having written a campaign hymn which they loved to sing. (It is curious that so pains-taking a work as Julian's Dictionary of Hymns and Hymn-writers credits "With joy we hail the sacred day" to both Miss Auber and Henry Francis Lyte. Coincidences are known where different hymns by different authors begin with the same line; and in this case one writer was dead before the other's works were published. Possibly the collector may have seen a forgotten hymn of Lyte's, with that first line.) The tune that best interprets this hymn in spirit and in living music is Lowell Mason's "Eltham." Its harmony is like a chime of bells. "LET PARTY NAMES NO MORE." Let party names no more The Christian world o'erspread; Gentile and Jew, and bond and free, This hymn of Rev. Benjamin Beddome sounds like a prelude to the grand rally of the Christian Churches a generation later for united advance into foreign fields. It was an after-sermon hymn -like so many of Watts and Doddridge-and spoke a good man's longing to see all sects stand shoulder to shoulder in a common crusade. Tune-Boylston. "WATCHMAN, TELL US OF THE NIGHT.” The tune written to this pealing hymn of Sir John Bowring by Lowell Mason has never been superseded. In animation and vocal splendor it catches the author's own clear call, echoing the shout of Zion's sentinels from city to city, and happily reproducing in movement and phrase the great song-dialogue. Words and music together, the piece ranks with the foremost missionary lyrics. Like the greater Mason-Heber worldsong, it has acquired no arbitrary name, appearing in Mason's own tune-books under its first hymnline and likewise in many others. A few hymnals have named it "Bowring," (and why not?) and some later ones simply "Watchman.” 1. Watchman, tell us of the night, Trav'ler, on yon mountain height, 2 Watchman, does its beauteous ray Trav'ler, yes; it brings the day, 3 Watchman, tell us of the night; Higher yet that star ascends. Trav'ler, blessedness and light 4 Watchman, will its beams alone Gild the spot that gave them birth? Trav'ler, ages are its own. See! it bursts o'er all the earth. “YE CHRISTIAN HERALDS, GO PROCLAIM.” In some versions "Ye Christian heroes," etc. Professor David R. Breed attributes this stirring hymn to Mrs. Vokes (or Voke) an English or Welsh lady, who is supposed to have written it somewhere near 1780, and supports the claim by its date of publication in Missionary and Devotional Hymns at Portsea, Wales, in 1797. In this Dr. Breed follows (he says) "the accepted tradition." On the other hand the Coronation Hymnal (1894) refers the authorship to a Baptist minister, the Rev. Bourne Hall Draper, of Southampton (Eng.), born 1775, and this choice has the approval of Dr. Charles Robinson. The question occurs whether, when the hymn was published in good faith as Mrs. Vokes', it was really the work of a then unknown youth of twenty-two. The probability is that the hymn owns a mother instead of a father-and a grand hymn it is; one of the most stimulating in Missionary song-literature. The stanza God shield you with a wall of fire! -has been tampered with by editors, altering the last line to "Calm the troubled seas," etc., (for the sake of the longer vowel;) but the substitution, "He'll shield you," etc., in the first line, turns a prayer into a mere statement. The hymn was-and should remain-a Godspeed to men like William Carey, who had already begun to think and preach his immortal motto, "Attempt great things for God; expect great things of God." THE TUNE Is the "Missionary Chant," and no other. Its composer, Heinrich Christopher Zeuner, was born in Eisleben, Saxony, Sept. 20, 1795. He came to the United States in 1827, and was for many years organist at Park Street Church, Boston, and for the Handel and Haydn Society. In 1854 he removed to Philadelphia where he served three years as organist to St. Andrews Church, and Arch Street Presbyterian. He became insane in 1857, and in November of that year died by his own hand. He published an oratorio "The Feast of Tabernacles," and two popular books, the American Harp, 1832, and The Ancient Lyre, 1833. His compositions are remarkably spirited and vig orous, and his work as a tune-maker was much in demand during his life, and is sure to continue, in its best examples, as long as good sacred music is appreciated. To another beautiful missionary hymn of Mrs. Vokes, of quieter tone, but songful and sweet, Dr. Mason wrote the tune of "Migdol." It is its musical twin. Soon the last glad song arise Through all the millions of the skies, "ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP APPEARING." This admired and always popular church hymn was written near the beginning of the last century by the Rev. Thomas Kelly, born in Dublin, 1760. He was the son of the Hon. Chief Baron Thomas Kelly of that city, a judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas. His father designed him for the legal profession, but after his graduation at Trinity College he took holy orders in the Episcopal Church, and labored as a clergyman among the scenes of his youth for more than sixty years, becoming a Nonconformist in his later ministry. He was a sweet-souled man, who made troops of friends, and was honored as much for his piety as for his poetry, music, and oriental learning. "I expect never to die," he said, when Lord Plunkett once told him he would reach a great age. He finished his earthly work on the 14th of May, |
