There are various translations of the old Latin "Veni, Sanctus Spiritus," of which the above is one of the most beautiful and popular. The original authorship of this hymn, which has been of increasing use and appreciation in the Church for ten centuries, is somewhat in doubt. Hezekiah Butterworth, a very reliable authority, ascribes it to "Robert the Devout," who succeeded his father on the throne of France about 997. His life and character at least reflect the spirit of the hymn. The opposition of his sons in his last years added to political agitations brought great sorrow and much trouble upon him. Robert was learned, as well as musically and spiritually minded. He was unselfishly devoted to the Church. He himself served as the chorister in the old St. Denis Church. He would stand in his royal robes and wearing his crown upon his head, direct the choir at matins and vespers, and would himself join heartily in the singing. If this old hymn is his legacy to the Church, as Butterworth says it is, after nearly a thousand years through his hymn he still has an influence in the world.

THE VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS OF THE TENTH CENTURY

Another old hymn of the early Latin Church which has been widely used and is furnished in a number of translations is the "Veni Creator Spiritus," which is ascribed to various authors.

TRANSLATION OF A TENTH CENTURY HYMN

"Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,

And lighten with celestial fire;

Thou the anointing Spirit art,

Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart.

"Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light

The dullness of our blinded sight.

"Anoint our heart and cheer our face
With the abundance of Thy grace.
Keep far our foes; give peace at home;
Where Thou art Guide, no ill can come.

"Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee, of both, to be but One;
That through the ages all along,

Thy praise may be our endless song!"

For ten centuries this hymn has been in constant use in the Church. It has been ascribed to Charlemagne, St. Ambrose and Gregory the Great. Ekkehard, the monk of St. Gall, says that the groaning of a water wheel, whose supply of water was running short, suggested to Notker, who was lying awake in a nearby dormitory, the possibility of setting the moaning of the old wheel to music. He was so successful in his effort that the music of the original of this hymn was the result. This he sent to Charlemagne, who was thus led to compose the words. A strange legend, indeed, of the origin of a hymn the authorship of which is historically uncertain, but the use of which is almost universal.

As to the use of this hymn it is worthy of mention that for several centuries it has been used at the consecration of Anglican bishops. It is generally used at the ordination of Lutheran ministers in America. The Latin version of it is appointed for use at the consecration of a pope, the election of a Roman bishop, at the coronation of kings, as

also at that service so strange to evangelical Christians, namely, the elevation and translation of saints.

The Latin version differs very slightly, chiefly in the order of words, from the original version and from that which is commonly in use among us. Its general and wide use throughout the Church and in the functions just referred to would seem to be an illustration of the underlying unity of "The Christian Church," which we confess to be "The Communion of Saints."

HYMNS TO THE HOLY TRINITY

ISHOP HEBER, who is the author of a few more than fifty hymns, has written the hymn which is undoubtedly the most majestic hymn of praise of the Holy Trinity that has ever been written.

BISHOP HEBER'S HYMN TO THE TRINITY

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Cherubim and Seraphim, falling down before Thee;

Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see.

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and

sea;

Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

This hymn, probably suggested by the Te Deum, is, in reality, a splendid metrical paraphrase of Rev, 4:8-11. An eminent English educator and literary critic said of this hymn, "In my judgment, considering the abstract,

difficult nature of its theme, its perfect spirituality and the devotion and purity of its language, it is the finest hymn ever written."

Grand as the hymn is, it did not attain its full grandeur of sentiment and sound until it was inseparably linked with Dr. John B. Dyke's tune, "Nicæa." The name may mean nothing to our readers, but if so, look up the hymn and the tune and sing it. We have here another illustration of the beauty and the power that go with a hymn sung to its proper tune. To divorce a hymn from its own tune, which is historic and harmonious with the meaning of the words, is to rob worship of one of the greatest of its riches.

A PRAYER TO THE TRINITY

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

O'er the world's tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but Thee;
Yet possessing every blessing,
If our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us;

All our weakness Thou dost know;
Thou didst tread this earth before us,
Thou didst feel its keenest woe;
Lone and dreary, faint and weary,
Through the desert Thou didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,

Fill our hearts with heavenly joy;
Love with every passion blending,
Pleasure that can never cloy;
Thus provided, pardoned, guided,
Nothing can our peace destroy.

This hymn is one of the two best known hymns of James