HYMNS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE

USIC inspires the soldier and encourages him as he goes to battle. Evangelists are very particular in selecting the hymns which are to be sung,

especially those which lead up to and which follow their sermons. The psychological effect of wisely chosen music is marked. Herein, lies the value of music as an incentive to Christian service. Assuming, of course, that words and music are in harmony, the hymn is a most potent factor in the development of Christian efficiency. Recognizing this principle and realizing the natural effect of proper hymns, there is every reason to make the most careful choice of the hymns we use. This is especially the case when we are endeavoring to lead Christians to render greater and better Christian service.

One of the first hymns of this type of which we think is Charles Wesley's hymn, "A charge to keep I have." The occasion of its writing is not recorded. It was written in 1762 and is in very general use in the hymn books of the various denominations.

WESLEY'S HYMN OF SERVICE

A charge to keep I have,

A God to glorify;

A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill;

O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with zealous care,

As in Thy sight to live;

And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,

And on Thyself rely,

Assured, if I my trust betray,

I shall for ever die.

Among the hymns by Philip Doddridge which have attained widest popularity is one which is pre-eminently a hymn of Christian service. We refer to his hymn beginning, "Ye servants of the Lord." It was not published until after his death, appearing first in a posthumous edition of his hymns published by J. Orton. It was given the title, "The Active Christian." The hymn, which is in widest use, is, as a rule, published as originally written by Dr. Doddridge, an evidence of its poetic merit and hymnological value. Its thoughtful use cannot fail to encourage Christian activity.

DODDRIDGE'S "THE ACTIVE CHRISTIAN"

Ye servants of the Lord,

Each in his office wait

Observant of His heavenly word,

And watchful at His gate.

Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins, as in His sight,
For awful is His Name.

Watch! 'tis your Lord's command;

And while we speak, He's near.
Mark the first signal of His hand,
And ready all appear.

O happy servant he,

In such a posture found!

He shall His Lord with rapture see,

And be with honor crowned.

A hymn which is quite useful and suggestive, the first stanza of which is very frequently, in violation of correct liturgical usage, sung as the offerings are being placed upon the altar, has come to us from the pen of William Walsham How.

HOW'S HYMN OF SERVICE

We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus

As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our first fruits give.

O hearts are bruised and dead,

And homes are bare and cold,

And lambs, for whom the Shepherd bled,
Are straying from the fold!

To comfort and to bless,

To find a balm for woe,
To tend the lone and fatherless,
Is angels' work below.

The captive to release,

The lost to God to bring,

To teach the way of life and peace-
It is a Christ-like thing.

And we believe Thy word,

Though dim our faith may be;
Whate'er we do for Thine, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee.

This is one of Bishop How's best known hymns. A critic in speaking of it has said it is a hymn which has attained foremost rank because it is such a simple, unadorned and enthusiastically practical hymn. Looked at from this point of view we will quickly note its merit and learn to use it that we may catch and spread the spirit of service which it breathes.

Perhaps one of the hymns which in respect to comprehensiveness of service excels all others has come from the pen of a woman who has added some valuable contributions to English Evangelical hymnody. We refer to Frances Ridley Havergal, who in 1874 wrote the hymn to which we refer. It is a hymn which might aptly be styled

"A HYMN OF COMPLETE CONSECRATION"

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be

Fill'd with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasured store;
Take myself, and I will be,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

This is a characteristic hymn from the pen of Miss Havergal, who has sometimes been called "The Theodocia of the 19th Century." She was the daughter of a Church of England clergyman, born at Astley, Worcestershire, England, December 14, 1836. The type of her hymns is interesting and is by some accredited to an incident of her girlhood. When quite a young girl she visited the art gallery of Dusseldorf, Prussia, where she was attending school. She saw and was deeply impressed by the great picture of the head of Christ, the "Ecce Homo." The sight of this picture affected her much as it did Count Zinzendorf, and apparently had much to do with the early experience of this gifted girl, and, in fact, it evidently influenced her entire life. One of the immediate results of her viewing the picture is one of her earliest hymns, which inspired by the "Ecce Homo," flowed from her heart and pen. Here is the verse

"I gave My life for thee,

My precious blood I shed,
That thou might'st ransomed be
And quickened from the dead.

I gave My life for thee:

What hast thou given for Me?"