"O God, the crystal light Of Thy most stainless sunshine here is mine; It floods my outer sight; Ah, let me well discern Thyself where'er I turn, "Hark! how the air is sweet With music from a thousand warbling throats, To Thee I also sing, keep me beneath Thy wing; "Ah, Lord, the universe Is bright and laughing, full of pomp and mirth; A tale forever new of wonders Thou canst do In sunny skies and on the fruitful earth. "Thee all the mountains praise; The rocks and glens are full of song to Thee! They bid me join my lays, And laud the mighty Rock, who, safe from every shock, Beneath Thy shadow here doth shelter me." Intensely personal, the imagery is beautiful and gives a glimpse into the life of the man who has written many hymns which speedily were received into both Lutheran and Reformed hymn books. Many of them lived and are still in general use. If now we will re-read his "Sieh bin ich, Ehrenkönig," and recall that it was written at the evening of a life begun in recklessness and with a purpose to make jest of religion, and which was filled with earnest piety and conscientious conflict we will find a richness of penitence and trust which will make these stanzas, whenever in the future it is our privilege to sing them, most helpful and devoutly impressive. There are few hymns that are better known or more widely used than the hymn, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee." It was composed in 1830 by the Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., a Congregational clergyman. The words in themselves are so beautiful that we cannot help loving the hymn, but the writer's own description of its composition will certainly increase our appreciation of the deep personal trust which is embodied in its lines. Dr. Palmer says that in composing this hymn he had not the slightest idea that he was writing for any eye but his own. He was simply expressing his own personal experience. He says of the composition: "I gave form to what I felt by writing, with little effort, the stanzas. I recollect I wrote them with very tender emotion, and ended the last line with tears." After writing the stanzas he slipped the paper into a vest pocket, where it remained practically forgotten. We might also say, led by the divine Spirit, however, that a short time afterward, his personal friend, Dr. Lowell Mason, met him and asked him if he would not give him one of his hymns that he might compose music for it. Dr. Palmer at once recalled his meditation and said he had something in his vest pocket that might serve his purpose. He drew it out, and, after some difficulty, straightened out the crumpled paper and deciphered the almost worn-out pencil script. Dr. Mason was delighted with the words, caught their spirit, and very shortly afterward returned the words to Dr. Palmer set to the tune "Olivet," the tune which has been used with it ever since. The musician shortly afterward, in meeting the author of the words, said to him, "Dr. Palmer, you may live many years, and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee.'" This prophecy is today a fact. These words, with the music which has helped materially to endear the hymn to devout worshipers, seem almost to have been an accident. A Doctor of Music and a Doctor of Theology meeting casually in a busy thoroughfare of commerce for a very brief interview, scarcely more than enough for a polite salutation in passing as friends, and the consequence is the publication of a Christian hymn which is found in nearly every English hymn book published, and is today republished in a number of other languages. The words and the tune belong together. The fact is only an illustration of the fact that in all cases we should take special care to associate the tune and words and never for the sake of variety attempt to use a strange tune with words that are in the mind and hearts of worshipers inseparably connected with their own melody. While life's dark maze I tread, From Thee aside. When ends life's transient dream, Blest Saviour, then, in love, O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul. LUTHER'S HYMN AGAINST THE TURK AND THE POPE LORD KEEP US STEADFAST IN THY WORD ORD, keep us steadfast in Thy word: Lord Jesus Christ, Thy power make known; O Comforter, of priceless worth, And lead us out of death to life. This hymn, which Luther probably wrote in 1541, has been called a "Child's song against the two archenemies of Christ and His holy Church-the pope and the Turk." Neither is named in the hymn itself, which is really a prayer in verse to keep us through the word under the protection of the Triune God. The story of how Luther happened to write this hymn is very interesting. The knowing of it will give a deeper meaning to this short but expressive hymn, hence we give it. History tells us that in 1541 a service of prayer against the Turks was held in Wittenberg. For this service Luther prepared what, in ecclesiastical language, is called |