EASTER HYMNS HE strife is o'er, the battle done!" is the expression of the attitude of the Christian as he welcomes Easter with its messages of victory. Even more joyful than Christmas, yet how different the note. That was the child's festival, and there was much of joy in anticipation. The spirit of the day warranted the tone of merriment in the melody. The leading note now is equally, if not more joyful; but it is the note of deepest joy in fullest realization; the songs of victory which come from the throats of strong men and old men as well as of women and of children. They are a mighty host rejoicing over the battles of the Lord and the victory which is final and complete. This is the thought which should be in our minds as we consider, and select "Our Favorite Easter Hymns." This sentiment prevailed in the early Church. Hence it is that the hymn which to us is familiar from its first line, which reads: "The strife is o'er, the battle done!" was produced in the twelfth century, and is a product of the ancient Latin Church. In the original the first line reads: "Finita Jam sunt prælia!" A double "Alleluia" is generally prefixed to the several stanzas of this hymn. It is the Christian note which is very much like the warrior's shout when his enemy flees and he knows the victory is his. The hymn is known to English readers through two very good translations. These were made by the Rev. Francis Pott and Dr. Neale. The former's translation is that which is used in our own hymn books. Rev. Pott, a clergyman of the Church of England, was born December 29, 1832. In addition to being a successful translator of hymns he is the author of a number of original hymns. Among these, perhaps, his best and most favorably known hymn is the one which begins, "Angel voices ever singing." A HYMN OF STRIFE AND VICTORY The strife is o'er, the battle done! The song of triumph has begun, The pow'rs of death have done their worst, The three sad days are quickly sped; He closed the yawning gates of Hell; Lord! by the stripes which wounded Thee, Hallelujah! Another Latin hymn which is in common use at Easter is "Welcome, happy morning, Age to age shall say." In the original this hymn contained many verses, beginning with the expression "Salva Festa dies." The author of this hymn was Fortunatus. His full name was Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus. He was born about 530 A. D., and died about 609 A. D., at Poitiers. His career was quite romantic. He was very poetical, and through his poetry gained the favor of King Sigibert, of Austrasia, at whose court he lived. Later he went to Tours and afterward to Poitiers, where he entered a monastery and became bishop of Poitiers in 599 A. D. Our readers would find his life-story a very profitable and interesting bit of reading. The hymn, as we have it and as it is most generally used, was translated and abridged by John Ellerton. In many respects this beautiful hymn supplements the strife and victory song which we have just given. It sums up most instructively the fruits of the victory which Jesus wins for us in His resurrection. There are a number of interesting stories associated with this ancient hymn of the Church. They show how precious its truths must have been to men in trials and perils. We give an instance to increase the reader's appreciation of the hymn. Jerome of Prague, on his way to execution, sang several hymns. This ancient hymn by the bishop of Poitiers was one of those which he sang. After singing it, as the fire enveloped him, he cried, "This soul in flames I offer, Lord to Thee," and died. Archbishop Cranmer, of Canterbury, in 1544 made an English version of this Easter hymn of "Welcome." He at the same time recommended its adoption and use in the English church. This document is still in existence. A HYMN WHICH WAS SUNG IN THE FIRE Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say. Loose the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan's chain; Show Thy face in brightness, bid the nations see; The great Luther achieved some of his greatness through his hymns, the influence of which there were those who dreaded as much as they did his sermons. His great and hopeful heart compelled a vigor and a melody confident of victory. Strong of faith, fearless of consequences in the battles which he waged for the Lord in the Reformation of the Church, his hymns have a ruggedness and a strength which are found both in the words and the melody which mark them as distinct and peculiarly and distinctively evangelical. Without exception Luther's hymns in thought, wording and melody reflect the spirit of the Reformation, and their use will materially increase faith, devotion and churchliness. This historic background of the man and the times will help us to appreciate his grand Easter hymn, which in its English dress appears to us as beginning thus: "Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands, For our offences given." The German hymn was first published at Erfurt in 1524. The hymn was based on an old Latin hymn, "Victimæ Paschali Laudes." It was a sequence of the eleventh or twelfth century. There were earlier German translations also; but while these earlier German and Latin hymns and the Scriptural notices of the Passover lamb furnished Luther the material of this beautiful hymn, yet the working out is entirely original and the result is a hymn which is second only to his unequaled "A mighty fortress is our God." Like the Reformation itself, which looked backward and gathered out of the ancient Church all that was good and true and purified it, making it truly a Church of Luther, yet really the Church of Christ, so in this hymn Luther makes actually his own that which was ancient, but |