The Story of the Hymns and Tunes Part 62

Tell me the story simply As to a little child, For I am weak and weary, And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the story simply That I may take it in-- That wonderful Redemption, G.o.d's remedy for sin.

_THE TUNE._

Dr. W.H. Doane was present at the International Conference of the Y.M.C.A. at Montreal in 1867, and heard the poem read--with tears and in a broken voice--by the veteran Major-General Russell. It impressed him so much that he borrowed and copied it, and subsequently set it to music during a vacation in the White Mountains.

The poem of fifty stanzas was ent.i.tled "The Story Wanted;" the sequel or answer to it, by Miss Hankey, was named "The Story Told." This second hymn, of the same metre but different accent, was supplied with a tune by William Gustavus Fischer.

I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story Because I know its true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do.

CHORUS.

I love to tell the story; 'Twill be my theme in glory; To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and his love.

William Gustavus Fischer was born in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 14, 1835. He was a piano-dealer in the firm (formerly) of Gould and Fischer. His melody to the above hymn was written in 1869, and was harmonized the next year by Hubert P. Main.

THE PRODIGAL CHILD.

This is not only an impressive hymn as sung in sympathetic music, but a touching poem.

Come home! come home!

You are weary at heart, For the way has been dark And so lonely and wild-- O prodigal child, Come home!

Come home! Come home!

For we watch and we wait, And we stand at the gate While the shadows are piled; O prodigal child, Come home!

The author is Mrs. Ellen M.H. Gates, known to the English speaking world by her famous poem, "Your Mission."

_THE TUNE_

To "The Prodigal Child" was composed by Dr. Doane in 1869 and no hymn ever had a fitter singing ally. All a mother's yearning is in the refrain and cadence.

Come home! Oh, come home!

"LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING!"

An ill.u.s.tration, recited in Mr. Moody's graphic fas.h.i.+on in one of his discourses, suggested this hymn to P.P. Bliss.

"A stormy night on Lake Erie, and the sky pitch dark."

'Pilot, are you sure this is Cleveland? There's only one light.'

'Quite sure, Cap'n.'

'Where are the lower lights?'

'Gone out, sir.'

'Can you run in?'

'_We've got to_, Cap'n--or die.'

"The brave old pilot did his best, but, alas, he missed the channel. The boat was wrecked, with a loss of many lives. The lower lights had gone out.

"Brethren, the Master will take care of the great Lighthouse. It is our work to keep the lower lights burning!"

Brightly beams our Father's mercy From His lighthouse evermore; But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the sh.o.r.e.

CHORUS.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave; Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save.

Both words and music--composed in 1871--are by Mr. Bliss. There are wakening chords in the tune--and especially the chorus--when the counterpoint is well vocalized; and the effect is more p.r.o.nounced the greater the symphony of voices. Congregations find a zest in every note.

"Hold the Fort" can be sung in the street. "Let the Lower Lights be Burning" is at home between echoing walls.

The use of the song in "Bethel" meetings cla.s.ses it with sailors' hymns.

"SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER."

Included with the _Gospel Hymns_, but of older date. Rev. William W.

Walford, a blind English minister, was the author, and it was probably written about the year 1842. It was recited to Rev. Thomas Salmon, Congregational pastor at Coles.h.i.+ll, Eng., who took it down and brought it to New York, where it was published in the New York _Observer_.

Little is known of Mr. Walford save that in his blindness, besides preaching occasionally, he employed his mechanical skill in making small useful articles of bone and ivory.

The tune was composed by W.B. Bradbury in 1859, and first appeared with the hymn in _Cottage Melodies_.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father's throne Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter's snare By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

"O BLISS OF THE PURIFIED! BLISS OF THE FREE!"

Rev. Francis Bottome, D.D., born in Belper, Derbys.h.i.+re, Eng., May 26, 1823, removed to the United States in 1850, and entered the Methodist ministry. A man of sterling character and exemplary piety. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at d.i.c.kinson College, Carlisle, Pa. Was a.s.sistant compiler of several singing books, and wrote original hymns.

The above, ent.i.tled "O sing of His mighty love" was composed by him in 1869. The last stanza reads,--

O Jesus the Crucified! Thee will I sing, My blessed Redeemer, my G.o.d and my King!

My soul, filled with rapture shall shout o'er the grave And triumph in death in the Mighty to save.