Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV.-- LIVING HYMNISTS.--I. Born 1796--1820. Theke must surely be to the hymn-writer a deep joy in knowing that his verses have kindled the hearts of multitudes to worship, and risen on the wings of music to the ear of heaven. I can conceive of few things that would waken more real, though it may be quiet, satisfaction. Bishop Ken deemed it would be an addition to his happiness in the happier world, if he should know that his devotional poems were answering on earth the purpose for which he had piously composed them: --And should the well-meant songs I leave behind, With Jesus' lovers an acceptance find, 'Twill heighten e'en the joys of heaven to know, That in my verse the saints hymn God below. It has not always fallen to the lot of even the noblest hymnists to reap this reward during life, for not till they had passed away did their verses enter into the worship song of the Church. The worth of many a noble hymn has not been discovered until its author had gone over to the majority. But many an author in our day has had the joy of knowing that his hymns have been warmly welcomed by the Church, and that they have risen in choral song from the lips of devout worshippers. There are many hymnists, happily still spared to us, who must rejoice in the thought that scarcely a Sunday passes in which their hymns do not hoth kindle and express the devout feelings of men in a multitude of churches in this and other Englishspeaking lands, many of them being widely separated in doctrine, in ritual, in ecclesiastical forms, from that to which they themselves belong. In many a case hymns are sung in assemblies in whose worship their authors would scarcely care to join, and whose doctrines they heartily condemn. The words of Dean, and Bishop, and..
