I have said that from the uttermost parts of the earth I have received communications, and there are few places more out of the way than the Chatham Islands, although this year they have been favoured with a bi-monthly postal service. My correspondent, who uses the nom de plume" Tabitha," says that her husband well remembers when nine months elapsed before they heard from the outer world. Once a year a manof-war anchors for a few days off the island, but the islanders, for the most part, live secluded from the outer world, weaving their own wool, supplying their own needs in primitive patriarchal fashion. My correspondent quotes, as the two verses which have helped her, the following:

And when I'm to die,

"Receive me," I'll cry.
For Jesus has loved me,
I cannot tell why.

But this do I find,

That we two are joined,
That He'll not be in glory,

And leave me behind.

There are many hymns which have played no small part in the lives of men, which, however, I cannot include in this collection. Take, for instance, the hymn, " How bright these glorious spirits shine."

In the life of Duncan Matheson, Scottish Evangelist, we read that on the first Sabbath after he arrived at Balaclava, he and one or more of the 93rd Highlanders retired to a ravine, read, prayed, and sang the battle-song of David and Luther, "God is our refuge and our strength;" and on page 70 to 71 we read: One night, weary and sad, returning from Sebastopol to the old stable at Balaclava where he lodged, his strength gone, sickened with the sights he had seen, depressed by the thought that the siege seemed no nearer an end, so, trudging along in mud knee-deep, he looked up and noticed the stars shining calmly in the clear sky; instinctively his weary heart mounted heavenward, thinking of "the rest that remaineth for the people of God," he began to sing aloud,

How bright these glorious spirits shine.

Next day, though wet and stormy, he went out and came upon a soldier in rags, standing under an old verandah for shelter; his naked toes were showing through worn-out boots. Matheson, speaking words of encouragement, gave him half-a-sovereign to purchase shoes. The soldier thanked him, and said: "I

.

6

am not what I was yesterday. Last night, as I was thinking of our miserable condition, I grew tired of life, and said to myself . . I can bear this no longer, and may as well put an end to it. So I took my musket and went down yonder in a desperate state, about eleven o'clock; but as I got round the point, I heard some person singing How bright these glorious spirits shine;' and I remembered the old tune and the Sabbathschool where we used to sing it. I felt ashamed of being so cowardly, and said: Here is someone as badly off as myself, and yet he is not giving in. I felt, too, he had something to make him happy which I had not, but I began to hope I too might get the same happiness. I returned to my tent, and today I am resolved to seek the one thing." "Do you know who the singer was?" asked the missionary. "No," was the reply. 66 Well," "said the other, "It was I." Tears rushed into the soldier's eyes, and handing back the half-sovereign, he said: "Never, sir, can I take it from you after what you have been the means of doing for me."

APPENDIX II.

A LIST OF A BEST HUNDRED HYMNS. EARLY in 1887 the Editors of The Sunday at Home invited their readers to send lists of the Hundred English Hymns which stood highest in their esteem. Nearly three thousand five hundred persons responded to the invitation; and by the majority of votes the following hundred were selected.

The first on the list, "Rock of Ages," received 3,215 votes ; the last, "Sometimes a light surprises," 866. It was only to be expected that the former hymn would prove the most popular of all; but the three next to it each received about 3,000 votes," Abide with me," "Jesu, Lover of my soul," and "Just as I am."

When I survey the wondrous cross 15. Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling

17. All praise to Thee, my God, this night T. Ken. 18. A few more years shall roll 19. O God, our help in ages past

57. The Church's one foundation 58. Soldiers of Christ, arise

59

AUTHOR.

Fas. Montgomery.

F. Ellerton.

S. J. Stone.
C. Wesley.

Weary of earth and laden with my sin Rev. S. J. Stone,

60. Christian, seek not yet repose

61.

O Day of rest and gladness

62. Christ the Lord is risen to-day O Paradise! O Paradise

63.

61.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

ܢ72

73.

74.

75.

76. O God of Bethel, by Whose hand 77. Peace, perfect peace

78. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.

79. The King of Love my Shepherd is
80. Through all the changing scenes of life
81. Take my life, and let it be

82. While shepherds watched their flocks
by night

83. My God, and is Thy table spread 84. Jesus Christ is risen to-day

85. I could not do without Thee

86. Jesus lives! no longer now

87. Come, Thou Fount of every blessing.
88. As with gladness men of old .
89. O for a thousand tongues to sing
90. Saviour! breathe an evening blessing
Sweet the moments, rich in blessing.
Let us, with a gladsome mind
93. O happy band of pilgrims

91.

92.

95.

94. Days and moments quickly flying
Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
96. Glorious things of Thee are spoken
O Lord, how happy should we be
98. Tell me the old, old story

97.

99. Lord, I hear of showers of blessing Sometimes a light surprises.

100,

C. Elliott.

C. Wordsworth.

C. Wesley.

F. W. Faber.

F. Whitfield.

Mrs. Van Alstyne.

C. Wesley.

Doddridge.
W. C. Dix.
Ray Palmer.
Mrs. Alexander.
Watts.

7. E. Bode.
R. Heber.

Watts.

H. Bonar.

Doddridge.

E. H. Bickersteth.

Anon.

H. W. Baker.
Tate and Brady.
F. R. Havergal.

Tate.
Doddridge.
Anon.

F. R. Havergal.
C. F. Gilbert.
R. Robinson.
W. C. Dix.
C. Wesley
Jas. Edmeston.
Fas. Allen.
Milton.

Dr. 7.M. Neale.

Mrs. Alexander.

E. Caswall.

F. Newton.

These one hundred hymns were published by the Religious Tract Society in a threepenny pamphlet now out of print. The above list was sent out together with the appeal for information as to hymns that have helped. Hence in some cases, notably those of Mr. Massingham (of the Daily Chronicle), the Head Master of Marlborough College, and the Bishop of Hereford, the hymns quoted as those which helped them were, in addition to others, contained in the Sunday at Home list.

APPENDIX III.

HYMNS AND THOSE WHOM THEY HAVE

HELPED.

THE following is a very rough and imperfect classification which I hope my readers will enable me to improve materially before the next edition. Some correspondents sent in so many hymns that had helped them that I could not quote them all. Canon Shuttleworth, for instance, mentioned a hundred, accompanying the list by the following characteristic note:

"I quite expect this list is very different from most. I hate with a holy hatred all sentimentalist maunderings, all feeble religiosities, all diseased raptures or sorrows. To help men, hymns should be manful."

I have been compelled in this, and in similar cases, to quote only five or six hymns, giving preference to those that are different from most. Mr. Gladstone's favourite hymns may be said to be almost universal favourites, whereas each one, as a rule, has his special hymn, and to these specially helpful hymns I wish to call attention.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.
Marriage hymns.
Funeral hymns.

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Nearer my God, to Thee.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.

O God of Bethel.

EDITOR OF DAILY TELEGRAPH " (SIR E. Arnold).

Ken's Evening Hymn.

Longfellow's Psalm of Life.

MR. ASQUITH.

Our God, our help in ages past.