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. "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." Newman. C. Wesley. 17. All praise to Thee, my God, this night T. Ken. 18. A few more years shall roll 19. 20. 21. 22. 24. O God, our help in ages past Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed All hail the power of Jesu's name Eternal Father! strong to save 23. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah 25. There is a fountain filled with blood 26. Lo, He comes with clouds descending At even, ere the sun was set 27. H. Bonar. E. Perronet. W. Williams. Bernard of Clairvaux. Faber. A non. Bernard of Cluny. H. K. White. Watts. H. Bonar. A. L. Waring. Baring-Gould. Cowper. R. Heber. Tate and Brady. Faber. Montgomery. Lyte. Ringwaldt. Watts. J. Keble. John Byrom. HYMN. 55. Prayer is the soul's sincere delight raise 57. The Church's one foundation 58. Soldiers of Christ, arise 59 60. 61. AUTHOR. Jas. Montgomery. J. Ellerton. S. F. Stone. C. Wesley Weary of earth and laden with my sin Rev. S. J. Stone. O Day of rest and gladness 62. Christ the Lord is risen to-day C. Elliott. C. Wordsworth. C. Wesley F. W. Faber. Doddridge. 7. E. Bode. H. Bonar. E. H. Bickersteth. Anon. H. W. Baker. Tate. F. R. Havergal. Dr. J.M. Neale. Mrs. Alexander. 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. 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. CANON BARker. One sweetly solemn thought comes to me o'er and o'er. I hear Thy welcome voice. Stand up, stand up for Jesus (lovely). I need Thee every hour. I think when I read that sweet story. H. W. BEEcher. Jesu, Lover of my soul. HEAD MASTER of Marlborough (MR. BELL). In the hour of trial. - Montgomery. Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire. Cosin. And now, O Father, mindful of the love. - Bright. And some 20 others. MISS BRADDON. Lead, kindly light. Abide with me. Rock of ages. Bishop Ken's evening hymn. JOHN BRIGHT. Our God, our help in ages past. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. Onward, Christian soldiers. MONCURE D. CONWAY. Come, O thou traveller unknown. Wesley. Do not crouch to-day and worship the old past. Ring out, wild bells. S. R. CROCKETT. 23rd Psalm - The Lord is my Shepherd. 142nd Psalm-I to the hills will lift mine eyes. 103rd Psalm-O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord. 145th Psalm. O God of Bethel, by whose hand. OLIVER CROMWELL. 117th Psalm. 68th Psalm- Let God arise, and let His foes be scattered. DEAN OF CANTERBURY (F. W. FARRAR). Cowper, Keble, Watts, Wesley, Faber, and Montgomery have all helped me. I can scarcely ever join in "For ever with the Lord" without tears. |