LORD OF ALL BEING LORD of all being; throned afar, Thy glory flames from sun and star; Sun of our life, thy quickening ray Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn ; Lord of all life, below, above, Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love, Before thy ever blazing throne We ask no luster of our own. Grant us thy truth to make us free, And kindling hearts that burn for thee, Till all thy living altars claim One holy light, one heavenly flame! OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ACCORDING to the “ Anglican Hymnology," which is a semi-official estimate of the popularity of church hymns, Bishop Ken has two titles to his credit amongst the ten greatest songs of worship. His evening composition, "All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night," ranks first of all, and "Awake, My Soul," is given the sixth place. He wrote both these hymns while in his charge at Winchester, the scene of his early education. At his own request the good bishop was buried under the east window of the chancel at Frome Selwood, being interred just at sunrise, while those gathered about the grave sang, " Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun." AWAKE, MY SOUL AWAKE, WAKE, my soul, and with the sun Awake, lift up thyself, my heart, Glory to thee, who safe hast kept, Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, Lord, I my vows to thee renew: Scatter my sins as morning dew; Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with thyself my spirit fill. Direct, control, suggest, this day, That all my powers, with all my might, In thy sole glory may unite. BISHOP THOMAS KEN NICOLAS LUDWIG, Count von Zinzendorf (Dresden, May 26, 1700- Hernhutt, May 9, 1760), is said to have written two thousand hymns, improvising no small number of them, frequently giving the people a hymn to close the service immediately after preaching on its subject. He was educated at Wittenberg and became a bishop of the Moravian church. He visited the United States during a time of persecution in Saxony. Some of his hymns translated by John Wesley and others are amongst the best known in the English to-day. This one, entitled at home Jesu geb, voran," is translated by Miss Jane BorthU. C. Burnap wrote a very good tune wick. for it. TO OUR FATHERLAND JESUS, still lead on, Till our rest be won; And although the way be cheerless, We will follow calm and fearless; Guide us by thy hand To our Fatherland. If the way be drear, If the foe be near, Let not faithless fear o'ertake us, Let not faith and hope forsake us; For, through many a foe, To our home we go. When we seek relief Jesus, still lead on, Till our rest be won; ZINZENDORF COUNT VON |