not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience she repeated:

'My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.'

This was all. Through Christ she had conquered, and, leaving her audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God."

This selection was sung by a thousand voices at the funeral of the Scotch missionary hero, Robert Annan, who was drowned in the bay of Dundee while attempting to rescue a drowning child, in 1867. Under

the hymn "Eternity," previously mentioned in this book, more will be found concerning Robert Annan.

Nearer, My God to Thee

Words by Sarah F. Adams

Music by Dr. Lowell Mason

"Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee."

One of my last lectures on "Sacred Song and Story" was delivered before a large audience in the Church of the Covenant, in Washington, D. C., at which the late Secretary of State, John Hay, members of Congress, and Judges of the Supreme Court were present. The favorite hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee," was sung very heartily by the congregation. I requested the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Hamlin, to make an appointment for an interview with President McKinley. Two days later we visited the White House. The President greeted me warmly, saying he was very glad to meet me, as he had often heard me sing in Ohio. "I understand that you are quite a fine singer yourself," I replied. He smiled and said: "I don't know as to that, but I try to sing with the spirit and with the understanding." He seemed very bright and happy, and he gave me his autograph. The next day the President went to New York and attended service at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, during which "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung. The President's voice was heard, as he joined heartily in his favorite hymn. A reporter took a photograph of the President as he was singing, which appeared the next day in one of the New York papers. In 1902,

in Buffalo, as he lay dying by the hand of an assassin, the martyred President was heard singing faintly,

"Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee;

E'en though it be a cross

That raiseth me!

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!"

And thus passed away one of the noblest men of our age. On the day of his funeral, at Canton, Ohio, all trains, trolley cars and nearly all machinery in the United States were stopped for five minutes, and "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung in nearly every church in the land.

Bishop Marvin, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was traveling during the Civil War in the wilds of Arkansas. He was feeling much depressed, for the Union troops had driven him from his home. As he approached a dilapidated old log cabin he heard some one singing, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." He alighted and entered the house. There he found a poor woman, widowed and old, who was singing in the midst of such poverty as he had never seen before. His despondency vanished and he went on his way happy and trustful, because of the faith which he had seen and the hymn which he had heard.

A little drummer boy was found, after the battle of Fort Donelson, by one who visited the field. The poor lad had lost an arm, which had been carried away

by a cannon ball, but even as he lay there dying he was singing, "Nearer, my God, to Thee."

Words by W. O. Cushing

No Hope in Jesus

Music by Robert Lowry

"Oh, to have no Christ, no Saviour!

No Rock, no Refuge nigh!"

From the "Rescue Mission," of Syracuse, New York, comes this incident." One of the workers at the Rescue Mission sat at the window sewing. She is not a grand singer, in fact, scarcely ever sings in the meeting; but alone by herself she sings the Gospel songs. She was singing:

'Oh, to have no Christ, no Saviour.
How dark this world must be!'

When she had finished she heard some one calling, and saw two girls looking over a neighboring fence. One said: 'Won't you please sing that again?'

"I am afraid some of us would have begun to make excuse, and say we were not singers. But this soul sang it over again, praying God to bless the song, and then went to talk with them. She recognized them as inmates of a house of evil resort, and asked permission to call on them. They would not grant this, but the next day one came to the mission and threw herself, weeping, into the arms of the singer, saying: 'I have been so unhappy since I heard you sing! You remind me of my mother and the days when I was innocent and good. I had a good home, but quarreled with my mother, ran away and got into

Where is my wand'ring boy to-night-The boy of my tend'rest care,

ROBERT LOWRY