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into most intimate sympathy with the Master, and with the more sensitive and devout of every time."

But not all the blessings are reserved for the authors. Speaking of the influence of the hymn upon the singer, Mr. Beecher once said: "I have never loved men under any circumstances as I have loved them while singing with them; never at any other time have I been so near heaven with you, as in those hours when our songs were wafted thitherward."

CHAPTER IX.

Noted Translators and Translations.

A HYMN belongs to the entire Church, and not only to the denomination or country which produced it. The British Isles have given birth to most of the great hymn-writers. Watts, Wesley, Heber, Doddridge, and Faber were all Englishmen; Montgomery and Bonar were natives of Scotland, and Kelly was of Irish origin. England, probably, excels all other countries in the number of her hymnists, and America is fast becoming a rival.

Hymnody is greatly enriched, however, by the lyrics of other lands. Note the Easter hymns which have come down to us from the Greek and Latin of the early Church. The great Passion hymns were written in Latin. Cluny's hymns of heaven are unexcelled by those of any modern writer. The German battle-hymns are equally worthy. Thus the work of the translator has been necessary in making the hymn-wealth of the world available for every part.

John M. Neale gave the English-speaking Church most of her translations of ancient hymns. She accepted the gift, but despitefully used the giver. He was a High Churchman, and many suspected him of being in sympathy with Rome. For twenty years he was forbidden to preach. He was obliged to support himself by writing books and stories for children. During the last twenty years of his life he was warden of the Sacksville College, a position which yielded him an annual income of one hundred and thirtyfive dollars. When he founded the Sisterhood of Saint Margaret his persecutors burned him in effigy. His troubles were largely due to the fact that he was misunderstood. After his death, his works which remained, received late but honorable recognition. All the Churches sing his translations, many of which have the value of original compositions. "Jerusalem the Golden" and "The Day of Resurrection" are fine specimens of his work.

Edward Caswall showed early a gift for poetic translation. While a student in Oxford he published a humorous translation of Aristotle, entitled "The Art of Pluck." It is still prized by the students in that university. In later years he published the "Lyra Catholica," which contained translations of many Latin hymns. Here

is his translation of a hymn taken from the Latin Breviary:

"O Thou pure Light of souls that love,

True Joy of every human breast,
Sower of life's immortal seed,

Our Savior and Redeemer blest!

Be Thou our guide, be Thou our goal;
Be Thou our pathway to the skies;
Our joy, when sorrow fills the soul;
In death our everlasting prize."

Here is a stanza from his translation of Veni

Creator Spiritus:

"Come, Holy Spirit, now descend!

Most blessed gift which God can send;
Thou Fire of love, and Fount of life!
Consume our sins, and calm our strife."

Dr. Caswall proved a worthy translator of St. Bernard's hymns. "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," "Jesus, King most wonderful," and "Jesus, Thou the beauty art," are all his translations. Their beauty has long been recognized by the Church.

We are indebted to John Chandler, an English clergyman, for some of the best translations of Latin hymns. "The royal banner is unfurled," is a specimen of his work.

Mrs. Charles, already referred to as the author of a hymn, was also a translator of no mean

ability. Her book on hymnology, entitled "The Christian Life in Song," contains many valuable translations.

The "Dies Ira" has had more translators than any other hymn. A few years ago there were one hundred American, and ninety-three English translations, besides numerous renderings into other tongues. One man alone made seventeen translations.

General Dix, of the Union Army, while stationed at Fort Monroe in 1863, spent his leisure time in making a translation which is regarded as very fine. Here is a stanza which shows the style:

"King of majesty tremendous,

By Thy saving grace defend us;

Fount of pity, safety send us.”

The accepted English translation was made by Rev. W. J. Irons. He received his inspiration for the work through hearing the original hymn magnificently rendered at the memorial service for Archbishop Affre, who was assassinated during the Revolution of 1848. In his translation, Dr. Irons succeeded in reproducing much of the spirit of the Latin. Like many other translators, he wrote several original hymns. One of them is an Easter anthem, beginning,

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