It would be most unthankful, did I not express my gratitude to God, for the favour He has given some of the centos made from the poem: but especially "Jerusalem the Golden." It has found a place in some twenty hymnals; and for the last two years it has hardly been possible to read any newspaper which gives prominence to ecclesiastical news, without seeing its employment chronicled at some dedication or other festival. It is also a great favourite with dissenters, and has obtained admission in Roman Catholic services. "And I say this," to quote Bernard's own preface, "in no wise arrogantly, but with all humility, and therefore boldly." But more thankful still am I that the Cluniac's verses should have soothed the dying hours of many of God's servants: the most striking instance of which I know is related in the memoirs published by Mr. Brownlow under the title, A little child shall lead them; where he says that the child of whom he writes, when suffering agonies which the medical attendants declared to be almost unparalleled, would lie without a murmur or motion while the whole 400 lines were read to him.
I may add that of the various alterations, which, in different hymnals these verses have received, those in the Sarum hymnbook appear to me far the worst.
I have so often been asked to what Tune the words of Bernard maybe sung, that I may here mention that of Mr. Ewing, the earliest written, the best known, and with children the most popular;—that of my friend, the Rev. H. L. Jenner, perhaps the most ecclesiastical;—and that of another friend, Mr. Edmund Sedding, which, to my mind, best expresses the meaning of the words.
