Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/201

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THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 189

in a small volume, and afterwards in Hymns Ancient and Modern, are profoundly moving. They are largely used on Good Friday. This Litany of the Holy Ghost was originally in eighteen verses. It appeared (seventeen verses) in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1875. Mr. Pollock contributed some hymns to the Gospeller, of which he was editor.

The second verse of this litany is by Richard Frederick Littledale, LL.D., D.C.L., born in Dublin in 1833, and educated there at Trinity College. He was a distinguished translator ot hymns from Greek, Latin, Syriac, German, Italian, Danish, and Swedish. He was curate of St. Mary s, Soho. Ill health led him to retire from parochial work in 1861 and give himself to literature.

Hymn 254. Spirit divine ! attend onr prayers. ANDREW REED, D.D.

In the Evangelical Magazine, June, 1829, with the heading Hymn to the Spirit. Sung on the late day appointed for solemn prayer and humiliation in the eastern district of the Metropolis. The day appointed by the Board of Congregationalist Ministers in and near London was Good Friday. It appeared in Dr. Reed s Hymn-book, 1842.

Dr. Reed was born in London in 1787. In early life he was a watchmaker. He was trained for the Congregational ministry at Hackney College. He was minister at New Road Chapel, London, 1811-31 ; built Wycliffe Church in 1830, and became its first pastor, 1831-61. Dr. Reed founded five great charities, which are his abiding memorial : the London Orphan Asylum, 1813 ; the Reedham Orphan Asylum, 1841 ; the Asylum for Idiots ; the Infant Orphan Asylum, 1827 ; the Hospital for Incurables, 1855. He wrote his own epitaph

I was born yesterday,

I shall die to-morrow,

And I must not spend to-day

In telling what I have done,

But in doing what I may for

HIM Who has done all for me.

I sprang from the people, I have lived for the people the most for the most unhappy ; and the people when they know it will not suffer me to die out of loving remembrance."

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