Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/412

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400 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

It was a snowy morning, and Miss Havergal was not able to go to church. She was in bed, and asked for her Prayer-book, as she always liked to follow the services of the day. On Mr. Shaw s return from church, he heard her touch on the piano. " Why, Frances, I thought you were upstairs ! " " Yes ; but I had my Prayer-book, and in the Psalms for to-day I read, Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King. I thought, What a splendid first line ! and then words and music came rushing in to me. There, it s all written out." With copper-plate neatness she had rapidly written out the words, music, and harmonies complete.

Dr. James, Vicar of North Marston, says that Miss Havergal had exhausted herself at a Somersetshire garden-party, but happened to overhear her hostess s regret that the servants had not been present. She exclaimed, Oh, if it is work for the Master, of course I can do it. She was suffering much from the sting of a bee, but threw off her hat and gloves, sat down at the piano, and greatly impressed a whole retinue of servants by singing from the Messiah, Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. When all was done she stood up and said, Now I am going to tell you what you must do when you yourselves have accepted the invitation. She sang out before her spellbound audience, Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King to her own music. As they lingered she promised to send each of them a copy. Dr. James said that at least one person was turned to Christ by that musical afternoon.

Hymn 783. Spread, O spread, thou mighty word. Walte, fiirder, nah und fern.

JONATHAN FRIEDRICH BAHNMAIER ; translated by Miss WINKWORTH (19).

Missions. Published in 1827. Miss Winkworth s translation appeared in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Series, 1858. The original has three more verses.

Bahnmaier was born at Oberstenfeld, Wiirtemberg, where his father was Town Preacher, July 12, 1774. In 1815 the son became Professor of Education and Homiletics at Tubingen ; in 1819 Town Preacher at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, where he preached his last sermon on August 15, 1841. Two days later

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