470 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
Canon Twells was born at Ashford, near Birmingham, in 1823, and was head master of Godolphin School, Hammersmith, 1856-70 ; Rector of Baldock, 1870 ; Rector of Waltham-on-the- Wolds, Melton Mowbray, 1871 ; Hon. Canon of Peterborough, 1874. He died in 1900.
Canon Twells wrote other hymns, but none has gained the popularity of this. Up to November, 1898, he had given per mission for its insertion in 157 hymnals, all over the English- speaking world, and in many others it had been inserted without permission.
Prebendary Thring, with the author s consent, altered the first line to At even when the sun did set, as he thought ere the sun did set did not correspond with the text on which the hymn was based (Mark i. 32-3). Canon Twells rightly urged that there was no want of harmony between the text and the hymn, which says that they brought the sick before the sun had gone down. There is no sort of discrepancy or shadow of discrepancy between
When the sun did set (St. Mark). When the sun was setting (St. Luke). Ere the sun was set (Hymn).
All are in perfect accord with the old painters, the glow of the setting sun resting upon the faces of the sick and infirm folk.
��Hymn 917. Through the day Thy love hath spared us.
THOMAS KELLY, M.A. (209).
Evening, in second edition of his Hymns, 1806. It is based on Ps. iv. 8.
In the second verse short day is substituted for sad day.
One of the most tenderly beautiful of evening hymns. Garrett Horder.
��Hymn 918. God the Father, be Thou near.
GEORGE RAWSON (45).
From Baptist Psalms and Hymns, 1858. Evening.
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