Tho like the wanderer,

The sun gone down, Darkness be over me,

My rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;

All that Thou send'st to me

In mercy given; Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts

Bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stormy griefs

Bethel I'll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing

Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee!

Lesson talk. The reading aloud of sacred poetry and hymns is of great value to the student of elocution. These selections usually require a spirit of reverence and devotion, and an elevated style in which feeling and imagination play a conspicuous part. The easy grace and rhythm of the lines should be maintained without falling into sing-song or uniformity.

Poetry should not be read like prose, nor is rime, when it occurs, to be obscured, but rather slightly marked. The voice does not necessarily rise or fall at the end of each line, but is governed by a just sense of the meaning of the words. Poetry demands tone-color for its proper expression, a judicious painting of the thought with feeling, by which appeal is made to the heart rather than to the intellect of the hearer. In the reading of hymns to a congregation the minister should carefully avoid the common faults of jerkiness, intoning, lifelessness, and overemphasis. Hymns should be analyzed and practised aloud in advance of the church service, and their vocal interpretation regarded as an important part of public worship.

THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM'S HYMN

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land:
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand!
Bread of heaven! bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain

Whence the healing streams do flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar

Lead me all my journey through:
Strong Deliverer! strong Deliverer!
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee.

Musing on my habitation,

Musing on my heavenly home, Fills my soul with holy longing; Come, my Jesus, quickly come. Vanity is all I see;

Lord, I long to be with Thee!

LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS

BY WILLIAM COWPER

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

THRICE HOLY

BY BISHOP REGINALD HEBE

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, Holy, Holy! merciful and mighty!

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be!

Holy, Holy, Holy! tho the darkness hide Thee,
Tho the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, in purity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea:

Holy, Holy, Holy! merciful and mighty!

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

ONWARD!

BY SABINE BARING-GOULD

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before;
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle,

See, His banners go.

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before!