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362 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

Hymn 664. Be with us, gracious Lord, to-day.

CHARLES DENT BELL, D.D.

For the Consecration of a Church. Appeared, with fifteen more by the same author, in the Appendix to Dr. Walker s Cheltenham Psalms and Hymns, which he edited in 1873.

Canon Bell (1818-98) was born at Magherafelt, Ireland ; Vicar of Ambleside, 1861 ; Rector of Cheltenham, 1872 ; Hon. Canon of Carlisle Cathedral, 1869. He published several volumes of poetry, and other religious works.

Hymn 665. O Thou whose hand hath brought us. FREDERIC WILLIAM GOADBY, M.A.

For the Opening of a Place of Worship." Appeared in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879.

Mr. Goadby (1845-80) was the son of a Baptist minister at Leicester. He became Baptist pastor at Bluntisham, Hunts, 1868 ; Watford, 1876, and was a young minister of great promise.

Hymn 606. When the weary, seeking rest.

DR. H. BONAR (70).

From Hymns of Faith and Hope, 3rd Series, 1867. Written for the English Presbyterian Hymn-book.

His son says, My father was asked to provide words to the music, and was specially requested to furnish a fitting refrain to the two lovely lines of Mendelssohn s, with which Callcott s tune " Intercession" ends. In searching for a Scripture theme containing some reiterated phrase almost of the nature of a refrain, he was struck with Solomon s prayer at the dedication of the temple (2 Chron. vi.), in which every separate petition concludes with substantially the same words. This idea was taken for the starting-point, and Solomon s words, " Hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling-place, and forgive," became the familiar couplet

Hear then, in love, O Lord, the cry, In heaven, Thy dwelling-place on high.

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