it almost became a new hymn. The second line of
the first stanza, as Moore originally wrote it, was:

Come, at the shrine of God fervently kneel.

The second line of the second stanza was also changed by Dr. Hastings,
the original version by Moore being:

Hope, when all others die, fadeless and pure.

The third line of the second stanza was greatly improved by the American
critic. Moore's line read:

Here speaks the Comforter, in God's name saying.

But the greatest change was made in the third stanza. This was
practically rewritten by Dr. Hastings. Moore's third stanza departs very
radically and abruptly from true hymn style. It originally read:

Come, ask the infidel what boon he brings us,
What charm for aching hearts he can reveal,
Sweet is that heavenly promise Hope sings us--
Earth has no sorrow that God cannot heal.

The last three years of Moore's life were very unhappy. A nervous
affliction rendered him practically helpless. His death occurred on
February 26, 1852, at the age of seventy-three years.

A Beautiful Lyric on Prayer

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The majesty on high.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.

O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The paths of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

James Montgomery, 1818

THE HYMN LEGACY OF AN ENGLISH EDITOR

Shortly before James Montgomery died, a friend asked him, "Which of your
poems will live?" He answered, "None, sir; nothing, except perhaps a few
of my hymns."

Montgomery was right. Although he wrote a number of pretentious poems,
they have been forgotten. But his hymns live on. A perusal of almost any
evangelical hymn-book will probably reveal more hymns by this gifted and
consecrated man than by any other author, excepting only Isaac Watts and
Charles Wesl