.

"Lead, kindly Light" was published for the first time in "The British
Magazine," in the month of March, 1834. It bore the title,
"Faith--Heavenly Leadings." Two years later he printed it with the title,
"Light in the Darkness," and the motto, "Unto the godly there ariseth up
light in the darkness." At a later date he published it under the title,
"The Pillar of the Cloud."

Newman ascribed its popularity as a hymn to the appealing tune written
for it in 1865 by Dr. John B. Dykes. As to its poetic qualities there has
been the widest divergence of opinion. While one critic has called it
"one of the outstanding lyrics of the nineteenth century," William T.
Stead observes, caustically, that "It is somewhat hard for the staunch
Protestant to wax enthusiastic over the invocation of a 'Kindly Light'
which led the author straight into the arms of the Scarlet Woman of the
Seven Hills."

The hymn has often been attacked on the ground that it is not definitely
Christian in character. In this respect it is similar to Mrs. Adams'
famous hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." When the Parliament of Religions
convened in Chicago a few years ago, Newman's hymn was the only one sung
by representatives of all creeds from every part of the world. Bishop
Bickersteth of England, feeling the need of the Christian note in the
hymn, added the following stanza:

Meantime along the narrow rugged path
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God
To rest for ever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

This was done, said Bishop Bickersteth, "from a deep conviction that the
heart of the belated pilgrim can only find rest in the Light of Light."
The additional stanza, however, has not come into general use.

Many interpretations have been given to the closing lines,

And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

Some have believed that Newman by "angel faces" had in mind loved ones
lost through death. Yet others are convinced that the author had
reference to the actual visions of angels which are said to have come to
him in youth, and the loss of which greatly grieved him in later life.
Newman himself, in a letter written January 18, 1879, refused to throw
further light on the lines, pleading that he had forgotten the meaning
that he had in mind when the hymn was written forty-six years before.