WOMEN AND THEIR HYMNS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 2 November 1909, Page 7

WOMEN AND THEIR HYMNS.

"Some lady hymn-writers and their hymns" was the subject of an address delivered by Mr J. Lonsdale in the Baptist Church, Vivian street, Wellington, recently. The lecturer began by observing thai tie injunction of the apostle Paul that the women should keep silent was certainly not intended to bind the church fjr all time. "Had our women 'kept lilent' in the matter of song," he said, "I venture to say our Christian hymi.als would have been deprived of some of the finest examples of literary workmanship that they now contain." Appropriately the first author to be dealt with was Anne Steele ("Theodosia"), "the first woman who -contributed hymns of any importance to the church's treasury of song." She was born in 1716, daughter of the Hev. W. Steele, pastor in the little village of Broughton, Hampshire. Among W many hymns, distinguished both for poetic beauty, truth, and sincerity «f feeling, are "Father of mercies, in % Word," "Father, whate'er of ttrthly bliss," and "Dear refuge of my *earv soul." The last of these was lug by the choir. Sarah Flower Adams (1805-1848) was second subject. Her father," Mr Benjamin Flower, and her mother w Miss Eliza Gould) first met in Newgate prison, where Mr Flower was Hcarcerated, both having suffered for Wnscience- sake. Her best-known aymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee," **B sung by Mr H. Pargett'er. Naturally, the lecturer had much to of Frances Ridley Havergal, "the pie Steele of the nineteenth cen- ' Br y " Reviewing her posthumous "°°k, "Life Chords," the distinguished 'preacher described it as "a star of first Magnitude shining with tho light of Christ's own Spirit." The history of •woe of her principal hymns was narrated, and the choir sang the familiar tonsecration hymn and "Tell it out 'Hong the nations." While placing second to none as a devotional * n ter, the lecturer did not rate her poet- so high as Miss Elliott and Mrs gander, some of whose hymns he pcheved would hereafter rank as clesb*l.

i8o« 8 Francis Alexander (1823who wrote something like 400 wildren's hymns, including "The rosebjes," "There is a green hill," u -ce in royal David's city," and "Wo fL !'™ e children weak," was the I Y subject. She was born in Tyrone, Jjwand, and became the wife" of Dr *wxandor, afterwards Archbishop . of Armagh. Miss Cathie sang "There is •green hill," and the choir sang "The "seate hues." Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) wrote ?™oy Highly-prized hymns, of which the rfj Known, are "Thy will be done" 'Just as I am." The latter was Rested by ft remark by Mr Caesar