HYMNS YOU LOVE------------------ By Phil Kerr
Why Do Children Have To Suffer?
A t the Cross Words by Isaac Watts Music by R. E. Hudson
A fter receiving the shipment * * o f clothing from the Ameri can Mission to Greeks,” writes one of our missionaries in Greece, “ we sorted it out into bundles for 100 families. Then we traveled up into the snow- covered mountains, where peo ple live in holes in the rocks which they call homes. What a touching scene met our eyes—a crowd of barefoot people who had traveled through the snow long distances to meet us! How eag erly they went with us to the port where the clothes were to be unloaded. How patiently they waited, despite their cold and hunger. We had a wonder ful opportunity to tell them of the love of Christ and to assure them that God had not forsaken them but inspired His children to come to their relief. A poor widow held up the clothing she had received and said, ‘It is hard to believe that someone has thought of us, yet here I am holding a coat for my sick child.’ Now the people were ready to believe in the love of God and begged us for New Testaments for each family we had helped. (At 5 for $1.00 we could supply 50 families for only $10.) “ A schoolteacher had written us, ‘I have 120 pupils and 80 of them have been found to be tubercular. Please bring them some food so that just once they may experience the joy of hav ing a full stomach.’ So with the clothing we took along some butter, milk and eggs. You should have seen their eyes shine! Then we gave them the Gospel. Our only regret was that we could not furnish them with New Testaments to take home. “ A n o th e r s ch o o l director wrote us of 400 pupils in need of food and clothing and invited us to introduce them to Christ. Please pray that we may have the supplies and Testaments needed to help these children and their families and bring them the Gospel.” Perhaps you who read this report would like to convince these chil dren that God does care and provide for them. You may send your gifts to Rev. Spiros Zodhiates, Gen. Sec retary, A m e r ic a n M is s io n to Greeks, Inc., Dept. K, P.O. Box 423, New York 36, N .Y. (in Canada, 90 Duplex Ave., Toronto 7, Ontario.) “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these m y breth ren, ye have done it unto me.”
Isaac Watts published a collec- ftion of hymns and spiritual songs in July, 1707, grouped in three sections— “ Collected from the Scriptures,” “ Composed on Divine Subjects” and “ Prepared for the Lord’s Supper.” In the second section there appeared one of Watts’ poems entitled, “ Godly Sorrow Arising From the Suffer ings of Christ,” beginning: “ Alas! and did my Saviour bleed . . .” The present tune was com posed in 1885 by Ralph E. Hud son, who is supposed to have tak en the melody of the chorus from an old Southern plantation song. The words of the present chorus, “ At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light . . . ” were not included in Watts’ original song; they probably were writ ten by Hudson or some earlier songwriter. Ralph E. Hudson (1843-1901) was a well-known American gos pel singer and composer, and an ardent worker in the prohibition cause. Among other compositions, he wrote the music for Haver- gal’s “The Half Has Never Yet Been Told.” The Old Rugged Cross Words and music by George Bennard W ritten in 1913 in Michigan, this has become the most pop ular song in America, outrank ing all others, either secular or religious. The author first re ceived the theme by inspiration and later the melody. Not until after a “ testing of faith” in his own experience did he complete the words. He was in the home of some friends in Pokagon, Mich., when he first sang the song. The Rev. and Mrs. L. O. Bostwick were so enthused with it that they immediately offered to pay for having the first copies printed. The author has written many other Christian songs, including, “ Speak My Lord” and “ Jesus Is Dearer Than All,” has published several song collections, and is actively engaged in con stan t evangelistic work. He was born in 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio, first worked with the Salvation Army and was later ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He makes his home in Reed City, Mich.
CAN PREVENT THIS
LAST SUMMER over 52,000 boys and girls — from rural homes — attended American Sunday-School Union Bible camps and Vacation Bible schools. 4,986 of these chil dren professed faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour. Without this personal experience of saving faith, many of these children might have been driven by their home and commu nity environments to lives of use lessness and even crime. THIS SUMMER MAY DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE ! This year your faithful support will enable even more children to at tend these camps and schools. A contribution in the future of Amer ica's children is the most important and worthwhile investment you can make. Write for a copy of our magazine, THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MISSIONARY. Our missionaries are available for speaking engagements. Write to Dept. K Department of Missions American Sunday-School Union 1816 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 3, Pa. "THE PIONEERSUNDAYSCHOOL ORGANIZATION OF THE U.S.A."
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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