Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1896 — Favorite Hymns in England. [ARTICLE]

Favorite Hymns in England.

A writer in the Philadelphia Methodist gives some interesting facts concerning the hymns most popular in England to-day. He says: “There has been some attempt to learn the most popular hymns in England recently, and the resiilt was announced not long since. It came about through Mr. YV. T. Stead’s decision to compile a hymnal to be sold for a penny, and from an inquiry started by The Sunday at Home. The voting at The Sunday at Home office resulted in giving the first place to ‘Rock of Ages Cleft for Me;’ the second place was won by ‘Abide With Me,’ and the third by ‘Jesus, Lover of My S?oul.’ “The Prince of Wales wrote to Mr. Stead that his favorite hymn is “Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ This hymn was written by a Unitarian, Mrs. Sarah F. Adams, in 1841. The Duke of Argyle prefers ‘O God of Bethel, by Whose Hand Thy People Still are Led.’ This was written by Doddridge. General Sir Evelyn Wood’s favorite is, ‘Lead, Kindly Light,’ and Mr. Justin McCarthy’s is the same. In The Sunday at Home plebiscite this hymn occupies the fifteenth place. It was written by Cardinal Newman, but was written twelve years before he left the Church of England, in 1845.”