Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1918 — What Inspired Student to Compose the Hymn “America” [ARTICLE]

What Inspired Student to Compose the Hymn “America”

The well-known hymn beginning “My country, ’tls of thee” and known by the name of “America,” was written by the Rev. Samuel Francis Smith. He was born in Boston, October 21, 1806; was educated at Harvard and studied theology at Andover; was for many years a Baptist minister and later did other church work. In a letter concerning the poem the author said: "It was written at Andover during my student life there and was first sung publicly at a Sunday school celebration, July 4, at Park Street church, Boston. I had in my possession a number of song books from which I was selecting such music as pleased me, and finding ‘God Save the King,’ I proceeded to give it the ring of American patriotism.”