People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1897 — An Old Hymn. [ARTICLE]

An Old Hymn.

A pathetic and yet chaxftaing story is told of the origin of the well ■ known hymn, “Blest be the tie that hinds,” which was written by Rev. John Fawoett, an English Baptist, who died in 1817, having spent nearly 60 years in the ministry. It was in 1772, after a few years spent in pastoral work, that he was called to London to succeed the Rev. Dr. Gill. His farewell sermon had been preached near Moinsgate in Yorkshire. Six or seven wagons stood loaded with his furniture and books, and all was ready for departure. But his loving people were heartbroken. Men, women and children gathered and clung about him and his fam* ily with sad and tearful faces. Finally, overwhelmed with the sorrow of those they were leaving, Dr. Fawcett and his wife sat down on one of the packing cases and gave way to grief. ‘‘Oh, John,”ctied Mrs. Fawcett at last, ‘‘l cannot bear this! I know not how to go. ” “Nor I either,” returned her husband, “and we will not go. The wagons shall be unloaded and everything put in its old place. ’ ’ His people were filled with intense joy and gratitude at this determination. Dr. Fawcett at once sent a letter to London explaining the case, and then resolutely returned to his work on a salary of less than S2OO a year. This hymn was written to commemorate the event. When Mr. Coffing, a missionary at Aintab, in Armenia, set out in 1800 In explore the Tuurus mountains, he vs' to penetrate an entirely new and dai erons field. This f v< t was

fully realized by the inhabitants ox Aintab, and they gathered to the number of 1,500 at the roadsides and bade farewell to the missionary andJiis family in the Armenian words of this hymn, written nearly a century before by {be devoted Yorkshire preacher.—Youth’s Companion.