"What of the night, O watchman set To mark the dawn of day?" "The wind blows fair from the morning star, Dark are the vales, but the mountains glow Shine on, shine on, O blessed Sun, Through all the round of heaven, Till the desert and the wilderness As Sharon's plain shall be, And the love of the Lord shall fill the earth The hymn was written for the Woman's Congress of Missions of the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in 1893, and was read there by herself as part of a longer poem. This stirring missionary song has been set to music and has frequently been sung. It is published in the report of the Woman's Congress. MARY ARTEMISIA LATHBURY N speaking of the poetic gifts of this IN author of several exceedingly fine hymns, Dr. Edward Everett Hale says: "She has marvellous lyric force which not five people in a century show, and her chance of having a name two hundred years hence is better than that of most writers in America." Miss Lathbury of whom a writer in "The Chautauquan" says: "Those who know her best will freely and unreservedly admit her to the list of uncanonized Women of Great Love' was born in 1841 at Manchester, New York, where she lived eighteen years. Entering the school of art at Worcester, Massachusetts, she gave to one year of study such devotion, and exhibited such remarkable faculty, that she was appointed to teach drawing, painting, and French, in the Conference Seminary at Newbury, Vermont. She afterwards taught five years in Fort Edward Institute, Fort Edward, New York; and six years in the Ladies' Seminary, at Carmel, in the same State. In 1874 Miss Lathbury was engaged by the Rev. Dr. Vincent (now Bishop), as associate editor of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school publications ; and in those periodicals, which circulated all over the land, appeared scores of her charming pictures and stories of child-life. "The Chautauquan" suggests that Miss Lathbury shares with Mary Hallock Foote the honor of being a pioneer in the field of book and magazine illustration by women. In addition to her authorship of books (which includes "Felda and the Voice," a book of fairy tales, "Out of Darkness. into Light," "From Meadow-Sweet to Mistletoe," "Seven Little Maids," "RingAround-a-Rosy," "Idyls of the Months," and "The Child's Story Bible," - all of which, except the last, are illustrated by her own hand) Miss Lathbury has done. much to brighten the pages of "The Youth's Companion," "St. Nicholas," "Wide Awake," and Harper's "Young People." Some of her best literary pro ductions have been published in "The Outlook" and other high-class journals; but her regular work has been chiefly confined to the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school publications. Lovers of beautiful song will quite agree with Dr. Hale as to the abiding influence of Miss Lathbury's lyric force. Her contributions to church hymnody are very important. The hymns she has been inspired to write possess a charm that has carried them into many lands. lands. Take, for instance, the little gem of Life "Break Thou the Bread which is admirably simple, and full of sweetness and beauty. It was written in 1880 for the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, and set to delightful music by the lamented Professor William Fisk Sherwin: Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me, As Thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea. I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, To me to me As Thou didst bless the bread By Galilee; Then shall all bondage cease, All fetters fall; And I shall find my peace, It is gratifying to observe that nearly all of the later standard hymnals have found a place for this hymn; and Dr. W. Garrett Horder, of London -one of the ablest of British hymnologists—includes it in his Congregational Hymns." In 1881 Miss Lathbury wrote a hymn entitled "The Nameless Fold,” a plea for Christian unity. It is a composition of great merit, and is winsome in its beautiful melody and graceful rhythm: O Shepherd of the Nameless Fold, Our hearts with love and longing turn Thy kingdom come! Its heavenly walls And deep in loving human hearts Its broad foundation lies. |