not of earlier date than the 'Golden Pippin,' it seems to follow that instead of the hymn tune having been derived from the hornpipe, the latter was actually constructed from the hymn tune, which by that time had become a great favourite." This recollection may help to console us when next we sing, "Lo! He comes with clouds descending."

The late Rev. Canon Tuttiett has written many hymns for special occasions, his Advent hymn, "O quickly come, dread Judge of all" being remarkably fine. It is based on the words "Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus Christ." In some respects it is not unlike a translation of the Dies Irae. It was written in 1854 while Mr. Tuttiett was Vicar of Lea Marston, and was one of the first hymns the author ever wrote. Indeed, it was always something of a surprise to the hymnist that its success was so much greater than many of the compositions he wrote in later life, when, it may be supposed, he had gained experience regarding the kind of hymns likely to prove most attractive.

"O quickly come, dread Judge of all" was published in the author's Hymns for Churchmen, after which it passed into the first Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, and from thence

into numerous hymnals both in Great Britain and America. It has been translated into several languages, including the Latin, and is probably the most popular of all Canon Tuttiett's compositions.

Soon after its publication it was seen by the Rev. J. B. Dykes, who wrote for it that very beautiful and solemn air which he christened "Veni cito."

Canon Tuttiett was born at the little village of Colyton, in Devon, in 1825, his father being a surgeon in the Royal Navy. It was intended that he should also follow the profession of a doctor, but in 1848 he abandoned this intention in favour of the Church. While acting as curate in the Isle of Wight his preaching attracted the attention of Lord Norton, who, in 1854, presented him with the living of Lea Marston, which he filled for sixteen years. Lord Norton used to affirm that Mr. Tuttiett's preaching equalled that of Bishop Wilberforce. In 1870 he became Incumbent of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew's, and ten years later was preferred to a Canonry in St. Ninian's Cathedral, Perth. Canon Tuttiett remained at St. Andrew's until 1893, when owing to ill-health he was obliged to resign.

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III

Christmas hymns

F a general consensus of opinion were taken

as to which is the most popular of all Christmas hymns the result would probably be in favour of " Hark! the herald-angels sing." This famous hymn was first published by Charles Wesley in 1739, when it began "Hark! how all the welkin rings." From that date it has appeared in various hymnals with alterations by various editors. In one version, indeed, the opening stanza contained but a single word to be found in the original, that word being the exclamatory "Hark." As first published this hymn consisted of ten stanzas of four lines each, but was subsequently reduced to eight, then to six, and, finally, to three extended stanzas of eight lines each, with the refrain

"Hark! the herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born King."

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Apparently no manuscript of this hymn exists, though Mr. Kelly, the Book Steward at the Wesleyan Conference Office, thinks otherwise. One day he hopes to make a systematic search among the many hundreds of Charles Wesley's manuscripts now under his care, when he feels confident the original of "Hark! the herald-angels sing" will come to light.

It is rather curious that these hymnal manuscripts of Charles Wesley have only been discovered within comparatively recent years. The story of how they were found is an interesting one. It appears that soon after Mr. Kelly was appointed Book Steward he was going on a tour of inspection through the cellars of No. 2, Castle Street, when he came to a small underground room which was boarded up. On having the barricade removed it was discovered that the compartment contained many things of interest connected with the Wesleys, not the least im- · portant being some fourteen volumes of manuscript hymns in the handwritings of Charles, John, and Samuel Wesley. Together with these volumes were numerous loose sheets of paper, on which the celebrated hymnists had written the first drafts of their compositions before copying them "fair" into the bound volumes. These loose

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sheets are extremely interesting, as they contain numerous corrections which convey some idea of what the first impressions of the hymnists really

were.

Charles Wesley composed his hymns at all times of the day and night, never knowing when a fine line or verse would strike him. In order that these ideas should not be lost, he was in the habit of carrying about with him a set of tablets on which many of his hymns were written. He would then copy out these rough notes on a sheet of quarto paper, correct and finally copy "fair" into a manuscript book. Charles wrote a beautifully clear hand, bold, and, as was his character, fearless and straightforward.

"Hark! the herald-angels sing" is said to be found in more hymnals than any other of Charles Wesley's compositions, not even excepting "Jesu, Lover of my soul." It has been translated into numerous languages and dialects, and is as familiar to the converted natives of China and Africa as it is to the church-going population of our own country.

"Christians, awake, salute the happy morn" has been a favourite Christmas hymn for the last 150 years or more. It was written in 1745, and the story of its composition is a pretty one. John