_MUSIC._ MÜDE BIN ICH, GEH ZUR RUH is a well-known German melody in the _Gesangbuch mit Noten_, where it appears anonymously, set to Louise Hensel’s hymn from which the tune derives its name. The melody, in slightly different form, appeared in 1842 in _Lieder-Buch für Kleinkinder-Schulen ... con Theodor Fliedner_. It is used in the _Methodist Hymnal_ (1935) set to the words, “Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear.” 255. O Lord, how happy should we be _Joseph Anstice_, 1808-36 Based on I Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you,” and on the Scripture lesson in Matthew 6:24-34. The original poem was in five stanzas. The hymn was written out of experiences of sickness, pain, and trial. Joseph Anstice, a friend of Gladstone during student days at Oxford, was appointed Professor of Classical Literature at King’s College, London, at the age of 22. Within three years his health failed, and he died at the age of 28, whereupon Gladstone, who had been deeply influenced by him at Oxford, wrote in his _Diary_, “Read to my deep sorrow of Anstice’s death on Monday. His friends, his young widow, the world can spare him ill.” This and 53 other hymns were dictated to his wife in the afternoons during his last illness. _MUSIC._ MERIBAH. For comments on the composer, Lowell Mason, see Hymn 12. 256. Peace, perfect peace _Edward H. Bickersteth_, 1825-1906 This hymn on perfect peace is based on Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” The origin of the hymn was furnished Dr. Julian by Rev. S. Bickersteth, a son of the author: This hymn was written by Bishop Edward Henry Bickersteth while he was spending his summer holiday in Harrogate in the year 1875. On a Sunday morning in August the Vicar of Harrogate, Canon Gibbon, happened to preach from the text, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,” and alluded to the fact that in the Hebrew the words are “peace, peace,” twice repeated and happily rendered in the 1611 translations by the phrase “perfect peace.” This sermon set my father’s mind working on the subject. He always found it easiest to express in verse whatever subject was uppermost in his mind, so that when on the afternoon of that Sunday he visited an aged and dying relative, Archdeacon Hill, of Liverpool, and found him somewhat troubled in mind, it was natural to him to express in verse the spiritual comfort which he desired to convey. Taking up a sheet of paper, he then and there wrote down the hymn just exactly as it now stands and read it to this dying Christian.