Alexander Ewing, 1830-95, of Aberdeen, Scotland, was a skilled musician. One evening after choir practice, he modestly introduced what he called his first effort at writing a hymn tune, offering copies of the voice parts, and asking the choir to sing it over. This was done, the choir liked it, and the tune EWING was launched on its long and popular career. 263. Jerusalem the golden _Bernard of Cluny_, 12th century _Tr. John M. Neale_, 1818-66 For comments on this hymn see No. 262. _MUSIC._ URBS BEATA (The City Beautiful) was composed in 1887 for these words. The composer found words for the refrain by repeating lines 1, 6, 7, and 8 of the first stanza. It makes a first-rate choir number. To keep up the proper tempo it should be sung with two beats to the measure. When the tune is used for congregational singing, the high notes in the refrain are intended to be sung by the sopranos in the choir. The composer, George LeJeune, 1842-1904, was the son of a well-known musical family in London. He began his musical career in Canada; later he studied with Joseph Barnby. His great work was done as church organist and organ recitalist at St. John’s Chapel of Trinity Parish, New York City, where he served 28 years. 264. One sweetly solemn thought _Phoebe Cary_, 1824-71 A poem in contemplation of heaven, written in 1852, entitled, “Nearer Home,” with no thought of its being used as a hymn. In fact its original irregular rhythm hardly permitted it to be sung. The words have been changed to fit the short-meter tune, and have become popular as a hymn. Upon reading the story of how the hymn was instrumental in the conversion of two gamblers in China, who, after betting and drinking and card playing, decided upon a change of life and consecrated themselves to Christian work, Miss Cary wrote to a friend: I enclose the hymn and story for you, not because I am vain of the notice, but because I thought you would feel a peculiar interest in them when you knew the hymn was written eighteen years ago (1852) in your house. I composed it in the little, back, third-story bedroom on Sunday morning after coming from church, and it makes me happy to think that any word I could say has done a little good in the world. Phoebe Cary was born on a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio. Her early days were a struggle with hardship and poverty. “I have cried in the street because I was poor,” she wrote in her later and more prosperous years, “and the poor always seem nearer to me than the rich.” With her sister Alice Carey, she published a small volume of verse in 1849, then the two moved to New York City where they became quiet but influential leaders in literary society. Their friendship with Whittier was a noted factor in the lives of the Carey sisters. Phoebe was a member of the Church of the Pilgrims in New York, and later attended the Church of the Stranger in the same city.