Mary Ann Faulkner was born in London but came to this country as a girl and became the wife of John Thomson, Librarian of the Free Library, in Philadelphia. A member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, her hymns, about forty in all, were published in _The Churchman_, New York, and in _The Living Age_, Chicago. Of the origin of this missionary hymn, Mrs. Thomson has written: I wrote the greater part of the hymn, “O Zion, haste,” in the year 1868. I had written many hymns before, and one night, while I was sitting up with one of my children who was ill of typhoid fever, I thought I should like to write a missionary hymn to the tune of the hymn beginning, “Hark, hark, my soul, angelic songs are swelling,” as I was fond of that tune; but as I could not then get a refrain I liked, I left the hymn unfinished, and about three years later I finished it by writing the refrain which now forms part of it. By some mistake 1891 is given instead of 1871 as the date of the hymn in the (Episcopal) _Hymnal_. I do not think it is ever sung to the tune for which I wrote it. Rev. John Anketell told me, and I am sure he is right, that it is better for a hymn to have a tune of its own, and I feel much indebted to the composer of the tune TIDINGS for writing so inspiring a tune to my words. She was mistaken in the last sentence, for Walch’s tune, strangely enough, was composed for the words “Hark, hark my soul” (260). _MUSIC._ TIDINGS was written, as stated above, for the hymn, “Hark, hark my soul! Angelic songs are swelling” (260), by James Walch, 1837-1901, an English composer and organist. The tune was never accepted for that hymn, because there already were several good tunes for it in use. In the providence of God, it found this hymn. The union was favored from the beginning and continues so today. 329. Word of Life, most pure, most strong _Jonathan F. Bahnmaier_, 1774-1841 _Tr. Catherine Winkworth_, 1829-78 One of the best and most useful hymns for foreign missions. The original poem has six stanzas, our hymn comprising the last three, translated by Catherine Winkworth. The German text is found at No. 551, the hymn there being a free translation by Percy Dearmer. For comments on Catherine Winkworth see Hymn 236.