Often I take in my mind some tune already well known as a model or, perhaps, more accurately speaking, as a guide, and work to it. This, however, does not imply that the tune will ultimately be chosen as the companion of the words; for it has probably already its own true and lawful mate, with which it is to be happy and useful. Sometimes a tune is furnished me for which to write the words. The hymn titled “Blessed Assurance” was made in this manner. My dear friend, Mrs. Joseph F. Knapp, so well-known as a writer and singer of most excellent music and as an aid and inspiration to all who knew her, had composed the tune; and it seemed to me one of the sweetest I had heard for a long time. She asked me to write a hymn for it, and I felt while bringing the words and tones together that the air and the hymn were intended for each other. In the many hundred times that I have heard it sung, this opinion has been more and more confirmed. For comments on Fanny Crosby, see Hymn 313. _MUSIC._ ASSURANCE was written by Mrs. Joseph Fairchild Knapp, 1839-1908, the daughter of Dr. Walter and Mrs. Phoebe Palmer. Her husband was the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City. Both Mr. and Mrs. Knapp were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and gave much of their wealth to charitable and religious work. Mrs. Knapp, a close friend of Fanny Crosby, was an excellent singer, an accomplished organist, and an earnest Christian worker. 481. Sweet are the promises _Wm. A. Ogden_, 1841-97 The third stanza is based on Matt. 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” but the author has substituted “weary” for the word “labor.” Wm. A. Ogden, who wrote the words and music of this song, was born in Franklin County, Ohio. At the age of six, he moved with his parents to Indiana where he enlisted, at the outbreak of the Civil War, in the 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After the close of the war, he resumed his musical studies under Lowell Mason, Thomas Hastings, E. E. Bailey, and B. F. Baker, President of the Boston School of Music. In 1870, he published _Silver Song_ which reached the enormous sale of 500,000 copies. Ogden won distinction as a teacher and conductor of large convention choruses. For six years he was director of music at Iowa Normal School but his greatest musical work was done at Toledo, Ohio, where he moved in 1881 and served as superintendent of public school music from 1887 until his death. He loved children and enjoyed teaching them. His training of 3,000 children in 1894 was the distinct triumph of the great _Saengerfest_ held that year in Toledo. Ogden wrote scores of popular songs, always composing both the words and music. 482. Will your anchor hold _Priscilla J. Owens_, 1829-_c._ 99