The author of this hymn, Francis Scott Key, is known to every American child as the man who wrote our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” Born in Frederick County, Virginia, he was educated at St. John’s College, Annapolis. He practiced law in Washington, D. C., and served as United States District Attorney for three terms, till his death on January 11, 1843. As a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, he held a lay reader’s license and for many years read the service and visited the sick. He taught a Bible class and conducted family prayers twice a day, requiring all members of the household, including the servants, to be present. He did much for the negroes of the south and although he lived in a slave state, he was moved by conscientious scruples to free his own slaves. The hymn, as he wrote it, had four stanzas. The second and third stanzas, omitted here, read as follows: Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee, Wretched wanderer, far astray; Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee From the paths of death away; Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling, Him who saw thy guilt-born fear, And, the light of hope revealing, Bade the blood-stained cross appear. Praise thy Saviour God that drew thee To that cross, new life to give, Held a blood-sealed pardon to thee, Bade thee look to Him and live. Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee, Roused thee from thy fatal ease, Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee, Praise the grace that whispered peace. Among his other hymns is, “Before the Lord we bow,” a thanksgiving hymn written by Key in 1832 for a Fourth of July celebration. _MUSIC._ WOMIT SOLL ICH DICH WOHL LOBEN is by Justin H. Knecht, 1752-1817, who was born in Biberach, Swabia. He studied music under Kramer and became one of the great organists of his time. His most valuable production was the _Württemberg Choralbuch_ which he edited along with J. F. Christmann, and to which he contributed 97 tunes of his own composition. 512. Sing praise to God who reigns above _Johann J. Schütz_, 1640-90 _Tr. Frances E. Cox_, 1812-97 1. Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem höchsten Gut, Dem Vater aller Güte, Dem Gott, der alle Wunder tut, Dem Gott, der mein Gemüte Mit seinem reichen Trost erfüllt, Dem Gott, der allen Jammer stillt; Gebt unsrem Gott die Ehre! 2. Es danken dir die Himmelsheer’, O Herrscher aller Thronen; Und die in Lüften, Land und Meer In deinem Schatten wohnen, Die preisen deine Schöpfersmacht, Die Alles also wohl bedacht. Gebt unsrem Gott die Ehre! 3. Was unser Gott geschaffen hat, Das will er auch erhalten, Darüber will er früh und spat Mit seiner Gnade walten. In seinem ganzen Königsreich Ist Alles recht und Alles gleich; Gebt unsrem Gott die Ehre!