Henry van Dyke was born in Germantown, Pa.; received his education in Princeton University and Theological Seminary; and began his work as pastor of the United Congregational Church in Newport, R. I. After four years he was called to the pulpit of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York where he became a widely known figure. In 1900 he was called to the chair of English Literature in Princeton. He was a friend of President Woodrow Wilson who appointed van Dyke as minister to the Netherlands and Luxemburg, which post he held from 1913 to 1917. He is the author of many books, including the beautiful story entitled, _The Other Wise Man._ _MUSIC._ HYMN TO JOY is a hymn tune arrangement from the fourth movement of Beethoven’s _Ninth Symphony_, probably the greatest symphony ever penned, even though the composer was stone-deaf when he wrote it. Ludwig von Beethoven was born at Bonn, Germany, in 1770 and died in Vienna in 1827. During his tempestuous life, he composed many compositions for piano, violin, orchestra, and string quartet. His nine symphonies are on the repertoire of all the great modern symphony orchestras. 11. Give to our God immortal praise _Isaac Watts_, 1674-1748 Recognized as the best of three versions which Watts made of Psalm 136. The hymn expresses with dignity and fervor the high praise of God. Isaac Watts, scholar, poet, and pastor of the Independent Church in Mark Lane, London, ranks among the greatest of English hymn writers. He is the author of about 600 hymns and versions, many of which are still in common use. The _Hymnary_ contains 19 of his works. Watts is often referred to as the “father of English hymnody.” Though suffering from bodily ailments during the greater part of his adult life, he was robust in his thinking and became a bold and sturdy fighter for the cause of intellectual and religious freedom. Watts was one of the gentlest and kindest of men and a friend of the young. His wide intellectual interests enabled him to write textbooks on logic, geography, and astronomy, which were used in the universities of England as well as Harvard and Yale. Though he was never married and had no children of his own, Watts was a lover of children and wrote one of the world’s most beautiful cradle songs—“Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber.” In 1715, he issued a notable book of verse for children. One of the poems, entitled, “Against Quarrelling and Fighting,” runs as follows: Let dogs delight to bark and bite For God hath made them so; Let bears and lions growl and fight For ’tis their nature to. But children, you should never let Such angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other’s eyes. Let grown-ups in our day grasp the idea in this simple poem!