“Richard Russell Jr., Speaker of the House, gives Mr. Hammack carte blanche to lead his flock of lawmakers just as far in the harmony line as he can, and ‘Uncle Billie’ has made good. He pitches the tune every morning and the House sings. Sometimes it is ‘Jesus, Lover of My Soul’ and the next morning it is ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ Another favorite is ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.’ Once or twice they have tackled ‘Gimme the Old-Time Religion’ with much success. “Many years ago a philosopher said, ‘Let me but write the songs of a nation and I care not who makes its laws.’ And the Rev. Mr. Hammack, although he had written none of them, has done a lot with his songs during the dog days of the legislative session. Georgia has probably the only singing legislature in captivity.” No better song could have expressed the feelings of our nation, and so it was that we sang The Doxology on Armistice Day New York City, in common with other parts of the United States, was wild with excitement on Armistice Day, 1918. The fighting was over, and men, women and children gave expression to their happiness in various ways. City, village and hamlet alike had some kind of wild demonstration. Seeing the excited crowd, a young woman, an officer of the Salvation Army, as reported in the newspapers at that time, stood on the steps of the great Public Library in New York and began to sing the old Doxology. Instantly the crowd took up the strain, and in a moment, as though by magic, thousands of voices blended in the noble words of thanksgiving: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Men reverently removed their hats, and the eyes of women filled with tears. The words of Thomas Ken that day expressed the gratitude of a great multitude. Among the many things done through that entire day, perhaps there was none more appropriate or beautiful than that which the Salvation Army lassie did. And with this reference to the Doxology we conclude our story of the influence of hymns in the experience of “all peoples that on earth do dwell.” FOOTNOTES [1]Published by the J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. [2]Published by The Dial Press, New York. [3]Tate and Brady. [4]Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. [5]Used by permission of John A. Davis. [6]Published by the Methodist Book Concern, New York. Used by permission. [7]Used by permission of the author. [8]Published by The Century Company, New York. Used by permission. [9]Used by permission of The Methodist Book Concern, New York. [10]Published by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Used by permission. [11]Used by permission of The Rodeheaver Company, Chicago. [12]Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Used by permission. [13]From _The Ladies’ Home Journal_, Philadelphia.