Dr. Walter C. Smith’s is not a familiar name in our hymn-books. Only editors who are willing to leave the beaten track will find his poems ‘true hymns.’ The _Baptist Church Hymnal_, which is perhaps the most catholic and the most literary of our modern books, gives six of his hymns, while the Presbyterian and the Methodist have none. But many of his poems are good hymns, though perhaps they appeal to a limited circle. His _Thoughts and Fancies for Sunday Evenings_ has long stood close to my study chair, and I do not think there is any book (except George Herbert) I have so often read after the day’s work is done. His hymns have the true patience and the happy trustfulness which are the strength and inspiration of Christian service. Here are three verses from the poem on Ps. cxviii. 1— Why should I always pray, Although I always lack? Were ’t not a better way Some praise to render back? The earth that drinks the plenteous rain Returns the grateful cloud again. We should not get the less That we remembered more The truth and righteousness Thou keep’st for us in store: In heaven they do not pray—they sing, And they have wealth of everything. And it would be more meet To compass Thee with song, Than to have at Thy feet Only a begging throng, Who take Thy gifts and then forget Alike Thy goodness and their debt. My next quotation is well worthy of a place beside Bishop Bickersteth’s ‘Come ye yourselves apart,’ and with the most impressive and consoling of hymns for Christian workers. Oft, Lord, I weary in Thy work, But of Thy work I do not tire, Although I toil from dawn till dark, From matins of the early lark Until his even-song expire. Ah! who that tends the altar fire, Or ministers the incense due, Or sings Thy praises in the choir, Or publishes good news, could tire Of that he loves so well to do? Sweet is the recompense it brings— The work that with good-will is done; For all the heart with gladness sings, And all the fleeting hours have wings, And all the day is full of sun. And if he labour not in vain, If souls are by his message stirred, If he can comfort grief and pain, Or bring repentant tears like rain By force of his entreating word, The hand may weary at its task, And weary he may drag his feet; The weary frame may long to bask In needful rest; but do not ask The heart to weary of its beat. To these quotations—and they are few compared with those I would like to make—I must add Dr. Smith’s singularly solemn and beautiful prayer, which in the _Baptist Church Hymnal_ is appointed for the close of the Communion Service. It is unique among sacramental hymns. If any to the feast have come Who were not bidden, Lord, forgive; They were not of our Father’s home, Yet in Thy mercy let them live.