And yet, the poems of Whittier, notably "Our Master" and "The Eternal Goodness," have been the source of some of the finest hymns in the English language. There are at least seventy-five hymns now in use that bear his name. Practically all of them are extracts from longer poems. "Dear Lord and Father of mankind," "I bow my forehead to the dust," and "We need not climb the heavenly steeps" are among the best loved of Whittier's hymns. Probably his most famous poem is "Snowbound." Whittier died in 1892. His last words were, "Love--love to all the world." A friend bent over the dying man and whispered the words of his poem, "At Last." Palmer's Famous Hymn My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine; Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine. May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love for Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire. When life's dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my Guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow's tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside. When ends life's transient dream, When death's cold, sullen stream Shall o'er me roll, Blest Saviour, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul. Ray Palmer, 1830. AMERICA'S GREATEST HYMN AND ITS AUTHOR Although a number of America's great poets wrote hymns, it was not given to any one of them to compose America's finest Christian lyric. Bryant wrote "Look from Thy sphere of endless day," Whittier was the author of "Dear Lord and Father of mankind," Holmes composed "O Love Divine, that stooped to share," and Longfellow has given us "I heard the bells of Christmas day;" but, beautiful as these hymns are, none of them can compare with "My faith looks up to Thee." This, "the most precious contribution which American genius has yet made to the hymnology of the Christian Church," came from the pen of a very humble but gifted minister, Ray Palmer. Palmer, who was born at Little Compton, R. I., November 12, 1808, was a direct descendant of John Alden and his good wife, Priscilla. One of his forebears was William Palmer, who came to Plymouth in 1621. Through pressure of poverty Ray found it necessary to leave home at the age of thirteen, after having received a grammar education. For two years he clerked in a Boston dry goods store, during which time he passed through some deep spiritual experiences, with the result that he gave his heart to God.