The Rev. Edward Mote was born in London, 1797. According to his own testimony his parents were not God-fearing people, and he "went to a school where no Bible was allowed;" but at the age of sixteen he received religious impressions from a sermon of John Hyatt in Tottenham Court Chapel, was converted two years later, studied for the ministry, and ultimately became a faithful preacher of the gospel. Settled as pastor of the Baptist Church in Horsham, Sussex, he remained there twenty-six years--until his death, Nov. 13, 1874. The refrain of his hymn came to him one Sabbath when on his way to Holborn to exchange pulpits: On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand. There were originally six stanzas, the first beginning: Nor earth, nor hell, my soul can move, I rest upon unchanging love. The refrain is a fine one, and really sums up the whole hymn, keeping constantly at the front the corner-stone of the poet's trust. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But only lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face I trust in His unchanging grace, In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock, etc. Wm. B. Bradbury composed the tune (1863). It is usually named "The Solid Rock." "ABIDE WITH ME! FAST FALLS THE EVENTIDE." The Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, author of this melodious hymn-prayer, was born at Ednam, near Kelso, Scotland, June first, 1793. A scholar, graduated at Trinity College, Dublin; a poet and a musician, the hard-working curate was a man of frail physique, with a face of almost feminine beauty, and a spirit as pure and gentle as a little child's. The shadow of consumption was over him all his life. His memory is chiefly associated with the district church at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, where he became "perpetual curate" in 1823. He died at Nice, France, Nov. 20, 1847. On the evening of his last Sunday preaching and communion service he handed to one of his family the manuscript of his hymn, "Abide with me," and the music he had composed for it. It was not till eight years later that Henry Ward Beecher introduced it, or a part of it, to American Congregationalists, and fourteen years after the author's death it began to be sung as we now have it, in this country and England. Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens,--Lord with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me! * * * * * Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me! _THE TUNE_