Some really good gospel hymns and tunes among those omitted in this chapter will cry out against the choice that passed them by. Others are of the more ephemeral sort, the phenomena (and the demand) of a generation. Carols of pious joy with inordinate repetition, choruses that surprise old lyrics with modern thrills, ballads of ringing sound and slender verse, are the spray of tuneful emotion that sparkles on every revival high-tide, but rarely leaves floodmarks that time will not erase. Religious songs of the demonstrative, not to say sensational, kind spring impromptu from the conditions of their time--and give place to others equally spontaneous when the next spiritual wave sweeps by. Their value lingers in the impulse their novelty gave to the life of sanctuary worship, and in the Christian characters their emotional power helped into being. CHAPTER XIII. HYMNS, FESTIVAL AND OCCASIONAL. _CHRISTMAS._ "ADESTE FIDELES." This hymn is of doubtful authorship, by some assigned to as late a date as 1680, and by others to the 13th century as one of the Latin poems of St. Bonaventura, Bishop of Albano, who was born at Bagnarea in Tuscany, A.D. 1221. He was a learned man, a Franciscan friar, one of the greatest teachers and writers of his church, and finally a cardinal. Certainly Roman Catholic in its origin, whoever was its author, it is a Christian hymn qualified in every way to be sung by the universal church. Adeste, fideles Laeti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte Regem angelorum. CHORUS. Venite, adoremus, Venite, adoremus! Venite, adoremus Dominum. This has been translated by Rev. Frederick Oakeley (1808-1880) and by Rev. Edward Caswall (1814-1878) the version of the former being the one in more general use. The ancient hymn is much abridged in the hymnals, and even the translations have been altered and modernized in the three or four stanzas commonly sung. Caswall's version renders the first line "Come hither, ye faithful," literally construing the Latin words. The following is substantially Oakeley's English of the "Adeste, fideles." O come all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant, To Bethlehem hasten now with glad accord; Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels. CHORUS. O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord. Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation Through Heaven's high arches be your praises poured; Now to our God be Glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him! Yea, Lord, we bless Thee, Born for our salvation Jesus, forever be Thy name adored! Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him!