The original of this delightful hymn is one of the devout meditations of Bernard of Clairvaux, a Cistercian monk (1091-1153). He was born of a noble family in or near Dijon, Burgundy, and when only twenty-three years old established a monastery at Clairvaux, France, over which he presided as its first abbot. Educated in the University of Paris, and possessing great natural abilities, he soon made himself felt in both the religious and political affairs of Europe. For more than thirty years he was the personal power that directed belief, quieted turbulence, and arbitrated disputes, and kings and even popes sought his counsel. It was his eloquent preaching that inspired the second crusade. His fine poem of feeling, in fifty Latin stanzas, has been a source of pious song in several languages: Jesu, dulcis memoria Dans vera cordi gaudia, Sed super mel et omnium Ejus dulcis presentia. Literally-- Jesus! a sweet memory Giving true joys to the heart, But sweet above honey and all things His _presence_ [is]. The five stanzas (of Caswall's free translation) now in use are familiar and dear to all English-speaking believers: Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast, But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest. Nor voice can sing nor heart can frame Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O Saviour of mankind. The Rev. Edward Caswall was born in Hampshire, Eng., July 15, 1814, the son of a clergyman. He graduated with honors at Brazenose College, Oxford, and after ten years of service in the ministry of the Church of England joined Henry Newman's Oratory at Birmingham, was confirmed in the Church of Rome, and devoted the rest of his life to works of piety and charity. He died Jan. 2, 1878. _THE TUNE._ No single melody has attached itself to this hymn, the scope of selection being as large as the supply of appropriate common-metre tunes. Barnby's "Holy Trinity," Wade's "Holy Cross" and Griggs' tune (of his own name) are all good, but many, on the giving out of the hymn, would associate it at once with the more familiar "Heber" by George Kingsley and expect to hear it sung. It has the uplift and unction of John Newton's-- How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In the believer's ear. "GOD CALLING YET! SHALL I NOT HEAR?"