ISAAC WATTS, HYMNWRITER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

ISAAC WATTS, HYMNWRITER.

On July 17. 1074. Tsaac Watts was born at 21 French Street, Southampton, a clothier's .son, hut was educated at Stoke Xewington, London, in a school of Nonconformists, of whom he was ,i minister in that metropol's from 1702 till he died on November 20, 17-JS. being buried there in Bunhill Fields cemetery. A monument to his memory was erected in Westminster Abbey, and there is also a statue in the park at his native town, as well as a monument in Abncy Park, where he resided as a guest of Sir Thomas Abney, m the. former Abney House for thirty-six years. But he is most celebrated as the author of tiOO hymns, which he commenced when about twenty-one years old. The Oxford Hymn-book published as lately as l'JO*, contains :3")0 hymns, and of these twenty-one are Watts', of which some are well and widely known, such as "'When 1 survey the wondrous Cross," "Come, let us .join our cheerful songs,'' ,! From a'l that dwell below the sk'es," "'Jesus shall reign where'er the sun,'' ''() God, our help in ages past." and "There is, a lend c» ] ure delight." But his. " Divme and Moral Songs," the first children's hymnbook, which ran through 100 od'tions before the middle cf the nineteenth century, art 1 now very little known to the young. Some years ago a scientific lecturer rvoted the- enthusiastic attention of an adult audience bv saying that spectrum analysis had solved the question of our childhood. "Twinkle twinkle, little siar, how T wonder what you are,'' one of those children's hymns of Watts. But now his " Lot dogs delight to bark and h'te," "Not more than other 1 deserve," "Tis the voice of a sluggird." and even "How doth the lilt! ■ busy bee.'' prove perfect novelties to s'-hool boys and girls. This poet once hoard that some one asked, with surprise. "Is that httle man Dr. Watt.-?" who himself answered, "Were- T so tail as to roach the pole. Or grasp the ocean in my span. I must be measured hy liiy soul: The mind's the standard of th • man."