ver,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness!

A Woman's Gift to the Church

Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though, like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

There let my way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou sendest me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Then with my waking thoughts,
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upwards I fly;
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Sarah Adams, 1840.

SARAH ADAMS AND THE RISE OF WOMEN HYMN-WRITERS

Nineteenth century hymnody was characterized by an extraordinary number
of women hymn-writers. It is significant that this development came, as
we have noted in a previous chapter, with the great spiritual revivals
which aroused evangelical Europe and America from 1800 to 1875. It was
also coincident with the general movement resulting in the enlargement of
women's influence and activity in all spheres of human endeavor. In the
realm of hymnody women have become the chief exponents of church song.

Dr. Breed has pointed out that the large increase of women hymnists, as
well as the preponderance of hymn translations, is indicative of a period
of decadence in sacred song. While this is probably true of the latter
half of the nineteenth century, which saw the rise of the so-called
"Gospel song," we must cheerfully recognize the fact that such women as
Charlotte Elliott, Sarah Adams, Cecil Alexander and Frances Havergal in
England and Mary Lathbury, Anna Warner, Catherine Esling, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Phoebe Gary, Elizabeth Prentiss and Fanny Crosby in America have
contributed some of the most precious gems to the treasure-store of
Christian hymns. Indeed, the hymnody of the Church would have bee