such a way that it would breathe more of the hopeful spirit of the New
Testament. He contended that Paul's words, "For me to live is Christ"
were far better than Job's lament, "I would not live alway." However, the
hymn as originally written had become so fixed in the consciousness of
the Church, that all efforts of the author to revise it were in vain.

Nearly all the hymns of Muhlenberg that have lived were written during
his earlier years. His later ministry centered in New York City, where he
was head of a boys' school for a number of years, and later rector of the
Church of the Holy Communion. He soon became an outstanding leader in the
great metropolis. After having founded St. Luke's hospital, the first
church institution of its kind in New York City, he spent the last twenty
years of his life as its superintendent.

His death occurred when he was past eighty years. It is said that when
the end was drawing near, the hospital chaplain came to his bedside to
pray for his recovery.

"Let us have an understanding about this," said the dying Muhlenberg.
"You are asking God to restore me and I am asking God to take me home.
There must not be a contradiction in our prayers, for it is evident that
He cannot answer them both."

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Thou art the Way; to Thee alone
From sin and death we flee,
And he who would the Father seek,
Must seek Him, Lord, by Thee.

Thou art the Truth; Thy Word alone
Sound wisdom can impart;
Thou only canst inform the mind,
And purify the heart.

Thou art the Life; the rending tomb
Proclaims Thy conquering arm;
And those who put their trust in Thee
Nor death nor hell shall harm.

Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life;
Grant us that Way to know,
That Truth to keep, that Life to win
Whose joys eternal flow.

George Washington Doane, 1824.

THE LYRICS OF BISHOP DOANE

Critics will forever disagree on the subject of the relative merits of
great hymns. Bishop George Washington Doane's fine hymn, "Thou art the
Way; to Thee alone," has been declared by some to be the foremost of all
hymns written by American authors. Dr. Breed, on the other hand, declares
that it is "by no means the equal" of other hymns by Doane. Another
authority observes that it "rather stiffly and mechanically paraphrases"
the pass