Send a gleam across the wave;
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Both words and music—composed in 1871—are by Mr. Bliss. There are wakening chords in 490 / 432 the tune—and especially the chorus—when the counterpoint is well vocalized; and the effect is more pronounced the greater the symphony of voices. Congregations find a zest in every note. “Hold the Fort” can be sung in the street. “Let the Lower Lights be Burning” is at home between echoing walls.
The use of the song in “Bethel” meetings classes it with sailors' hymns.
“SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER.”
Included with the Gospel Hymns, but of older date. Rev. William W. Walford, a blind English minister, was the author, and it was probably written about the year 1842. It was recited to Rev. Thomas Salmon, Congregational pastor at Coleshill, Eng., who took it down and brought it to New York, where it was published in the New York Observer.
Little is known of Mr. Walford save that in his blindness, besides preaching occasionally, he employed his mechanical skill in making small useful articles of bone and ivory.
The tune was composed by W.B. Bradbury in 1859, and first appeared with the hymn in Cottage Melodies.
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer