[Recollections of a Long Life by Theodore Ledyard Cuyler]@TWC D-Link book
Recollections of a Long Life

CHAPTER IV
7/15

On the day of his obsequies there was a tremendous downpour, which reminded me of the story of the Scotchman, who, on arriving in Australia, met one of his countrymen, who said to him: "Hae ye joost come fra Scotland and _is it rainin' yet_ ?" But in spite of the storm the Morningside Church, by the entrance to the Grange Cemetery, was well filled by a representative assembly.

The service was confined to the reading of the Scriptures, to two prayers and the singing of Bonar's beautiful hymn, the last verse of which is "Broken Death's dread hands that bound us, Life and victory around us; Christ the King Himself hath crown'd us, Ah, 'tis Heaven at last." As I was the only American present I was requested to close the service with a brief word of prayer; and I rode down to the Canongate Cemetery with grand old Principal John Cairns (who Dr.McCosh told me "had the best head in Scotland"), and Bonar's colleague, the Rev.Mr.Sloane.

On our way to the place of burial Mr.Sloane told me that Bonar's two finest hymns, "I heard the voice of Jesus say," etc..
and "I lay my sins on Jesus," etc, were originally composed for the children of his Sabbath school.

And yet they are the productions by which he has become most widely known throughout Christendom.

The storm-swept streets that day were lined with silent mourners; and, under weeping skies, we laid down to his rest the mortal remains of the man who attuned more voices to the melodies of praise than any Scotchman of the century.
Our own country has been very prolific in the production of hymns.


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