MR. SANKEY'S LIFE AND SACRED SONGS.
My Life and Sacred Songs. By Ira D. Sankey. (Hodder and Stoughton. 5s.)—Mr. Sankey's first meeting with the great partner in his labours, Mr. Dwight L. Moody, took place in 1870. Mr. Moody's action was decidedly after the Scripture method ; he took the singer by storm. "I am in Government employ," said Mr. Sankey. "You will have to give that up I have been looking for you for the last eight years," was the answer. And he had his way. The story of the two men is highly interesting. Of course the change of manners gives it a different t me from other narratives of the kind. Janet Geddes with her stool has passed away. Her modern successor—for in the early days of the work hymns were considered by many to be heterodox— contented himself with saying • "Let me out ! What would John Knox think of the like of you ?" Not the least attractive part of the book is to be found in the special narratives of various hymns. "There were ninety and nine that safely lay," by Miss E. C. Clephane, has a remarkable story. It was first published in the "poets' corner" of a newspaper, and there met the eye of Mr. Sankey. He was struck with it and read it to his coadjutor, who happened, however, to be so absorbed in a letter from home that he paid no attention to it. A day, or two afterwards, at a meeting where "The Good Shepherd" had been the subject of the day, a hymn was wanted. Mr. Sankey thought of the 23rd Psalm, but it had been sung more than once, and it was out of the question as a solo, as the whole audience would certainly join in. The singer sat down at the organ and improvised the tune as he sang,—" note by note the tune was, given, which has not been changed from that day to this.' Perhaps the most effective stanza is :— "But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, Ere he found the sheep tba,p was lost."
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