VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS "
[To_ the-Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sit,—As many know two of the most beautiful ancient:1.4in hymns which haVe come down tb us._ are " Veni Sangte Spiritus " and " Veni Creator Spiritus." . - - -A kind- -correspondent, referring to my 4 General KnoWledge Questions " on Church History, in the SpeWator of November 10th, suggests -that in the last question and answer I have confuSed-these two hymns: He- is right.. - -
My authority for -the statement- that Bishop Langton was the author of " Veni- Sanete Spiritus" is Professor Powicke, who, notwithstanding that the hymn has been attributed to other writers, is, in his recently published Ford Lectures on Stephen Langton, somewhat positive on this matter.
It is„ however, not the " Veni Sancte " but the second hymn, " Veni Creator," which is found in our Prayer Book in the Ordering of Priests, and which was translated by Bishop eosin, ." Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire." This hymn, ascribed to various authors, is stated by Dr. Julian to haVe been used at a Synod at Rheims in 1049. We learn that there 'are more than fifty translations of this hymn.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Lindum Lodge, Psalter Lane, Sheffield. W. ODOM.
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