'Oh, blessed converse! begun on earth, to be perfected so soon in paradise! Blessed faith! to-day piercing through the mist of earth! to-morrow changed to sight! abiding ever with the Lord.' Soon after he fell asleep as calmly as a healthy child falls into natural slumber. Through all that trying experience his resignation and cheerfulness were remarkable. Though dying on a distant shore, absent from the scenes and associations which had afforded him so much comfort, he never murmured. His mind seemed to turn ever to the great goodness of God. When passing through the valley his face was often luminous with the visions of unseen realities which were crowding in upon his ripened and prepared soul. He died at Nice, on November 20, 1847, and was interred in the English cemetery there, where a simple marble cross marks his grave. All Saints' Church, Brixham, where Mr. Lyte laboured as Vicar from 1819 to 1847, is a commodious building, to which has recently been added a 'Lyte' memorial tower. It is a massive and worthy erection. The local interest in Mr. Lyte does not abate, and though it is nearly sixty years since he passed away, his memory is still cherished with grateful affection. To-day they honour with grateful hearts one whose poetical message has gone forth from their midst to bless the world. In the church there may be seen near the font a tablet of uncommon design, bearing the following inscription : 'Keep in mind HENRY FRANCIS LYTE, M.A., first Vicar of this parish, and author of the hymn "Abide with Me." In whose memory the rebuilding of the body of this church was begun A.D. 1884.' The chancel was built A.D. 1872 to the glory of God and in memory of the Rev. John Roughton Hogg, M.A., who was for twenty years connected with the parish as curate and incumbent. He died suddenly after preaching at Torquay on Advent Sunday, 1867, at the age of fifty-six years. At the south end of the church there is a large handsome memorial window in memory of his wife, A. M. M. Hogg, the only surviving daughter of Mr. Lyte, of whom the poet had been passionately fond. His feelings are expressed in the poem 'A Recall to my Child A. M.,' June 1, 1839 (his fortysixth birthday). She had been a real part of his life and his dearest companion. During his Continental journeys throughout his illness she accompanied him until her marriage to Mr. Hogg, her father's curate, a little while before the noble poet passed away. GENERAL POEMS AND HYMNS ABIDE WITH ME (Copied from a facsimile of the original lines.) 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.'-LUKE XXIV. 29. ABIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide ; Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; O Thou who changest not, abide with me! Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word ; Come not in terrors, as the King of kings; Thou on my head in early youth didst smile; I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless : Where is Death's sting? where, Grave, thy victory ? Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Speak through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee! For life, in death, O Lord, abide with me! A FALLEN SISTER SHE is not dead-she only sleeps: Life in her soul its vigil keeps : Though dark the cloud, though strong the chain, She is not dead :-it cannot be That one whose soul so glowed to Thee I know, I know how once she felt, She that has fed on heavenly food, She, that has bent at heaven's high throne, An earthworm here again to crawl ?— I know how many for her feel, And plead with Thee to come and heal : Sunk as she is in thoughtless sin, A silent hold—a hidden plea— That needs but quickening, Lord, from Thee. |