George Kingsley, author of "Ware," was born in Northampton, Mass., July
7, 1811. Died in the Hospital, in the same city, March 14, 1884. He
compiled eight books of music for young people and several manuals of
church psalmody, and was for some time a music teacher in Boston, where
he played the organ at the Hollis St. church. Subsequently he became
professor of music in Girard College, Philadelphia, and music instructor
in the public schools, being employed successively as organist (on
Lord's Day) at Dr. Albert Barnes' and Arch St. churches, and finally in
Brooklyn at Dr. Storrs' Church of the Pilgrims. Returned to Northampton,
1853.


"EARLY, MY GOD, WITHOUT DELAY."

This and the five following hymns, all by Watts, are placed in immediate
succession, for unity's sake--with a fuller notice of the greatest of
hymn-writers at the end of the series.

Early, my God, without delay
I haste to seek Thy face,
My thirsty spirit faints away
Without Thy cheering grace.

In the memories of very old men and women, who sang the fugue music of
Morgan's "Montgomery," still lingers the second stanza and some of the
"spirit and understanding" with which it used to be rendered in meeting
on Sunday mornings.

So pilgrims on the scorching sand,
Beneath a burning sky,