It is told of John B. Gough how, seated one Sabbath in a church
service, a strange man was ushered into the pew at his side.
Conceiving a strong dislike for the man from his mottled face
and twitching limbs and mumbled sounds, Mr. Gough eyed his
seat-mate, when, during the organ interlude in singing the hymn,
“Just as I am without one plea,” the stranger leaned toward
him and asked how the next verse began. “Just as I am--poor,
wretched, blind,” answered Mr. Gough. “That’s it,” sobbed the
man, “I’m blind--God help me,” and he made an effort to join in
the singing. Said Mr. Gough, in telling the incident, “After
that the poor paralytic’s singing was as sweet to me as a
Beethoven symphony.”
(1472)
=Hymn-making=--See CHALLENGE.