NOT the St. Augustine's hymn !

I like old hymns, and I have a small collection of oldish hymnbooks which I've acquired over the years.

Looking through one of the books some time ago in search of something else, the words "ST. AUGUSTINE" caught my attention. It was the name of a hymn tune, attributed to "L.Mason" - presumably Lowell Mason. The title of the hymn was "How few are entering in", which did seem to fit our not overwhelmingly big congregation.

The author of the words is not identified. It is not one of the most memorable hymns ever written, but the sentiments are worthy. Here are the first and last verses :

How few are ent'ring in,
So many turn away,
Despising God, His boundless grace;
And wasting life's short day.

Will you not enter in ?
Hark ! hear the Master say :
"I am the door, Oh enter now,
There is no other way."

- and here's the tune "St Augustine" ( which, all being well, sounds like this ) :

Music of 'St Augustine'

Theme song or not, if you would like to accept the green invitation, you would be most welcome.

In the unlikely event that anyone wants to know, I add that the hymn book is "Hymns Old and New with supplement", published by R.L. Allan & Son of Glasgow. It's undated, but internal evidence suggests that it was later than 1931.

Alan Creak,
2003 November.