Thomas MacKellar

Thomas MacKellar
www.hymntime.com/tch
Short Name: Thomas MacKellar
Full Name: MacKellar, Thomas, 1812-1899
Birth Year: 1812
Death Year: 1899

Mackellar, Thomas, was born in New York, Aug. 12, 1812. At the age of 14 he entered the printing establishment of Harper Brothers. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia and joined the type-foundry firm of Johnson & Smith, as proof reader. He subsequently became a foreman, and then a partner in that firm, which has been known from 1860 as Mackellar, Smiths, and Jordan, type-founders of Philadelphia. His publications include The American Printer, 1866, a prose work, and the following in verse:—

(1) Droppings from the Heart, 1844; (2) Tam's Fortnight Ramble, 1847; (3) Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; (4) Rhymes Atween Times, 1872. The last contains some of his hymns. (5) Hymns and a few Metrical Psalms, Phila. 1883 (71 hymns, 3 psalms), 2nd edition, 1887 (84 hymns, 3 psalms).

Those of his hymns in common use include :—
1. At the door of mercy sighing. Lent. Published in his Rhymes Atween Times, 1872, as, "Long of restful peace forsaken," and again in Dr. Hitchcock's Hymns & Songs of Praise, 1874, as "At the door of mercy sighing."
2. Bear the burden of the present. Resignation. Written in 1852, and published in his Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; and Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868. Part of this hymn, beginning "All unseen the Master walketh," was in common use in Great Britain.
3. Book of grace, and book of glory. Holy Scripture. Written in 1843. It was given in the Sunday School Union Collection, 1860, and his Hymns and a few M. Psalms, &c, 1883, and a few collections, including Allon's Children's Worship, 1878, &c.
4. Draw nigh to the Holy. Jesus, the soul’s Refuge. In Sumner's Songs of Zion, 1851, and the Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868, in 5 st. of 8 1ines.
5. Father, in my life's young morning. A Child's Prayer. Written in 1841.
6. In the vineyard of our Father. Work for God. Written in 1845. It was given in the Hymns for Church & Home, Philadelphia, I860, and other collections.
7. Jesus! when my soul is parting. Continued presence of Jesus desired. Written in 1848, and included in Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868, in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, and entitled "Jesus first and last."
8. There is a land immortal. Heaven. Mr. Mackellar says that this hymn was written

"One evening as a fancy suddenly struck me of a religious nature, I laid aside the work in hand, and pursuing the new idea, I at once produced the hymn, ‘There is a land immortal,' and sent it to the editor [of Neale's Gazette], who referred to it as a religious poem from ‘Tam,' my assumed name, under which I had already acquired considerable notoriety. This was in 1845. It was widely copied, and afterwards inserted in a volume published by me." Duffield's English Hymns, &c, 1886, p. 551.

Mr. Mackellar was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Mackellar, T., p. 708, ii. Additional hymns are:— (1) "I have no hiding-place" (Safety in Jesus), (2) “I will extol Thee every day" (Praise to God). These are dated 1880 and 1871 respectively in Stryker's Church Songs, N. Y., 1889. He died Dec. 29, 1899.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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Mackellar, T., pp. 708, ii.; 1578, ii. He died Dec. 29, 1899. His hymn, “O the darkness, O the sorrow" (Redemption through Christ), was written in 1886, and added to the latest 1668 editions of his Hymns & Metrical Psalms. It is found in Summa Corda, 1898, and several other collections. His Hymns and Poems were collected and published in 1900. [Rev. L. F. Benson, D.D.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)


Texts by Thomas MacKellar (109)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
A prisoner of the LordThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
A refuge and a fortressThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
After the darkness of the nightThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Again I take with hopeful heartThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
All praise to Thee, the Triune GodThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
All unseen the Master walkethThomas MacKellar (Author)English28
Alone with God todayThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Art thou in thy spirit lowlyThos. MacKellar (Author)English4
As children dwelling in their homeThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
At Jesus' feet I take my placeThomas MacKellar (Author)English4
At the door of mercy sighingThomas MacKellar (Author)English22
Be not anxious for the morrowThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
Be still, my soul! be still, Nor hide thee in the cleftThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Bear the burden of the presentThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Before the silver cord be loosedThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Beside Thee there is noneThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Blessed be Thy name forever, Lord and Christ, eternal KingThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Book of grace, and book of gloryThomas MacKellar (Author)English53
Build up, O Lord, a rampart wallThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Cast thy burden on the Lord, Only lean upon His wordThos. MacKellar (Author)English1
Cast thy burden on the Lord, Is this message meant for me?Thomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Christ is risen, O the wonderThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Cold the bed and hard the pillowThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Day is breaking in the skyMacKellar (Author)English3
Day is waning into shadowThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Draw nigh to the Holy, bend low at His throneThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Far away the Savior saw meThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Far distant from my Father's houseThomas MacKellar (Author)English5
Father! all is of Thy givingThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Father, in my life's young morningThos. MacKellar (Author)English13
Give ear unto my words, O Lord! And heed my yearning sighThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Give me a foothold on the rockThos. MacKellar (Author)English6
Give me to know thy will, O GodThos. MacKellar (Author)English4
Glory be to God on high, Glory in the highestThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Glory be to God the Father, HallelujahThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Glory in the highest! glory! Father, Son and Holy GhostThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highestThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Glory to God in the highest, The day of all daysThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Glory to Thee evermore!Thomas MacKellar (Author)English1
God has said it, and His promiseThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Hallowed day of sacred restThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
I did not ask the reason whyThomas MacKellar (Author)2
I give myself to God, My life, my soul, my allThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
I have no hiding placeThomas MacKellar (1812- ) (Author)English3
I know not when the Lord will callThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
I lift my longing eyesThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
I long for God, the living GodThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
I thank the Lord my makerMacKellar (Author)English15
I will extol Thee every dayThomas McKellar (Author)English2
I would I were content to beThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
In tearless anguish once I layThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
In the hidden ways of lifeThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
In the vineyard of our FatherThomas MacKellar (Author)English81
In vain the ways of providenceThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Jehovah reigns let earth rejoice, Let all the multitude of islesThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Jesus, when my soul is partingThomas MacKellar (Author)English6
Let all the people sing a psalmThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Lord, take and lead me as a childThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
My father raised his trembling handThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
My righteous God! O hear my callThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
My soul cries out to GodThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
My soul is resting in God's peace, Without a doubt or fearThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
My soul! why sit forsaken in sorrow's darkened tent?Thomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Nearer to Thy heart of loveThomas MacKellar (Author)English4
O Father, for Thy loveThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
O gracious Father, send us showersThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
O holy, holy, holy Lord, The Father and the SonThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
O land of day, eternal dayThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
O Lord, our Lord! in all the earth, Thy name how excellentThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
O the agonizing prayerThos. MacKellar (Author)English9
O the darkness, O the sorrowThomas MacKellar (Author)English12
O the blessedness of leaningThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
Once in my boyhood's gladsome dayThos. MacKellar (Author)English4
Only in silence wait on GodThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Over the earth a stillness comesThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Pilgrim, pilgrim, whither boundThomas MacKellar (Author)1
Rest and peace for Jesus' sakeThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Sitting in the twilight musing on the days that come and goThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Some day the word will come to meThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
Sometimes, in quiet reverieThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Tell me, whom my soul doth loveThos. MacKellar (Author)English1
The billows round me rise and rollThomas MacKellar (Author)English4
The blessing of the Sabbath dayThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The darkness of the night came downThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The day is wearing fast awayThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The day of wrath, that certain dayThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
The dusty paths of earth defileThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The heavens declare the glory Of their creator GodThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The morning of the centuriesThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
The morning stars were singing with joyThomas MacKellar (Author)English8
The pathway to the mercy seatThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
The sea before, the foe behindThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
There is a land immortal, The beautiful of lands (MacKellar)T. MacKellar (Author)English57
There is light over my pathThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Though darkness turn the skies to nightThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Thy love, O Holy FatherThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
'Tis but a looking unto Christ in penitence and trustThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
'Tis well that thou, my God, shouldst beThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Toiling early in the morningThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
Unseen by then a glorious hostThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Upon an ancient sycamore A sturdy bough there grewThomas MacKellar (Author)English4
Upon the pillow of thy loveThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
Was Jesus tempted like as weThomas MacKellar (Author)English3
Watchers called to work for Jesus, To the glory of His nameThomas MacKellar (Author)English2
When he waketh, when he sleepethThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
Where could I go but unto TheeThos. MacKellar (Author)English3
While some may run an easy paceThomas MacKellar (Author)English1
While the heavenly host rejoicesThomas MacKellar (Author)4
Who bids the wind to blow?Thomas MacKellar (Author)English1

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