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Louis F. Benson
1855 - 1930 Author of "A King Might Miss the Guiding Star" in Christian Youth Hymnal Benson, Louis FitzGerald, D.D., was born at Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1855, and educated at the University of Penn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and practised until 1884. After a course of theological studies he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 1888. His pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer, Germantown, Phila., extended from his ordination in 1888 to 1894, when he resigned and devoted himself to literary and Church work at Philadelphia. He edited the series of Hymnals authorised for use by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., as follows:—
(1) The Hymnal, Phila., 1895; (2) The Chapel Hymnal, 1898; and (3) The School Hymnal, 1899.
Dr. Benson's hymnological writings are somewhat extensive. They include:—
(1) Hymns and Verses (original and translations), 1897; (2) The Best Church Hymns, 1898; (3) The Best Hymns, 1898; (4) Studies of Familiar Hymns, 1903, &c.
Of his original hymns the following have come into American common use:—
I. In The Hymnal, 1895:—
1. O Christ, Who didst our tasks fulfil. For Schools and Colleges. Written in 1894.
2. O risen Christ, Who from Thy throne. For Installation of a Pastor. Written in 1894.
II. In The School Hymnal, 1899:—
3. A glory lit the wintry sky. Loneliness of Jesus. Written in 1897.
4. Happy town of Salem. Heaven.
5. Now the wintry days are o'er. Easter.
6. O sing a song of Bethlehem. Early Life of Jesus.
7. Open the door to the Saviour. Invitation.
8. Out of the skies, like angel eyes. Lullaby.
9. Who will teach me how to pray? Prayer. In Carey Bonner's Sunday School Hymnary, 1905:—
10. The sun is on the land and sea. Morning.
11. Our wilful hearts have gone astray. Penitence.
12. When I awake from slumber. Morning.
Of the above, Nos. 1-4, 10-12 are from Hymns and Verses, 1897. In the above collection by C. Bonner, Nos. 1, 4, and 6 are also found. Of Dr. Benson's translations from the Latin one only is in common use. See "Plaudite coeli, Rideat aether."
As a hymn writer Dr. Benson is not widely known, mainly through the recent publication of his verse. His hymns deserve attention, and will, no doubt, gain the public ear in due time; whilst his hymnological researches and publications are thorough and praiseworthy.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Louis F. Benson
Calvin Weiss Laufer
1874 - 1938 Person Name: Calvin W. Laufer Composer of "BETHLEHEM ROAD" in Christian Youth Hymnal Presbyterian minister and hymnographer Calvin Weiss Laufer was born today in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania in 1874. Following his graduation from Union Seminary in 1900 he was ordained into the Presbyterian ministry and led congregations in New York and New Jersey for several years.
Laufer had a generally cheerful outlook on his Christian life, and his first two books, Key-Notes of Optimism (1911) and The Incomparable Christ (1914) expressed that viewpoint. A review of the first book spoke of the "crisp and stirring note in these sermonettes which is well calculated to rouse the mind of readers and banish dejection." His books were popular in their time but today are seen as somewhat superficial.
He later began to work with the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education and became its editor of musical publications, producing books such as The Junior Church School Hymnal (1927), The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928) and When the Little Child Wants to Sing (1935). He was also the associate editor of the Presbyterian Hymnal of 1933, a very popular book which was used in many churches for more than fifty years.
In 1932, his book Hymn Lore was published, which contained the stories of fifty hymns from The Church School Hymnal for Youth, with information about their writers and composers (much like this blog). He chose a broad range of hymns, some quite modern and others well-known and loved for centuries. Several of them were by his mentor and friend Louis F. Benson, who had edited the Presbyterian Hymnal of 1895 and its 1911 revision (and also wrote The Best Church Hymns). In the preface to Hymn Lore, Laufer wrote:
To live with hymns and to make them one's own is the only sure way of appreciating their literary beauty and spiritual power. (...) That the reading and singing of hymns may become less mechanical, more thoughtful and intelligent, and emotionally more effective, this volume is released to the public.
Laufer wrote both hymn texts and tunes himself, most of which first appeared in the books he edited but also had some life outside Presbyterian circles. This tune was written while Laufer was attending a conference in Kansas, though with no particular text in mind. Not long after, he hummed it to a friend, William H. Foulkes, who then wrote the text "Take thou our minds, dear Lord."
Laufer's tune was originally called STONY BROOK, but he changed it to honor a friend, William Ralph Hall. Little is known about the writer May Pierpont Hoyt. Her text is generally sung to the tune BREAD OF LIFE by William F. Sherwin, but since that tune is more known with "Break thou the Bread of life," this text could use a different one.
--conjubilant.blogspot.com/2010/04/
Calvin Weiss Laufer
Johann Christian Kittel
1732 - 1809 Composer of "BIS WILKOMMEN" in The Cyber Hymnal Born: February 18, 1732, Erfurt, Germany.
Died: April 17, 1809, Erfurt, Germany.
A student of Bach, Kittel played the organ at Langensalza (1751); the Barüsserkirche, Erfurt (1756-62); and the Predigerkirche, Erfurt (1762). He also taught and wrote; his works include:
Der angehende praktische Organist, 1801-08
Vierstimmige Choräle mit Vorspielen, 1803
--www.hymntime.com/tch/
Johann Christian Kittel
