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Reginald Heber

1783 - 1826 Person Name: Bishop R. Heber Author of "The Son of God goes forth to war" in Sunday-School Book Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today. -- Greg Scheer, 1995 ==================== Heber, Reginald, D.D. Born at Malpas, April 21, 1783, educated at Brasenose College, Oxford; Vicar of Hodnet, 1807; Bishop of Calcutta, 1823; died at Trichinopoly, India, April 3, 1826. The gift of versification shewed itself in Heber's childhood; and his Newdigate prize poem Palestine, which was read to Scott at breakfast in his rooms at Brazenose, Oxford, and owed one of its most striking passages to Scott's suggestion, is almost the only prize poem that has won a permanent place in poetical literature. His sixteen years at Hodnet, where he held a halfway position between a parson and a squire, were marked not only by his devoted care of his people, as a parish priest, but by literary work. He was the friend of Milman, Gifford, Southey, and others, in the world of letters, endeared to them by his candour, gentleness, "salient playfulness," as well as learning and culture. He was on the original staff of The Quarterly Review; Bampton Lecturer (1815); and Preacher at Lincoln's Inn (1822). His edition of Jeremy Taylor is still the classic edition. During this portion of his life he had often had a lurking fondness for India, had traced on the map Indian journeys, and had been tempted to wish himself Bishop of Calcutta. When he was forty years old the literary life was closed by his call to the Episcopate. No memory of Indian annals is holier than that of the three years of ceaseless travel, splendid administration, and saintly enthusiasm, of his tenure of the see of Calcutta. He ordained the first Christian native—Christian David. His first visitation ranged through Bengal, Bombay, and Ceylon; and at Delhi and Lucknow he was prostrated with fever. His second visitation took him through the scenes of Schwartz's labours in Madras Presidency to Trichinopoly, where on April 3,1826, he confirmed forty-two persons, and he was deeply moved by the impression of the struggling mission, so much so that “he showed no appearance of bodily exhaus¬tion." On his return from the service ”He retired into his own room, and according to his invariable custom, wrote on the back of the address on Confirmation 'Trichinopoly, April 3, 1826.' This was his last act, for immediately on taking off his clothes, he went into a large cold bath, where he had bathed the two preceding mornings, but which was now the destined agent of his removal to Paradise. Half an hour after, his servant, alarmed at his long absence, entered the room and found him a lifeless corpse." Life, &c, 1830, vol. ii. p. 437. Heber's hymns were all written during the Hodnet period. Even the great missionary hymn, "From Greenland's icy mountains," notwithstanding the Indian allusions ("India's coral strand," "Ceylon's isle"), was written before he received the offer of Calcutta. The touching funeral hymn, "Thou art gone to the grave," was written on the loss of his first babe, which was a deep grief to him. Some of the hymns were published (1811-16) in the Christian Observer, the rest were not published till after his death. They formed part of a ms. collection made for Hodnet (but not published), which contained, besides a few hymns from older and special sources, contributions by Milman. The first idea of the collection appears in a letter in 1809 asking for a copy of the Olney Hymns, which he "admired very much." The plan was to compose hymns connected with the Epistles and Gospels, to be sung after the Nicene Creed. He was the first to publish sermons on the Sunday services (1822), and a writer in The Guardian has pointed out that these efforts of Heber were the germs of the now familiar practice, developed through the Christian Year (perhaps following Ken's Hymns on the Festivals), and by Augustus Hare, of welding together sermon, hymnal, and liturgy. Heber tried to obtain from Archbishop Manners Sutton and the Bishop of London (1820) authorization of his ms. collection of hymns by the Church, enlarging on the "powerful engine" which hymns were among Dissenters, and the irregular use of them in the church, which it was impossible to suppress, and better to regulate. The authorization was not granted. The lyric spirit of Scott and Byron passed into our hymns in Heber's verse; imparting a fuller rhythm to the older measures, as illustrated by "Oh, Saviour, is Thy promise fled," or the martial hymn, "The Son of God goes forth to war;" pressing into sacred service the freer rhythms of contemporary poetry (e.g. "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning"; "God that madest earth and heaven"); and aiming at consistent grace of literary expression.. Their beauties and faults spring from this modern spirit. They have not the scriptural strength of our best early hymns, nor the dogmatic force of the best Latin ones. They are too flowing and florid, and the conditions of hymn composition are not sufficiently understood. But as pure and graceful devotional poetry, always true and reverent, they are an unfailing pleasure. The finest of them is that majestic anthem, founded on the rhythm of the English Bible, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty." The greatest evidence of Heber's popularity as a hymnwriter, and his refined taste as a compiler, is found in the fact that the total contents of his ms. collection which were given in his posthumous Hymns written and adapted to the Weekly Church Service of the Year. London, J. Murray, 1827; which included 57 hymns by Heber, 12 by Milman, and 29 by other writers, are in common in Great Britain and America at the present time. [Rev. H. Leigh Bennett, M.A.] Of Bishop Heber's hymns, about one half are annotated under their respective first lines. Those given below were published in Heber's posthumous Hymns, &c, 1827. Some of them are in extensive use in Great Britain and America; but as they possess no special histories they are grouped together as from the Hymns, &c, 1827:— 1. Beneath our feet, and o'er our head. Burial. 2. Creator of the rolling flood. St. Peter's Day, or, Gospel for 6th Sunday after Trinity. 3. Lo, the lilies of the field. Teachings of Nature: or, Gospel for 15th Sunday after Trinity. 4. 0 God, by Whom the seed is given. Sexagesima. 6. 0 God, my sins are manifold. Forgiveness, or, Gospel for 22nd S. after Trinity. 6. 0 hand of bounty, largely spread. Water into Wine, or, Gospel for 2nd S. after Epiphany. 7. 0 King of earth, and air, and sea. Feeding the Multitude; or, Gospel for 4th S. in Lent. 8. 0 more than merciful, Whose bounty gave. Good Friday. 9. 0 most merciful! 0 most bountiful. Introit Holy Communion. 10. 0 Thou, Whom neither time nor space. God unsearchable, or, Gospel for 5th Sunday in Lent. 11. 0 weep not o'er thy children's tomb. Innocents Day. 12. Room for the proud! Ye sons of clay. Dives and Lazarus, or, Gospel for 1st Sunday after Trinity. 13. Sit thou on my right hand, my Son, saith the Lord. Ascension. 14. Spirit of truth, on this thy day. Whit-Sunday. 15. The feeble pulse, the gasping breath. Burial, or, Gospel for 1st S. after Trinity. 16. The God of glory walks His round. Septuagesima, or, the Labourers in the Marketplace. 17. The sound of war in earth and air. Wrestling against Principalities and Powers, or, Epistle for 2lst Sunday after Trinity. 18. The world is grown old, her pleasures are past. Advent; or, Epistle for 4th Sunday in Advent. 19. There was joy in heaven. The Lost Sheep; or, Gospel for 3rd S. after Trinity. 20. Though sorrows rise and dangers roll. St. James's Day. 21. To conquer and to save, the Son of God. Christ the Conqueror. 22. Virgin-born, we bow before Thee. The Virgin Mary. Blessed amongst women, or, Gospel for 3rd S. in Lent. 23. Wake not, 0 mother, sounds of lamentation. Raising the Widow's Son, or, Gospel for 16th S. after Trinity. 24. When on her Maker's bosom. Holy Matrimony, or, Gospel for 2nd S. after Epiphany. 25. When through the torn sail the wild tempest is streaming. Stilling the Sea, or, Gospel for 4th Sunday after Epiphany. 26. Who yonder on the desert heath. The Good Samaritan, or, Gospel for 13th Sunday after Trinity. This list is a good index of the subjects treated of in those of Heber's hymns which are given under their first lines, and shows that he used the Gospels far more than the Epistles in his work. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Godfrey Thring

1823 - 1903 Author of "I Heard a Sound of Voices" in The Cyber Hymnal Godfrey Thring (b. Alford, Somersetshire, England, 1823; d. Shamley Green, Guilford, Surrey, England, 1903) was born in the parsonage of Alford, where his father was rector. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, England, he was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1847. After serving in several other parishes, Thring returned to Alford and Hornblotten in 1858 to succeed his father as rector, a position he retained until his own retirement in 1893. He was also associated with Wells Cathedral (1867-1893). After 1861 Thring wrote many hymns and published several hymnals, including Hymns Congregational (1866), Hymns and Sacred Lyrics (1874), and the respected A Church of England Hymn Book Adapted to the Daily Services of the Church Throughout the Year (1880), which was enlarged as The Church of England Hymn Book (1882). Bert Polman ================ Thring, Godfrey, B.A., son of the Rev. J. G. D. Thring, of Alford, Somerset, was born at Alford, March 25, 1823, and educated at Shrewsbury School, and at Balliol College, Oxford, B.A. in 1845. On taking Holy Orders he was curate of Stratfield-Turgis, 1846-50; of Strathfieldsaye, 1850-53; and of other parishes to 1858, when he became rector of Alford-with-Hornblotton, Somerset. R.D. 1867-76. In 1876 he was preferred as prebend of East Harptree in Wells cathedral. Prebendary Thring's poetical works are:— Hymns Congregational and Others, 1866; Hymns and Verses, 1866; and Hymns and Sacred Lyrics, 1874. In 1880 he published A Church of England Hymnbook Adapted to the Daily Services of the Church throughout the Year; and in 1882, a revised and much improved edition of the same as The Church of England Hymn Book, &c. A great many of Prebendary Thring's hymns are annotated under their respective first lines; the rest in common use include:— 1. Beneath the Church's hallowed shade. Consecration of a Burial Ground. Written in 1870. This is one of four hymns set to music by Dr. Dykes, and first published by Novello & Co., 1873. It was also included (but without music) in the author's Hymns & Sacred Lyrics, 1874, p. 170, and in his Collection, 1882. 2. Blessed Saviour, Thou hast taught us. Quinquagesima. Written in 1866, and first published in the author's Hymns Congregational and Others, 1866. It was republished in his Hymns & Sacred Lyrics, 1874; and his Collection, 1882. It is based upon the Epistle for Quinquagesima. 3. Blot out our sins of old. Lent. Written in 1862, and first published in Hymns Congregational and Others

Washington Gladden

1836 - 1918 Author of "Behold a Sower! from afar" in The School Hymnal Washington Gladden (1836-1918) was called to the First Congregational Church in Columbus, OH in 1882 and remained there for 32 years. In 1883-84 he was known for his success in fighting the corrupt Tweed Ring, for arbitrating the Telegraphers' Strike and the Hocking Valley Coal Strike. He attacked John D. Rockefeller, Sr. for giving $100,000 of "tainted money" to the Congregational Church's Foreign Missions program. Throughout his ministry he emphasized applying the gospel to life in America. He wrote "O Master, let me walk with thee" in 1879. Mary Louise VanDyke =================== Gladden, Washington, was born at Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, Feb. 11, 1836; was educated at Williams College: and entered the Congregational Ministry. He was for some time editor of the New York Independent, and of the Sunday Afternoon. In the Sunday Afternoon, his hymn, "O Master, let me walk with Thee" (Walking with God), appeared in 3 stanzas of 8 lines, in March 1879. Of these stanzas i. and iii. are in Laudes Domini, 1884, and others. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) ================== Gladden, W., p. 1565, ii. Dr. Gladden has been Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Columbus, Ohio, since 1882. His hymn-writing has not been extensive. The most popular of his hymns is "0 Master, let me walk with Thee," noted on p. 1565, ii. It has come into somewhat extensive use during the last ten years. Additional hymns in common use include:— 1. Behold a Sower from afar. [The Kingdom of God.] In the Boston Pilgrim Hymnal, 1904, this is dated 1897. 2. Forgive, 0 Lord, the doubts that break Thy promises to me. [Doubting repented of.] Dated 1879, in The Pilgrim Hymnal, 1904. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

H. J. Storer

1860 - 1935 Composer of "PATMOS" in Sunday-School Book b. Cambridge, Mass., 1860; d. Belmont, Mass., 1935; composer and teacher

W. G. Tarrant

1853 - 1928 Person Name: Rev. William George Tarrant Author of "The fathers built this city" in The Hymnal Tarrant, William George, B.A., b. 1853. Since 1883 Minister of the Wandsworth Unitarian Christian Church. Editor of The Inquirer, 1888-97. One of the editors of the Essex Hall Hymnal. 1890, and of the Revised ed., 1902. 1. Come, let us Join with faithful souls. The Faithful. 2. Draw nigh to God; He will draw nigh to you. The Divine Helper. 3. Long ago the lilies faded. The Constant Presence. 4. The Light along the ages. Easter. 5. With happy voices ringing. Children's Praise. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Walter John Mathams

1853 - 1931 Person Name: Walter J. Mathams Author of "Stand fast for Christ thy Savior" in Services and Songs Mathams, Walter John, was born in London, Oct. 30, 1853. Early in life he went to sea; but on returning through Palestine to England he began to study for the Ministry. In 1874 he entered the Regent's Park Baptist College as a Student, and subsequently had a pastoral charge at Preston, Lancashire. In 1879, his health failing, he went for a time to Australia and other places. Returning to England, he became, in 1883, minister at Falkirk, Scotland, and in 1888, at Birmingham. Whilst a student, he published a small volume of hymns and poems as At Jesus' Feet, (1876). He is also the author of several religious books of a popular character, as: Fireside Parables, 1879; Sunday Parables, 1883, &c. His principal hymns are:— 1. Bright falls the morning light. Morning. 2. Gentle Jesus, full of grace. Learning of Christ. 3. Go, work for God, and do not say. Christian Work. 4. God loves the little sparrows. Divine Providence. 5. Jesus, Friend of little children. Child's Prayer to Christ. 6. My heart, 0 God, be wholly Thine. Consecration. 7. No room for Thee, Lord Jesus. No room for Christ. 8. Reign in my heart, Great God. Consecration. 9. Sailing on the ocean. Life a Voyage. Nos. 1 and 6 of these hymns first appeared in his At Jesus’ Feet, 1876. Mr. Mathams has written several other hymns which have appeared in magazines and elsewhere. One of these, "Good has come from Nazareth," has been set to music by Dr. E. J. Hopkins. The 9 hymns named above are mainly in Baptist hymnbooks. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============== Mathams, W. J. , p. 718, ii. Mr. Mathams entered the ministry of the Established Church of Scotland in 1900, acted for two years as chaplain to the Scottish forces in Egypt, and is now (1906) minister in charge of the parish of Stronsay, Orkney. His recent hymns include:— 1. Captain and Comrade of us all. [For Soldiers and Sailors.] Written and printed for use at a service held at Gourock Parish Church, April 10, 1904, on behalf of the Queen Victoria Memorial School for sons of Scottish sailors and soldiers. 2. From heights where God is reigning. [Boys' Brigade.] Written, 1905, for the S. S. Hymnary, 1905. 3. God is with us, God is with us. [Christian Warfare.] Written by request of the Nat. Council of Evang. Free Churches, first sung at their Congress at Nottingham, 1896, and published in the Christian Endeavour Hymnal, 1896. 4. Lord Jesus Christ! for love of Thee. [Christian Warfare.] Written in 1899, in connection with the Centenary Fund of the Congreg. Union. In the Sunday School Hymnary, 1905. 5. 0 Christ, sweet Rose of Sharon. [The Rose of Sharon.] Contributed to the Christian Endeavour Hymnal, 1896. We may add that of the hymns noted at p. 718, ii., Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 were contributed to the Baptist Psalms and Hymns for School and Home, 1882, and that No. 7, first printed as a leaflet in 1878, is in the Suppl. of 1880 to the Baptist Psalms and Hymns. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Herbert Stephen Irons

1834 - 1905 Person Name: H. S. Irons Composer of "HEAVENLY VOICES" in The Church Hymnal Born: January 19, 1834, Canterbury, Kent, England. Died: June 29, 1905, Nottingham, England. Irons was a nephew of the brothers Stephen & George Elvey. He became a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral under T. E. Jones. After studying music under Stephen Elvey at Oxford, he was appointed organist at St. Columba’s College, a large public school at Rathfarnham, near Dublin, Ireland. He stayed there only a few months before being offered the position of organist at Southwell Minister. From Southwell, he went to Chester as assistant organist to Frederic Gunton. Three years later, he accepted an appointment at St. Andrew’s Church, Nottingham, where he remained until his death. --www.hymntime.com/tch

John Haynes Holmes

1879 - 1964 Person Name: John H. Holmes Author of "O'er Continent and Ocean" in The Cyber Hymnal Born: November 29, 1879, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Died: April 3, 1964, New York City. Buried: Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist, New York City. Holmes graduated from Harvard University, Phi Beta Kappa. His grandfather, John Cummings Haynes, manager of the Oliver Ditson music publishing house, helped pay his Harvard tuition. Holmes was ordained in 1904, and became minister of the Unitarian Third Congregational Church, Dorchester, Massachusetts. In February 1907, he became junior minister at the Church of the Messiah in New York City. His works include: I Speak for Myself, 1959 Collected Hymns, 1960 --www.hymntime.com/tch/

Harry Webb Farrington

1880 - 1930 Author of "Our Father Made the Lovely Earth" in The Hymnal for Boys and Girls

James G. Gilkey

1889 - 1964 Person Name: James Gordon Gilkey Author of "O God, in whose great purpose" in At Worship Born: September 28, 1889, Watertown, Massachusetts. Died: July 1964, Weekapaug, Rhode Island. Buried: Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts. Gilkey graduated from Harvard College (1912) and Union Theological Seminary. He was a teacher and chaplain at Amherst College, then, starting in 1917, pastored at the South Congregational Church, Springfield, Massachusetts, until retiring in 1954. In 1926, he was the commencement speaker at the University of Connecticut. Gilkey’s works include: A Faith for the New Generation, 1926 The Certainty of God, 1928 Secrets of Effective Living (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1927) Solving Life’s Everyday Problems, 1930 Meeting the Challenge of Modern Doubt (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1931) Managing One’s Self, 1932 What Can We Believe?, 1933 You Can Master Life, 1934 Getting Help from Religion, 1936 The Problem of Following Jesus, 1938 A Faith to Affirm, 1940 How to Be Your Best God Will Help You, 1943 When Life Gets Hard, 1945 Gaining the Faith You Need, 1948 --www.hymntime.com/tch/