He was there alone, when even Had round the earth its mantle thrown

He was there alone, when even Had round the earth its mantle thrown

Author: John Bowring
Tune: [He was there alone when even]
Published in 5 hymnals

Representative Text

1 He was there alone when even
Had 'round earth its mantle thrown;
Holding converse sweet with heaven,
He was there alone--alone.

2 There his inmost heart’s emotion
Made he to his Father known;
In the spirit of devotion,
Praying there alone--alone.

3 So let us, from earth retiring,
Seek our heav'nly Father’s throne;
To his image e'er aspiring,
Be with him alone--alone.

4 So, when time its course has ended
And the joys of earth are flown,
We, by holy ones attended,
Shall not be alone--alone.

Source: Minnetonka Songs: for Sabbath Schools, compiled especially for the Minnetonka Sabbath-School Assembly #36

Author: John Bowring

James Bowring was born at Exeter, in 1792. He possessed at an early age a remarkable power of attaining languages, and acquired some reputation by his metrical translations of foreign poems. He became editor of "The Westminster Review" in 1825, and was elected to Parliament in 1835. In 1849, he was appointed Consul at Canton, and in 1854, was made Governor of Hong Kong, and received the honour of knighthood. He is the author of some important works on politics and travel, and is the recipient of several testimonials from foreign governments and societies. His poems and hymns have also added to his reputation. His "Matins and Vespers" have passed through many editions. In religion he is a Unitarian. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charl… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: He was there alone, when even Had round the earth its mantle thrown
Author: John Bowring
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

He was there alone, when even. Sir J. Bowring. [Retirement and Devotion.] Appeared in his Hymns, 1825, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. In 1848 it was given in Longfellow and Johnson's Book of Hymns, Boston, in 3 stanzas. In this form it has been repeated in a few modern Unitarian collections.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)
Page Scan

A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion. (10th ed.) #118

Songs of the Unity #d93

Text

A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #118

Page Scan

Welcome Tidings #123

TextPage Scan

Minnetonka Songs #36

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