1. The saint who first found grace to pen
The life which was the life of men,
And shed abroad the Gospel’s ray,
His fame we celebrate today.
2. Lo, drawn by Pentecostal fire,
His heart conceived its great desire,
When pure of mind, inspired, he heard
And with his hand set forth the Word.
3. Then, clearly writ, the Godhead shone
Serene and fair to look upon;
And through that record still comes power
To lighten souls in death’s dark hour.
4. O holy mind, for wisdom fit
Wherein that Life of lives stood writ,
May we through minds of like accord
Show forth the patterns of our Lord.
5. And so may all whose minds are dark
Be led to truth by good Saint Mark,
And after this our earthly strife
Stand written in the Book of Life.
6. Praise God who made the world so fair,
And sent His Son our Savior there,
And by His Holy Spirit wist
To teach the first evangelist.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6431
Housman, Lawrence, author and artist, was born July 18, 1867, at Bromsgrove, Worcs. His devotional poetry is principally in his Spikenard, 1898, and Bethlehem, 1902. To the English Hymnal, 1906, he contributed eight translations (142, 188, 191, 228, 229, 230, 231, 234); also three original hymns, with a fourth previously published, viz.:—
1. Lord God of Hosts, within Whose hand. St. George.
2. The Maker of the sun and moon. Christmas. From Bethlehem, 1902, p. 75.
3. The Saint who first found grace to pen. St. Mark.
4. When Christ was born in Bethlehem. Holy Innocents. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)… Go to person page >
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