Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 1 - 5 of 5Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Clement of Alexandria

170 - 215 Author of "Lead, Holy Shepherd, lead us" in The Presbyterian Book of Praise Clemens, Titus Flavins (Clemens Alexandrinus), St. Clement of Alexandria, was born possibly at Athens (although on this point there is no certain information) about A.D. 170. His full name, Titus Flavins Clemens, is given by Eusebius (H. E., vi. 13) and Photius (Cod. Ill), but of his parentage there is no record. Studious, and anxious to satisfy his mind on the highest subjects, he is said to have been a Stoic and Eclectic, and a seeker after truth amongst Greek, Assyrian, Egyptian, and Jewish teachers. He himself enumerates six teachers of eminence under whom he studied the "true tradition of the blessed doctrine of the holy apostles." At Alexandria he came under the teaching of Pantsenus, and embraced Christianity, Pantsenus being at the time the master of the Catechetical School in that city. On the retirement of Pantsenus from the school for missionary work, Clement became its head, cir. 190, and retained the position to 203. His pupils were numerous, and some of them of note, including Origen, and Alexander, afterwards Bishop of Jerusalem. Driven from Alexandria by the persecution under Severus (202-203), he wandered forth, it is not known whither. The last notice wo have of him in history is in a letter of congratulation by his old pupil, Alexander, then Bp. of Cappadocia, to the Church of Antioch, on the appointment of Asclepiades to the bishopric of that city. This letter, dated 211, seems to have been conveyed to Antioch by Clement. Beyond this nothing is known, either concern¬ing his subsequent life or death, although the latter is sometimes dated A.D. 220. The works of Clement are ten in all. Of these, the only work with which we have to do is The Tutor, in three books. The first book describes the Tutor, who is the Word Himself, the children whom He trains (Christian men and women), and his method of instruction. The second book contains general instructions as to daily life in eating, drinking, furniture, sleep, &c.; and the third, after an inquiry into the nature of true beauty, goes onto condemn extravagance in dress, &c, both in men and women. Appended to this work, in the printed editions, are two poems; the first, "A Hymn of the Saviour), and the second, an address "To the Tutor". The first, beginning is attributed to Clement in those manuscripts in which it is found; but it is supposed by some to be of an earlier date: the second is generally regarded as by a later hand . The “Hymn of the Saviour," the earliest known Christian hymn, has been translated into English: The earliest translation is "Shepherd of tender youth.” This is by Dr. H. M. Dexter (q. v.). It was written in 1846, first published in The Congregationalist [of which Dexter was editor], Dec. 21, 1849, and is in extensive use in the United States. In Great Britain it is also given in several collections, including the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859; Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858; the R. T. Society's Collection, &c. There are also translations not in common use, viz.: (1) "Bridle of colts untamed," by Dr. W. L. Alexander, in the Ante-Nicene Christian Library, vol. iv. p. 343; (2) "Bridle of colts untaught," by Dr. H. Bonar, in The Sunday at Home, 1878, p. 11. (3) Another translation is by the Rev. A. W. Chatfield, in his Songs and Hymns of the Earliest Greek Christian Poets, 1876. Mr. Chatfield, following the Anth. Graeca Car. Christ., 1871, p. 37, begins with the eleventh line: "O Thou, the King of Saints, all-conquering Word." His translation extends to 40 lines. --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Justin Heinrich Knecht

1752 - 1817 Person Name: J. H. Knecht Composer of "MORLAIX" in The Presbyterian Book of Praise Justin Heinrich Knecht Germany 1752-1817. Born at Biberach Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, he attended a Lutheran college in Esslingen am Neckar from 1768-1771. Having learned the organ, keyboard, violin and oratory, he became a Lutheran preceptor (professor of literature) and music director in Biberach. It was a free imperial city until 1803 and had a rich cultural life. He became organist of St. Martin’s Church in 1792, used by both Lutherans and Catholics, and was there for many years. He led an energetic, busy musical life, composing for both the theatre and church, organizing subscription concerts, teaching music theory, acoustics, aesthetics, composition, and instruments at the Gymnasium, affiliated to the Musikschule in 1806. He went to Stuttgart in 1806 in hopes of a post there as Kapellmeister, serving two years as Konzertmeister, but he was appointed Direktor Beim Orchester by the King of Wurttemberg in 1807. However, he returned to his former life in 1808 and remained there the rest of his life. He died at Biberach. He wrote 10 vocals, 11 opera and stage works, one symphony, 3 chamber music instrumentals, 7 organ works, 4 piano works, and 6 music theories. He was an author composer, editor, contributor, musician, compiler, and lyricist. John Perry

H. M. Macgill

1807 - 1880 Person Name: H. M. McGill Translator of "Lead, Holy Shepherd, lead us" in The Presbyterian Book of Praise Macgill, Hamilton Montgomerie, D.D., youngest s. of Thomas Macgill, was born Mar. 10, 1807, at Catrine, Ayrshire. After studying at the University of Glasgow (which conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1870), he became in 1837 joint minister of Duke St. United Presbyterian Church, Glasgow. In 1840 he removed with a portion of his congregation to a new church in Montrose Street. He became, in 1858, Home Mission Secretary of the United Presbyterian Church, and in 1868 Foreign Mission Secretary. He died June 3, 1880, at Paris, while on his way to recruit his health in the South of France. As a member of the Hymnal Committee of the U. P. Church in 1870-76, he contributed to their Presbyterian Hymnal, 1876, 5 translations from the Latin (Nos. 29, 34, 95, 101, 299) and 1 from the Greek (No. 346). These he subsequently included in his Songs of the Christian Creed and Life, 1876, a volume containing 6 translations from the Greek; 68 from the Latin; and 27 translations from English into Latin verse, in all 101 (No. 101 being by himself). The introduction includes careful and interesting biographical and critical notices of the authors whose hymns are included; and tho texts are given in Latin, Greek, and English. Many of the translations are exceedingly good, and stand in the very first rank of modern English versions —their gracefulness and ease making them seem more like original English hymns than translations. Sir Theodore Martin paid the translations into Latin the high compliment of mistaking one of them for a mediaeval hymn. In the edition of 1879, Dr. Macgill made a number of verbal alterations, added two renderings from the Latin ("Jam moesta quiesce querela" and “O luce qui mortalibus"), one from the Bohemian, one from the Spanish, and a Latin version of "Art thou weary, art thou languid?" Twenty-two of his translations from the Latin and Greek had appeared in the Juvenile Missionary Magazine of the U. P. Church between 1866 and 1873. His translations are gradually coming into somewhat prominent use. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)