Jesus, Friend of All the Children

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Jesus, Friend of little children, Be a Friend to me

Author: Walter John Mathams
Published in 80 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Jesus, friend of little children,
be a friend to me;
take my hand and ever keep me
close to thee.

2 Teach me how to grow in goodness
daily as I grow;
thou hast been a child, and surely
thou dost know.

3 Step by step, O lead me onward,
upward into youth;
wiser, stronger, still becoming
in thy truth.

4 Never leave me nor forsake me,
ever be my friend,
for I need thee from life’s dawning
to its end.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #654a

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Author: Walter John Mathams

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… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Jesus, Friend of little children, Be a Friend to me
Title:	Jesus, Friend of All the Children
Author:	Walter John Mathams
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

[Jesus, Friend of little children] (Maunder)

WESTRIDGE

WESTRIDGE is a charming two-line tune, effective precisely because "small is beautiful." Martin F. Shaw (PHH 49) composed it in 1929 for a children's hymn, “Jesus, Friend of Little Children,” and the tune was published in Songs of Praise for Boys and Girls (1930). Sing it in unison and use light…

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