J. W. Cummings

Cummings, Rev. Jeremiah William (Washington, D.C., April 1, 1824--January 4, 1866, New York, New York). After his ordination, he studied at the College of the Propaganda in Rome where he received his doctorate. On his return to the U.S., he was assigned to St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, N.Y., and in 1848 was named pastor of the newly established parish of St. Stephen's, New York City. He was the author of several books on religious subjects. Of these his Songs for Schools (1860, with a second edition in 1862), contain his hymns with the exception of four or five so designated these are all original. Those in common use include:

"My God whatever through thy church" is contained in St. Gregory and the La Salle hymnals.
"O brightness of eternal light" in the Parochial Hymnal has unfortunately been somewhat neglected.

--J. Vincent Higginson, DNAH Archives