Frederic Denison › Hymnals

Denison, Frederic. (Stonington, Connecticut, September 28, 1819--August 16, 1901, Providence, Rhode Island). Baptist. Son of Isaac and Levina (Fish) Denison. Brown University, B.A. 1847, and M.A. Pastorates at First Baptist Church, Westerly, Rhode Island, 1847-1854; Central Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut, 1854-1859; Baptist Church at Central Falls, Rhode Island, 1859-1861; First Baptist Church, Westerly, Rhode Island, 1865-1871; Baptist Church oat New Haven, Connecticut, 1872-1873; Baptist Church at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 1874-1876; and Roger Williams Baptist Church, Wanskuck, Providence, Rhode Island, for a few years after leaving Woonsocket. Army chaplain with First Rhode Island Cavalry (1861-1863), and Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, 1863-1864. Author of several religious and historical works, as well as a number of poems and hymns. Two collections of his hymns are Army Hymns; written for the First Regiment New England Cavalry, Providence, 1861, and Army Hymns; written for the Third Regiment, R. I. Heavy Artillery, Providence, 1861.

These two little hymnals, containing eighteen and sixteen hymns respectively, have only the texts, though the tunes are suggested. While some of the hymns are well written, none could be considered great, and most have military themes or references that make them unsuitable for general usage. Other hymns by Denison are "The cross of my Lord," "Battle song," "Bethesda is open," and two hymns for young people, "Young people's rally" and "Christian endeavor."

--Phillip W. Sims, DNAH Archives