Samuel W. Lynd

Lynd, Samuel W. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1796--June 17, 1876, Lockport, Illinois). Baptist. Baptised in 1820 by Dr. William Staughton who also directed his theological studies and gave his eldest daughter to Lynd in marriage. In 1824, he was called to a brief pastorate in Philadelphia before sickness and its resultant voice problems threatened his ability to preach and delayed his work in the ministry. He and his wife then opened a female academy in Baltimore. Pastorates: 1831-1845, Cincinnati, Ohio and 1845-1848, St. Louis, Missouri. In 1848 he serves as a professor at Georgetown College in Kentucky and then a brief term as President of Western Baptist Theological Seminary, Covington, Kentucky with the responsibility of trying to united Southern and Northern trustees who were split over the slavery issue. Failing in this, he returned to the pastorate serving Chicago and then in another church in Cincinnati. He is credited by his peers with doing more than any other man of his day to build up Baptist causes in the Cincinnati area. In 1854, due to impaired health, he retired, living in Chicago and then in Lockport, Illinois, where he served briefly as pastor of a small Baptist church. Following two years of intense sickness, he died peacefully at age 80 with his last words being, "it is glorious!"

Lynd was known for taking a prominent stand in the slavery issue, a strong stand against Campbellism and a strong stand for missions.

Lynd contributed seven hymns to Millers' New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1835):
To Jesus now my Youthful Heart
Another Brought through Grace, We Trust
Once a Poor Thoughtless Child was I
Wine is Mocker, So the Word
Thy Servants, Lord, Today
Of Jesus Christ I'm not Ashamed
Hail Brethren, While Together Met

The Illinois Baptist Annual of 1876 includes a more complete biography.

--Donald A. Spencer, DNAH Archives