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Johann Mathesius

1504 - 1565 Hymnal Number: 544 Author of "My Inmost Heart Now Raises" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Mathesius, Johannes, son of Wolfgang Mathesius, town councillor at Rochlitz, was born at Rochlitz, June 24, 1504. He studied for a short time at the University of Ingolstadt. Thereafter he acted as family tutor at Odelzhausen, near Munich, where, in 1526, he found Luther's Von den guten Werken (Wittenberg, 1523); and then while living at Bruck (Fürstenfeld-bruck), near Munich, read two of Luther's tractates on the Holy Communion. Attracted thus to Wittenberg he matriculated there May 30, 1529, studied with great zeal and graduated M.A. in 1530. In the end of 1530 he joined the staff of the school at Altenburg, and in the spring of 1532 was appointed rector of the gymnasium at Joachimsthal in Bohemia. He resigned this post in 1540, and returned to Wittenberg to complete his studies in theology. Thereafter he was, in 1541, appointed diaconus, and, in 1545, pastor at Joachimsthal. While preaching on the Gospel for the 16th Sunday after Trinity, Oct. 7, 1565 (his subject being the "Son of the widow of Nain, and the hope of eternal life"), he was struck with paralysis, and, being carried to his house, died there some three hours later (Koch, i. 380, ii. 475; Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie, ix. 398, &c). Mathesius was of most lovable and charitable spirit, and a model pastor, who thoroughly adapted himself to his life among a mining population. He was a distinguished preacher, his sermons ranking among the best of the period, the most famous being those in his Sarepta oder Bergpostill, Nürnberg, 1562, founded on those passages of Scripture referring to metallurgy or mining, the title being suggested by Sarepta or Zarephath. (1 Kings xvii. 9), the Hebrew name meaning smelting-place. Besides other volumes of sermons aud devotional works he also published a life of Luther (Historian von .. . Doctoris Martini Luthers Anfang, Lehr, Leben und Sterben, Nürnberg, 1566) completed just before his death, and with a preface dated Oct. 5, 1565. His hymns are few in number, and appeared scattered in his various publications. Wackernagel, iii. pp. 1150-1161, gives 21 pieces, of which 15 may be called hymns; and 15 of these pieces with a memoir by K. F. Ledderhose appeared at Halle in 1855. The finest of all his hymns, the beautiful cradle song, "Nun schlaf mein liebes Kindelein" [Wackernagel iii. p. 1152, from a Nürnberg broadsheet (not dated), c. 1560, in 15 st. of 4 1.; and in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder ed., 1863, No. 1416] does not seem to have been translated into English. Those of Mathesius's hymns which have passed into English are:— i. Aus meines Herzens Grunde. Morning. This has generally, though apparently without ground, been ascribed to Mathesius, and is included in the 1855 edition of his Geistliche Lieder, p. 149. But it is not found in any of his original works now extant, nor in the collected edition of his Schöne geistliche Lieder, Nürnberg, 1580; and the ascription to him has not been traced earlier than in M. Pratorius's Musae Sioniae, 1610. Wackernagel, v. pp. 177-184, gives 8 forms varing from 6 to 15 st. (some beginning "Von meines Herzens Grunde"); the oldest, in 7 st. of 8 1., being from a Gesangbüchlein published at Hamburg in 1592. He ranks it as anonymous. The text of 1592 is No. 440 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The hymn was a great favourite with Gustavus Adolphus, and was often sung by his army at morning prayer. The translations from the text of 1592, are :— 1. My heart its incense burning. In full, by Dr. H. Mills, in his Horae Germanica, 1856, p. 220, repeated, abridged, in M. W. Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885, reading "her incense." 2. My inmost heart now raises. A good translation omitting st. iv., v., by Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 164. 3. My heart with deep emotion. Omitting st. iii., v. by E. Cronenwett as No. 294 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Other translations are:— (1) "O let Thy angels always dwell" (st. v.). As No. 325 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "May Jesus' grace and blessing" (st. iii. 11. 1, 2; vii. 11. 4-8). By F. W. Foster, as No. 749 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1167). (3) "O God, my heart is full of praise." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 59. ii. Gott Vater, Sohn, heiliger Geist, Durchs Sprechen gut Erz wachsen heisst. Miner's Song. First published as Ein geistlich Bercklied, 1556, and thence in Wackernagel, iii. p. 1151, in 9 st. Translated as "O, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou God, dost fix the miner's post." By Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 144. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Martin Opitz

1597 - 1639 Person Name: Martin Opitz Hymnal Number: 347 Author of "Light of Light, O Sun of Heaven" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Opitz, Martin, son of Sebastian Opitz, butcher at Bunzlau in Silesia, was born at Bunzlau, Dec. 23, 1597. He entered the University of Frankfurt a. Oder in 1618, and in 1619 went to Heidelberg, where he acted as a private tutor, and studied literature and philosophy at the University, paying also short visits to Strassburg and Tübingen. When the University was threatened by the Spanish troops (they sacked the town under Tilly in Sept. 1622), Opitz left Heidelberg in Oct. 1620, and with his friend, H. A. Hamilton (a member of a Danish noble family, travelled through Holland, Friesland and Jutland. In the spring of 1621 he returned to Silesia through Lübeck, and at Easter, 1622, became Professor of Philosophy and Poetry in the Gymnasium, founded at Weissenburg in Transylvania by Prince Bethlem Gabor (Gabriel Bethlen). He resigned this post in the summer of 1623, and then for some time employed himself at the request of Duke Eudolf of Liegnitz-Brieg in versifying the Epistles for Sundays and Festivals according to the metres of the French Psalter (see below), being rewarded with the title of Bath, but receiving no permanent appointment. In 1625 he accompanied his cousin, Kaspar Kirchner, on an embassy to Vienna, where he presented to the Emperor Ferdinand II. a poem on the death of the Grandduke Karl (Prince-Bishop of Breslau, and brother of the Emperor), and was crowned as a poet by the Emperor (who in 1628 also raised him to the nobility as Opitz von Boberfeld). He then became, in 1626, private secretary to the Burgrave Carl Hannibal von Dohna, president of the Supreme Court in Silesia. When, in 1628, von Dohna began the Counter-Reformation, by means of the Lichtenstein dragoons, against the Protestants of Silesia, Opitz wrote poems in his praise, and in 1631 published a translation of the controversial manual of the Jesuit Martin Becanus, "for the Conversion of the Erring" to help on this work. He also executed a diplomatic mission to Paris in 1630, on Dohna's behalf, where he became acquainted with Hugo Grotius. When Dohna was driven out of Breslau in Sept. 1632, by means of the Saxon and Swedish troops, Opitz remained behind. In the autumn of 1633 he was sent by Duke Johann Christian of Liegnitz-Brieg as his plenipotentiary to Berlin, and also to the Swedish chancellor Oxenstjerna. When Wallenstein obtained the mastery over the Silesian duchies, Opitz accompanied Duke Johann Christian to Thorn in 1635. He then went to Danzig, where in June, 1637, he was definitely installed as Historiographer to King Wladislaw IV. of Poland. Here, from this place of rest, he did his best, by correspondence and otherwise, to atone for the oppression of his brethren in Silesia. During the pestilence which visited Danzig in 1639 he was accosted on Aug. 17 by a diseased beggar to whom he gave an alms, and whose frightful appearance so affected him that he returned home, sickened of the pestilence, and died Aug. 20, 1639. (Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xxiv. 370: Goedeke's Grundriss, iii., 1887, p. 37, &c.) Opitz was pre-eminently a literary man of the world who knew how to ingratiate himself with people of all opinions. He was one of those writers who exercise an enormous influence over their contemporaries, but whose works succeeding generations are content to leave unread. A long list of his works is given by Goedeke, some ninety (including a considerable number of trs. from the Greek, Latin, French, and Dutch), of which appeared during his lifetime. In his poems originality and force are conspicuous by their absence, and the great majority have little but their style to recommend them. He became a member of the great German literary union, the Fruitbearing Society, in 1629. His great merit was as a reformer of German prosody by his example of literary style, and by his Buch der Deutschen Poeterey, an epoch-making work, published at Breslau in 1624. Here he laid down the rules of German verse, and may be said to have given it the form which it retains to this day…. A few of Opitz's hymns are found in recent German hymn-books while two have passed into English, viz.:— i. Brich auf, und werde Lichte. Epiphany. In his Episteln, 1628, p. 11, in 6 stanzas of 6 lines, and entitled, "On the Holy Three Kings Day. Isaiah 60." Translated as:— Zion, awake and brighten. In full by E. Cronenwett, as No. 51 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. ii. 0 Licht, geboren aus dem Lichte. Morning. His finest hymn, and a special favourite in Silesia. First published at the end of his Zehen Psahnen Davids, Breslau and Leipzig, 1634, p. 48, in 3 st. of 10 1., and entitled "Morning Hymn." Translated as:— Thou Light, from Light eternal springing. A good and full translation by H. J. Buckoll, in his Hymns from the German, 1842, p. 17; repeated, slightly altered, in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. Other trs. are: (1) “0 Holy Light, of Light engendered." By C. W. Shields, in Sacred Lyrics from the German, Philadelphia, U. S. A., 1859, p. 164. (2) "0 Sun of Righteousness, thou Light." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 58. (3) "0 Light, who out of Light wast born." By Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 173. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Wipo

1000 - 1050 Person Name: Wipo of Burgundy Hymnal Number: 130 Author of "Christ the Lord Is Risen To-day" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Wipo (Wippo or Wigbert), a native of Burgundy, chaplain ot Emperor conrad IIl, A. D. 1000, Authroship is claimed for him, but not definitely estabished. Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1908

Frederic Adolphus Krummacher

1767 - 1845 Person Name: Friedrich Adolph Krummacher Hymnal Number: 428 Author of "Thou Art the Way, the Truth, the Life from Heaven" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Krummacher, Friedrich Adolf, was a native of Tecklenburg, Westphalia, where his father, Friedrich Jacob Krummacher was Burgomaster and Hoffiscal. He was baptized there, July 22, 1767, and apparently born July 13, 1767. In 1786 he entered the University of Lingen (since 1819 ranked as a Gymnasium), and in 1787 that of Halle. After concluding his theological studies in 1789, he was for some time tutor in the family of Senator Meyer in Bremen; was then appointed, in 1790, Conrector of the Gymnasium at Hamm, and in 1793 Rector of the Gymnasium at Mors (Meurs), near Düsseldorf. In the end of 1800 he became Professor of Theology and Eloquence at the Reformed University of Duisburg. When, after the battle of Jena (Oct. 14, 1806), Duisburg was taken from Prussia, the salaries of the professors ceased, but Krummacher lectured on till his audience consisted of one student. He was then, in the autumn of 1807, appointed pastor of Kettwig, on the Ruhr; in 1812 Chief Court Preacher and General Superintendent at Bernburg; and finally, in 1824, he became chief pastor of the St. Ansgarius Church at Bremen. By reason of growing infirmities he resigned his charge in June, 1843, and died at Bremen, April 4, 1845 (0. Kraus, 1879, p. 310; Blätter für Hymnologie, 1886, p. 80, &c). Krummacher is best known as a preacher; and as the author of the well-known Parabeln, first published in 1805, which passed through many editions, and ranks as the standard German work of its class. His hymns are little suited for church use, being often allegorical and high-flown, and not for the most part sufficiently simple and direct, though in some cases he does write in a popular, natural style, and with a beauty of his own. His hymns mostly appeared in his Festbüchlein, a work consisting of allegorical narratives, conversations, &c, with interspersed hymns. Of this the 1st part, entitled Der Sonntag, was published 1808 (2nd ed. 1810; 3rd ed. 1813; 4th ed. 1819); pt. ii., entitled Das Christfest, in 1810 (2nd ed. 1814; 3rd ed. 1821); and pt. iii., entitled Das Neujahrsfest, in 1819. Those of Krummacher's hymns translated into English are:— i. Allgemach aus Dammerung und Nacht. Advent. In his Festbüchlein, pt. ii., 1810 (1814, p. 154), in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled "The Prophets of Nature"; and given after the conversation on Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist. Included as No. 34 in J. P. Lange's Deutsches Kirchenliederbuch, Zurich, 1843. The unity of idea is violated by the concluding lines of st. v. "Wie die leisen Lispel den Propheten Einst auf Horeb's Felsenspitz umwehten." And thus in his preface, p. vii., Dr. Lange sug¬gests that st. v. should read thus:— "Allgemach und siegreich fort und fort Bricht durch unser Fleisch das ew'ge Wort; Die Propheten grüsst es durch Gesichte, Dann wird's Mensch und himmlische Geschichte." Translated as:— Slowly, slowly from the caves of night. A full and good tr. from Lange by Dr. Kennedy, as No. 42 in his Hymnologia Christiana, 1863. ii. Eine Heerde und ein Hirt. Missions. First published in the 3rd. ed., 1821, of pt. ii. of his Festbüchlein, p. 163, in 6 stanzas of 6 lines, at the close of the section on "Israel and the Strangers." In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder Schatz, ed. 1863, No. 1365, and many other recent collections. The translations are:— 1. One, only One, shall be the fold. By Miss Dunn, in her Hymns from the Germany 1857, p. 49. 2. One Shepherd and one fold to be. In Cantica Sanctorum, 1880, No. 96. iii. Ja furwahr! uns fiihrt mit sanfter Hand. Ps. xxiii. In his Festbüchlein, pt. i. (3rd ed. 1813, p. 118), in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, with Hallelujahs. It is given in the story of the festal rededication of a village church destroyed in time of war, as a choral hymn sung by boys and girls after the Holy Communion. In the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 72. Translated as:— 1. Yes! our Shepherd leads with gentle hand, Through. A good and full translation by Miss Borthwick, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 59 (1884, p. 60), repeated in Kennedy, 1863; Mrs. Brock's Children's Hymn Book, 1881; the Christian Hymn Book, Cincinnati, 1865, and others. 2. Yea! our Shepherd leads, with gentle hand, Along. In full by M. W. Stryker, as No. 164 in his Christian Chorals, 1885. iv. Hag auch die Liebe weinen. Love, Faith and Hope. Festbüchlein, pt. i., 1808, p. 136, in 3 st. of 4 1., in the section entitled "The Setting Sun," for Sunday evening. It is appended to a story in which the father has been speaking of the Resurrection of Christ the Sun of Righteousness, as celebrated on that day, the hymn being introduced as sung by the family and neighbours, as he ceased to speak. Included in the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 628. It is most suited to be sung at a choral funeral. Koch, 2nd ed., iv. p. 695, says it was sung at the author's funeral at Bremen, April 10, 1845, and that st. iii. is on the cross over his grave. He adds that stanzas i., iii. were sung July 17, 1850, at the funeral of Dr. August Neander, the church historian in Berlin; followed by an address by Krummacher’s son, Friedrich Wilhelm (author of the well-known Elijah, Elisha and other works). Tr. as:— Though Love may weep with breaking heart. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 121. Repeated in Flett's Collection, Paisley, 1871, and in H. L. Hastings's Songs of Pilgrimage, 1887. Other translations are, (1) "Let love weep,—It cometh," by Miss Warner, 1858, p. 584. (2) "Yea, Love may weep when death prevails," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 57. A number of other pieces by Krummacher are translated in the Sacred Lyrics from the German, Philadelphia, 1859; by C. T. Brooks, 1847; by Mrs. Follen, 1851, and by Miss Fry, 1859. As they are poems rather than hymns they are not noted here. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Julian

1839 - 1913 Hymnal Number: 71 Author of "O God of God! O Light of Light!" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Born: January 27, 1839, St. Agnes, Cornwall. Died: January 22, 1913, Thirsk, Yorkshire, England. Educated privately, Julian graduated from Durham University (MA 1887), Lambeth (DD 1894), and Howard University in Washington, DC (LLD 1894). He took Holy Orders in 1866, and served as Vicar of Wincobank (1876-1905) and Vicar of Topcliff, Yorkshire (1905-). However, he is best known as a hymnologist. The standard reference work in this field is his massive Dictionary of Hymnology: Origin and History of Christian Hymns and Hymnwriters of All Ages and Nations, Together with Biographical and Critical Notices of Their Authors and Translators. This work has been revised and reprinted several times; its publication dates include: -- London: J. Murray, 1892 -- London: J. Murray, 1908 (this may be the edition revised by James Mearns (1855-1922), Vicar of Rushden, Hertfordshire) --Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1985 His other works include: Concerning Hymns, 1874 History of the Use of Hymns in Public Worship, and Their Proper Characteristics, 1894 Carols, Ancient and Modern, 1900 Julian donated his large collection of hymnological books and manuscripts to the Church House, Dean’s Yard, London, where it formed the hymnological department of the library. www.hymntime.com/tch

John Taylor

1750 - 1826 Hymnal Number: 413 Author of "God of Mercy! God of Grace!" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Taylor, John, born July 30, 1750, was the son of Richard Taylor, of Norwich, and grandson of Dr. John Taylor (1694-1761, the eminent Hebrew scholar, who was for many years minister of the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, and afterwards Divinity tutor at the Warrington Academy. Dr. Taylor published A Collection of Tunes in Various Airs, one of the first collections of its kind, and his grandson was one of the most musical of Unitarian hymn-writers). Young Taylor, after serving his apprenticeship in his native place, was for two years in a banking house in London, at which time he was an occasional poetical contributor to the Morning Chronicle. In 1773 he returned to Norwich, where he spent the rest of his life, first as a manufacturer, and afterwards as a wool and yarn factor. For nearly fifty years he was a deacon at the Octagon Chapel. At the time of the French Revolution he joined in the support of The Cabinet, a periodical brought out by the Liberals of Norwich, in conjunction with Dr. Enfield, William Taylor, Miss Alderson (Mrs. Opie), and others, and, as a "poet of the olden time," he contributed five poems thereto. These, and other political songs and poems relating to family events, &c, together with 50 hymns, were collected in Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems, Reprinted for Private Distribution, 1863, with a Memoir taken from the Monthly Repository of Sept. 1826, by his son, Edward Taylor, then Gresham Professor of Music. An earlier and less complete edition, containing 43 hymns, he had himself caused to be printed by his sons, Richard and Arthur Taylor, London, 1818. He died June 23, 1826. Of his hymns the following 9 were contributed to Dr. Enfield's Selection of Hymns for Social Worship, Norwich, 1795:— 1. Far from mortal cares retreating. Divine Worship. 2. Father divine, before Thy view. Divine Providence. 3. Father of our feeble race. Christian Love. This begins in Horder's Congregational Hymns, 1884, and others, with st. ii., "Lord, what offering shall we bring?" 4. Glory be to God on high. Divine glories celebrated. The first stanza is by C. Wesley, and the rest are by Taylor. 5. God of mercy, God of love [grace], Hear our sad repentant song. Penitence. 6. 0 sing to the Lord a new song. Praise to the Supreme Ruler and Judge. 7. Praise to God, the great Creator. Praise to the Father. The hymn "Saints with pious zeal attending" in Hatfield's Church Hymns, &c.,N.Y., 1872, begins with line 4 of stanza i. of this hymn. 8. Raise your voice and joyful sing. Praise. 9. Rejoice, the Lord is King. Providence acknowledged in the Seasons. The first stanza and 11. 5 and 6 of all are by C. Wesley, and the rest are by Taylor. J. Taylor edited Hymns intended to be used at the Commencement of Social Worship, London, 1802. To that collection he contributed 10 hymns, including:— 10. At the portals of Thy house. Divine Worship. In a few American collections a cento from this hymn is given as, "Lord, before thy presence come." 11. Blessed Sabbath of our [the] Lord. Sunday. 12. 0 how delightful is the road. Divine Worship. 13. Supreme o'er all Jehovah reigns.. Divine Worship. All the foregoing, except No. 8, were re-published in the Norwich Collectionof 1814. That edition contained 33 of Taylor's hymns. To the 2nd ed., 1826, he added 9 more. To R. Aspland's Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Unitarian Worship, Hackney, 1810, he contributed 26 hymns, old and new, including :— 14. Like shadows gliding o'er the plain. Time and Eternity. 15. The Mighty God who rolls [rules] the spheres. God the Preserver of Man. These 15 are the best known of Taylor's hymns, and are largely found in Unitarian collections. See especially Dr. Martineau's Hymns, &c, of 1840, and of 1873. [Rev. Valentine D. Davis, B.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Girolamo Savonarola

1452 - 1498 Person Name: G. Savonarola Hymnal Number: 95 Author of "Jesus, Refuge of the Weary" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Savonarola, Girolamo, p. 1533, i. His hymns were printed in a collected form as Poesie di Fra Girolamo Savonarola tratte dall’ Autografo, at Florence, 1862. A number of them had appeared in Fra Serafino Razzi's Laudl Spirituali, Venice, 1563, and elsewhere. The best-known is:— Giesu sommo conforto. [Passiontide.] This is in 1862 as above, No. xii., p. 27, entitled "Praise to the Crucified." Also in Razzi, 1563, f. 4, in Eugenia Levi's Lirica Italiana Antica, Florence, 1905, p. 118, &c. Translated as "Jesus, Refuge of the weary," by Jane Francesca Wilde. Contributed to R. R. Madden's Life and Martyrdom of Savonarola, 1853, i., p. 376; reprinted in her own Poems by Speranza, Dublin, 1864, p. 199. See further p. 1574, ii. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Thomas Raffles

1788 - 1863 Hymnal Number: 529 Author of "Saviour, Let Thy Sanction Rest" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Thomas Raffles was born in London in 1788. He studied at Homerton College, and in 1809 became pastor of a Congregational society at Hammersmith. In 1812, he removed to Liverpool, where he was minister in the Great George Street chapel. This position he held for forty-nine years. He died at Liverpool, in 1863. He published several sermons, letters of travel, poems, and hymns for the use of his congregation. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. ======================= Raffles, Thomas, D.D., LL.D., son of Mr. W. Raffles, solicitor, was born in Princes Street, Spitalfields, London, May 17, 1788. In 1803 he became a clerk in Doctors' Commons, but shortly after retired, and through the influence of Dr. Collyer, of whose church at Peckham he was for some time a member, he entered Homerton College in 1805. His stated ministry began at Hammersmith, where he was ordained as a Congregational minister on June 22, 1809. In 1812 he removed to Liverpool, where he succeeded the Rev. T. Spencer, and remained for 49 years the honoured pastor of the Great George Street Congregational Church. He died at Liverpool, Aug. 18, 1863. For upwards of fifty years Dr. Raffles was one of the most prominent ministers of the Congregational body. His labours outside of his own congregation were very great, his aid as a preacher on behalf of missions and other religious works, being eagerly sought after. The Lancashire Inde-pendent College owes its existence mainly to him; and to many religious works in Liverpool he gave great personal attention. His degree of LL.D. was conferred by the University of Aberdeen in Dec. 1820, and that of D.D. by Union College, Connecticut, in July 1880. His works include Memoirs of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Thomas Spencer, 1813; A Tour on the Continent, 1817; and several Sermons, &c. He also edited the 1815 edition of Brown's Self-Interpreting Bible; was joint author with J. B. Brown and J. H. Wiffen, of Poems by Three Friends; and joint editor with Dr. Collyer and Dr. J. B. Brown, of the Investigator, a London quarterly. As early as March 8, 1813, he says, in a letter to his friend, Mr. Brown, "I am about to put to press a collection of hymns for the use of my chapel:" but this intention was not carried out until 1853, when he published his Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms & Hymns. His son's history of this Supplement is:— "Early in January, 1853, he published his long-expected Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, which he had in hand for many years. He would never have published it at all, but, in common with other Independent Ministers, would have used the Congregational Hymn-book [J. Conder's 1836 and 1842] had that book contained a fair share of his own hymns. In its original form, however, it did not contain one [yes, one, but given as Anonymous]; and Dr. Raffles might, without vanity—seeing that numerous hymn-books of modern date contained one or more of his hymns—-have expected that they would not have been wholly omitted from the hymn-book emphatically of his own denomination. But so it was, and he never would introduce it, though, with the greatest readiness, when the improved edition was contemplated [theNew Congregational Hymn Book, 1859], under the editorship of the Rev. Dr. Gr. Smith, Dr. Raffles contributed some of his hymns to its pages. His own collection is very good, but limited in extent; the hymns are selected with considerable Judgment; and the true versions, as written by the respective authors, are given, wherever the original source could be reached."— Memoirs, 1864, p. 419. Dr. Raffles contributed, in 1812, eight hymns under the signature "T. B." to the Collection of his old friend and former pastor, Dr. Collyer. Gradually other hymns came into notice. These, with others to the number of 46, were included in his Supplement, 1853. His hymns at present in common use include:— 1. Blest hour, when mortal man retiresPrayer. In the "R. MS." this is headed "The Hour of Prayer," and at the foot is written by Dr. Raffles, “Printed in the Amulet for 1829, and thence copied into the Christian Observer." It is dated " Jany. 26,1823," and is in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. 2. Cause of all causes, and the Source. Hymn to the Deity. Contributed to Dr. Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 914, in 5 st. of 6 1. 3. Come, heavenly peace of mind. Peace of Mind. Pub..in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 915, in 3 st. of 10 1. In the "R. MS." this, in a revised and expanded form of 10 stanzas of 6 lines, is undated; but underneath Dr. Raffles has written "Printed in the American Xtian Keepsake for 1838." 4. Eternal Father, throned above. Doxology. In the "R.MS." this is in 1 st. of 8 1., and headed "Doxology." It is undated, and underneath is written by Dr. Raffles at a later date (the change in the ink proving this) "Published anonymously in the Congregational Hymn Book," i.e., J. Conder's 1836 and 1842. 5. Father of mercies, God of love, 0 hear a humble, &c. Lent. Appeared in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 909, in 6 st. of 6 1., and headed "The Penitent's Prayer." 6. Go, preach the Gospel to the poor Home Missions. In the "R.MS." in 7 st. of 4 1., headed "To the Agents of the Liverpool town mission," and dated "May 1849." At the foot is written "Printed at the Printing Office of the Liverpool Town Mission Bazaar, Lycaeum, Bold Street." 7. High in yonder realms of light. Heaven. Contributed to Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 911, in 6 st. of 8 1. It was sung at Dr. Raffles's funeral, Aug. 24, 1863. It is the most widely known of his hymns, but is usually given in an abbreviated form. 8. Lord, like a publican I stand. Lent. Dated in the "R.MS." "Seacombe, Oct. 4th, 1831," and headed, “The Publican, Luke xviii. 13." It is in 5 st. of 4 1., and is in several collections. 9. No night shall be in heaven! No gathering gloom. Heaven. In 8 st. of 4 double lines, headed “And there shall be no night there," Rev. xxii. 5, and dated " April 4, 1857." ("R.MS.") 10. 0 God of families, we own. Family Worship. In the "R.MS." in 5 st. of 4 1., entitled "The God of the families of Israel," and dated, "Jany. 15th, 1823." It appeared in the New Song, 1859. 11. Rapid flows the stream of tune. New Year. The last but one of his New Year's hymns, in 6 st. of 8 1., entitled "Hymn for New Year's Morning," and dated, "Jany. 1st, 1861." ("R.MS.") 12. Saviour, let Thy sanction rest. Holy Matrimony. In the “R. MS." in 6 st. of 6 1. entitled “The Marriage Feast," and dated "November 3rd, 1852. On occasion of the marriage of the Rev. J. F. and Mrs. Guenett." Included in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859, with the omission of st. v., vi. 13. Sovereign Ruler, Lord of all. Lent. No. 813 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 6 st. of 4 1. 14. The cup which my Father hath given. In Affliction. In the “R.MS." in 2 st. of 8 1., but without date. In theMemoirs. 1864, p. 272, the history of the hymn from Dr. Raffles's Diary is this :— "Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 16th [Oct., 1828.] I preached to an immense congregation last night at Nottingham, and slept at Mr. Gilbert's. Mr. Rawson [of Nottingham Castle], a fine young man, and but recently married, has broken a blood-vessel, and with his wife and mother, and father and sister, set out yesterday for Devonshire, to pass the winter. Mrs. Rawson sent me her album, and begged me to insert something appropriate. As I dressed in the morning I composed the following lines, which I sent her just before they set out: ‘The cup, &c.'" Mrs. Rawson, soon left a widow, resided at Wincobank Hall, near Sheffield, nearly 60 years, and died there in 1887. 15. Thou art my Hiding-place, 0 Lord. The Hiding-place. In the "R.MS." in 4 st. of 8 1., and dated “Burnley, June 23rd, 1833." 16. What is life? A rapid stream. Life. In the “R.MS." in 6 st. of 4 1., and dated in pencil 1838. At the foot is written by Dr. Raffles "Originally published in the Investigator, and, anonymously, in Affection's Gift, a poetical selection published by Simpkin and Marshall, Hamilton, &c, London." The "Raffles MS.," from which we have annotated these hymns, was kindly lent by Mr. T. S. Raffles, B.A., Stipendiary Magistrate of Liverpool. Mr. Raffles is the author of his father's Memoirs, 1864, and of hymn 25 in his father's Supplement. Dr. Raffles's original Hymns were published in 1868, with a Preface by J. Baldwin Brown. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Karl Gerok

1815 - 1890 Person Name: Karl von Gerok Hymnal Number: 337 Author of "Holy, Holy, Holy, Blessed Lord" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Gerok, Karl von, D.D , was born January 30, 1815, at Stuttgart, and studied theology at the University of Tubingen. He was, from 1836 to 1840, assistant at his father's church in Stuttgart; 1840-43, lecturer (repetent) at Tübingen, and after 1844 diaconus at Böblingen, near Stuttgart. In 1849 he returned to preach at Stuttgart, where he now resides (1886), as chief court preacher and oberconsistorialrath (0. Kraus, 1879, p. 165: manuscript from Dr. von Gerok, &c). Gerok is well known as an eloquent preacher, and has published various volumes of sermons. His fame principally rests on his sacred poetry. The best known of his poetical works is his Palmblätter, 1857, which has attained a wonderful circulation, and reached a 56th edition in 1886. A new series appeared in 1878 as Palmblätter Neue Folge (9th ed., 1885, under the title Auf einsamen Gängen). A series of poems on the Book of the Acts of the Apostles appeared as Pfingstrosen, 1864, (8th ed. 1886). His other poetical works are, Die letzte Strauss, 1885 (5th ed., 1886), Blumen und Sterne, 1867 (11th ed., 1886), and Deutsche Ostern, 1872(6th ed., 1883). The Palmblätter is in four parts: pt. 1 consisting of poems on Holy Words, i.e. mostly founded on sayings of Holy Scripture; pt. ii. on "Holy Times" (Advent, &c); pt. iii. on "Holy Mountains," and pt. iv. on "Holy Waters," i.e. on Mountains and Waters mentioned in Holy Scripture. From it a few centos have passed into some of the recent German hymn-books; and a version apparently including translations of all the poems in the ed. of the German used appeared in English as Palm leaves by Karl Gerok. Translated from the German by J. E. A. Brown. London: Strahan & Co., 1869. A large number of the individual poems have also been tr, by Miss Borthwick (who has also translated a few from the Pfingstrosen), Miss Burlingham, the Revs. Dr. R. Maguire, E, Massie, J. Kelly, and various others. But as none of these versions have passed into English common use, and as the originals are poems and not hymns, we must refer the reader to the works of these translators. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Philip Schaff

1819 - 1893 Hymnal Number: 169 Author of "O Bread of Life from Heaven" in The Hymnal and Order of Service Schaff, Philip, D.D., LL.D., was born at Chur, Switzerland, Jan. 1, 1819. He studied at the Universities of Tübingen, Halle, and Berlin. In 1843 he was appointed a Professor in the German Reformed Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and in 1870 Professor of Sacred Literature in the Union Seminary, New York. As translator, author, and editor, Dr. Schaff holds high rank, both in Great Britain and America. The various Histories and Encyclopedias which he has edited are standard works. His knowledge of hymnology is extensive, and embraces hymns in many languages and of all ages, his speciality being German hymnody. The hymnological works which he has edited alone, or jointly with others, are:— (1) Deutsches Gesangbuch, 1860; (2) Christ in Song, a most valuable collection of original English and American hymns, and translated hymns, N.Y. 1869, London, 1870; (3) Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship, 1874, in which he was assisted by Boswell D. Hitchcock, and Zachary Eddy; (4) Library of Religious Poetry, 1881, of which A. Gilman was joint editor. Dr. Schaff has not composed any original hymns. His translations from the Latin are meritorious. He died Oct. 20, 1893. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)