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Alexander Clark

1835 - 1879 Topics: The Christian System Repentance and Faith Author of "Heavenly Father, bless me now" in The Voice of Praise Clark, Alexander, D.D., born March 10, 1835, died July 6, 1879. Dr. Clark was for many years a Minister of the American Methodist Episcopal Church, and the editor of the Methodist Recorder, published at Pittsburgh. Two of his hymns:— 1. Heavenly Father, bless me now. Lent. 2. Make room for Jesus. Lent. are given in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ========================= Clark, Alexander, D.D. (March 10, 1835--July 6, 1879). Of Scottish descent, he was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and received his education in the common schools, guided by a very competent father. After teaching in the public schools of Ohio for some years, he founded and edited Schoolday Visitor, a young people's journal which he published by himself in Knoxville, Ohio. It reached a circulation of more than 30,000 and eventually was merged with St. Nicholas, a well-known magazine for youth. Originally a Presbyterian, he joined the Methodist Protestant Church and received his preaching license in 1862. For four years, from 1866, he served the First Methodist Protestant Church, Pittsburgh, and then became editor of the Methodist Recorder and the Sunday School papers of his church, retaining that position until his death. Chairman of the Committee which compiled the Voice of Praise, 1872, he was largely responsible for including in it much new hymnic material. He was the author of five hymns which were included in the book. His "Heavenly Father, bless me now," originally in six four-line stanzas, continued in the series of Methodist Protestant hymnals through that of 1901. Stanzas 1, 2, 5, 6, are in 0/1935. [note: up to 1966 Methodist Hymnal.] He was the recipient of honorary degrees from Mt. Union College, Otterbein University, and Ohio Wesleyan University. While on a lecture tour in Georgia, he became ill at Atlanta and was taken to the Executive Mansion by the then Governor Colquitt, where he died after three weeks' severe suffering. The following glowing tribute to Dr. Clark by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, nationally known atheist writer and lecturer of the late nineteenth century was published in the Methodist Recorder, July 26, 1879: "Upon the grave of Rev. Alexander Clark I wish to place one flower. Utterly destitute of cold dogmatic pride that often passes for the love of God, without the arrogance of the 'elect'--simple, free, and kind--this earnest man made me his friend by being mine. I forgot that he was a Christian, and he seemed to forget that I was not, while each remembered that the other was a man. Frank, candid and sincere, he practiced what he preached, and looked with the holy eyes of charity upon the failings and mistakes of men. He believed in the power of kindness, and spurned with divine sympathy the hideous gulf that separates the fallen from the pure. Giving freely to others the rights that he claimed for himself, it never occurred to him that his God hated a brave and honest unbeliever. He remembered that even an infidel has rights that love respects; that hatred has no saving power, and that in order to be a Christian it is not necessary to become less of a man. He knew that no one can be maligned into kindness; that epithets cannot convince; that curses are not arguments, and the finger of scorn never points toward heaven. With the generosity of an honest man, he accorded to all the fullest liberty of thought, knowing, as he did, that in the realm of mind a chain is but a curse. He sympathies were not confined within the prison of a creed, but ran out and over the walls like vines, hiding the cruel rocks and rusted bars with leaf and flower. He could not echo with his heart the fiendish sentence of eternal fire. In spite of book and creed, he read 'between the lines' the words of tenderness and love, with promises for all the world. Above, beyond the dogmas of his church--humane even to the verge of heresy--causing none to doubt the love of God because he failed to hate his unbelieving fellow-men--he labored for the welfare of mankind, and to his work gave up his life with all his heart." An intimate friend of William Cullen Bryant and other well-known authors, he was considered an exceptionally fine lecturer and his work as editor and author was highly regarded. Among his published works are: The Old Log Schoolhouse, 1864 Working Christianity, or, the Gospel in the Trades, 1878. --Robert G. McCutchan, DNAH Archives

L. H. Sigourney

1791 - 1865 Person Name: Anon. Topics: The Christian System Repentance and Faith Author of "The long-lost son, with streaming eyes" in The Voice of Praise Sigourney, Lydia, née Huntley. This distinguished name stood at the head of the female poets of America a generation ago, and is still well remembered. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1791, she conducted a school in the same town from 1809 to 1814, when she removed to Hartford, where she was married to Charles Sigourney in 1819. Most of her subsequent life was spent at Hartford, and she died there, June 10, 1865. Her first publication was Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse, 1815. This was followed by 58 additional works. A thorough exploration of these, or of such of them are poetical, would be necessary to trace her hymns with accuracy. They, however, are more numerous than important. Many have been used in the older collections; some are still in use, but few are extensively and none are universally so. The principal hymnbooks in which they appeared were the Congregational Village Hymns, 1824; Kipley's Selection, 1829; and the Connecticut Psalms & Hymns, 1845; the Baptist Additional Hymns by Winchell, 1832; and Linsley and Davis's Select Hymns, 1836; and the Universalist's Hymns for Christian Devotion, by Adams & Chapin, 1846. Her best known hymns chronologically arranged are:— 1. When adverse winds and waves arise. In Affliction. A graceful lyric, possibly inspired by Sir R. Grant's " When gathering clouds around I view." 2. Blest Comforter divine. Whitsuntide. This is one of four hymns by Mrs. Sigourney, which appeared in Nettleton's Village Hymns, 1824, under the signature of "H." It is sometimes altered to "Thou Comforter divine." Her best hymn. 3. We mourn for those who toil. Death and Burial. This poem on "Mistaken Grief" appeared in Cheever's Common Place Book, 1831 4. Choose ye His Cross to bear. Holy Baptism. This was given in Ripley's Selection, 1829-31. 5. Saviour, Thy law we love. Holy Baptism. In Winchell's Additional Hymns, 1832. 6. Onward, onward, men of heaven. Missions. This missionary hymn appeared in three different books in 1833, including the Christian Lyre Supplement, &c. 7. Labourers of Christ, arise. Home Missions. This was contributed, with nine others, by Mrs. Sigourney, to Linsley & Davis's Select Hymns, 1836. This is one of the most widely used of her hymns. 8. Pastor, thou art from us taken. Burial of a Minister. Sung at the funeral of the Rev. G. F. Davis, D.D., circa 1836. 9. Go to thy rest, my [fair] child. Death of a Child. From a Selection from her poems published in London in 1841. 10. Not for the summer hour alone. Holy Matrimony. In the same Selection as No. 9. 11. Where wilt thou put thy trust? Leaning upon God. In the Connecticut Cong. Psalms & Hymns, 1845. 12. Lord, may the spirit of this feast. Holy Communion. In the same as No. 11. 13. We praise Thee if one rescued soul. Temperance Anniversary. In Adams and Chapin's Hymns for Christian Devotion, 1846. In addition to these hymns there are several others in the collections named above. As, however, they are not repeated in modern hymnbooks they are omitted from this list. We would add that two hymns, not noted above, "Little raindrops feed the rill" (Power of little things), and "There was a noble ark," are in common use in Great Britain; and that a selection of her pieces is given in the Lyra Sacra Americana, London, 1868. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Sigourney, Lydia, p. 1057, ii. Additional hymns are: 1. We thank Thee, Father, for the day. Sunday. This in Stryker's Church Songs, 1889, is dated 1850. 2. When the parting bosom bleeds. For Use at Sea. From Adams and Chapin's Hymns for Christian Devotion, 1846. 3. Prayer is the dew of faith. Prayer. 4. We praise Thee, Lord, if but one soul. An altered form of her hymn on Temperance (No. 13). --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Ralph Wardlaw

1779 - 1853 Person Name: Windham Topics: The Christian System Justification By Faith Author of "Christ, of all my hopes the ground" in The Voice of Praise Wardlaw, Ralph, D.D. This venerable and (in his generation) influential Scottish divine contributed twelve hymns to the praise of the Church Universal that are likely to live in a humble and useful way. As having so done, and besides edited several collections of hymns, he claims a place of honour in this work. Critically, and regarded as literature, his hymns have little of poetry in them; no "winged words" to lift the soul heavenward. They reflect simply and plainly the lights and shadows of everyday experiences of the spiritual life, rather than its etherialities and subtleties. His "Lift up to God the voice of praise " is the most widely known; and there is a certain inspiriting clangour about it when well sung; yet it is commonplace. His "Hail morning, known among the blest," is narrative and prosaic, though it filled a gap at the time in Sabbath morning worship. “At the time by God appointed," "Remember Thee! remember Christ!" and "Contemplate, saints, the source divine," have vanishing gleams of imaginative light and fine and tender emotion. "O how good the hallowed union," "Where the sounds of plaintive wailing," and "See the Sun of truth arise," are melodious and singable, and pleasant but shallow. “Christ of all my hopes the ground," (Pt. ii.) "When with wasting sickness worn," is much too long, but is a fairly good song of Zion. Wardlaw published in 1803 a Selection of Hymns, to displace what was called The Tabernacle Collection, 1800, that had been used by the Congregationalists of Scotland, and to which he contributed a few hymns. He was assisted in the preparation of this compilation by Dr. Charles Stuart, of Dunearn. The first edition contained 322 hymns. In 1817 a Supplement was added of 171, bringing up the number to 493. Of these eleven (or twelve strictly) were by Wardlaw. Two of these had previously appeared in the Scottish Missionary Magazine (vol. viii. 48). His hymns bear so very slight a proportion to Dr. Wardlaw's writings as a profound theologian and expositor and thoroughly-equipped controversialist on the chief problems of the period, as to make it necessary to refer the reader to his remarkable Life, by the Rev. Dr. W. L. Alexander, entitled, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. (2nd ed., 1856). Wardlaw was born at Dalkeith on December 22, 1779, where he received his early education, later attending Glasgow University. His only church was in Glasgow. He died at Easterhouse near Glasgow on Dec. 17, 1853, and his public funeral is still remembered for the representative character of the vast multitude who attended it. [Rev. A. B. Grosart, D.D., LL.D.] Of Dr. Wardlaw's hymns the following are still in common use:— 1. Glad when they saw the Lord. Easter. 2. Hail, morning known amongst the blest [saints]. Sunday Morning. 3. Lift up to God the voice of praise. Praise to the Father. 4. 0 Lord our God, arise. Missions. 5. Remember Thee, remember Christ. Holy Communion. 6. See the Sun of Truth arise. Christ the Light. Of these Nos. 3-5 appeared in the Tabernacle Collection, 1800. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============= Wardlaw, R., p. 1232, ii. Of his hymns, Nos. 1, 2 are in his Selection, 1803, and No. 6 was added in the Supplement of 1817. This Supplement also contains "O how good the hallowed union," and "Whence the sounds of plaintive wailing," p. 1232, ii. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Joseph Humphreys

b. 1720 Person Name: Humphreys Topics: The Christian System Adoption And Sanctification Author of "Blessed are the sons of God" in The Voice of Praise Humphreys, Joseph, son of Asher Humphreys, minister at Burford, Oxfordshire, was born at Burford, Oct. 28, 1720, and educated at a grammar school at Fairford, and at an academy for the training of young men for the ministry in London. From the latter he was expelled, Dec. 25, 1739, because of his attachment to Whitefield. For a short time he associated with the Wesleys, but eventually joined G. Whitefield, and subsequently preached at Bristol, London, and Deptford. He died in London (date unknown), and was buried in the Moravian Cemetery at Chelsea. He was a contributor to Whitefield's Christian History (1741-1748), 1742, &c, and published, 1742, An Account of Joseph Humphreys's Experiences, &c. As a hymnwriter he is not widely known. His hymns were contributed to J. Cennick'e Sacred Hymns for the Use of Religious Societies (Bristol), 1743, pt. ii., and are thus introduced: "These were done by Mr. Joseph Humphreys." Of these hymns, two only are in common use:— 1. Blessed are the sons of God. Adoption. 2. Come, guilty souls, and flee away. Invitation. These are given in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, 1866, and other collections. No. 1 is the more popular of the two. It is sometimes abbreviated, and has the concluding lines of st. viii. added as a refrain to each stanza. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================= Born: October 28, 1720, Burford, Oxfordshire, England. Died: London, England. Buried: Moravian Cemetery, Chelsea, England. Joseph was the son of Asher Humphreys, Rector of Barton, Hertfordshire, and subsequently Burford, Oxfordshire. At age 10, Joseph was sent to a grammar school at Fairfield, Gloucestershire. His father died in 1732, and Joseph was sent, at age 12, to a theological school in London. In 1738, having been converted to the doctrines of the Wesleys, he began to preach at the Foundry, London, in Bristol, and elsewhere. He attached himself particularly to John Cennick, and accompanied him frequently on his evangelistic tours. Hatfield reports, "For his irregularities in these respects, he was expelled, December 25, 1739, from the school." Following Cennick’s example, Humphreys separated from the Wesleys in April 1741 and became associated with Whitefield. The same year, he preached for the Moravians at Deptford, West Greenwich. He was also one of the four principal contributors to The Weekly History, just then established, in the interest of the new religious movement. Several of his "Letters to John Wesley," opposing his views, appeared in this journal. Humphreys frequently preached at the Bowling Green, Bristol, and the Tabernacle, London. In January 1743, he united with several clergymen and lay preachers in organizing, near Cardiff, Wales, the first Calvinistic Methodist Society. In 1790, according to John Wesley’s journal, Humphreys left Whitefield and was ordained a Presbyterian minister. He later received an Episcopal ordination. Humphreys’ works include: A Letter to the Religious Societies, in Testimony Against the Errors of Universal Redemption and Sinless Perfection (Bristol, England: 1741) An Account of Joseph Humphreys’ Experience at the Work of Grace upon His Heart (Bristol, England: 1742) --www.hymntime.com/tch

John Taylor

1750 - 1826 Person Name: Taylor Topics: The Christian System Repentance and Faith Author of "God of mercy! God of grace!" in The Voice of Praise 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)

Thomas Raffles

1788 - 1863 Person Name: Raffles Topics: The Christian System Repentance and Faith Author of "A broken heart, O Lord! Thou never wilt despise" in The Voice of Praise 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)

Girolamo Savonarola

1452 - 1498 Person Name: Savonarola Topics: The Christian System Adoption And Sanctification Author of "Jesus, refuge of the weary" in The Voice of Praise 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)

Benjamin Cleveland

1733 - 1811 Person Name: Cleveland Topics: The Christian System Adoption And Sanctification Author of "Oh, could I find, from day to day" in The Voice of Praise Cleveland, Benjamin. Probably a Baptist, but known only by his Hymns on Different Spiritual Subjects, in Two Parts, whereof the 4th ed. appeared in Norwich, Connecticut, 1792. He is the author of:— 0 could I find from day to day. [Longing for Christ.] This was preserved from oblivion by the Hartford Selection 1799, and is now in general use as altered and abridged to 4 stanzas by Nettleton, in his Village Hymns, 1824, No. 145. What is supposed to be the original text of the first four stanzas is found in Dr. Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, No. 876. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============================ Cleveland, Benjamin. (Windham, Connecticut, August 30, 1733--March 9, 1811, Horton [now Wolfville], Nova Scotia). Baptist. Son of Benjamin Cleveland. The name is sometimes spelled "Cleavland" or "Cleaveland" in family records. He was a layman and a Baptist deacon; little else is known of his life except that of his twelve children, one, Nathan Cleveland, became a Baptist minister. He published in 1792 his Hymns on Different Subjects. In Two Parts in Norwich, Connecticut. His hymn, "O could I find from day to day," was widely reprinted through most of the nineteenth century. In his 1792 collection, it had six stanzas. Joshua Smith reprinted it in 1797, and it was altered for the Hartford Selection of 1799. Asahel Nettleton abridged it to four stanzas and altered it for his Village Hymns in 1824. It was in this form that it was widely sung; it was reprinted in the same for in Edwin Francis Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872. the original first four stanzas treat the desire to "find from day to day a nearness to my God" throughout the course of life, ending in stanza 4 "Thus, till my last expiring breath, Thy goodness I'll adore . . ." --Thomas W. Hunt, DNAH Archives

Robert Cruttenden

1691 - 1764 Person Name: Crittenden Topics: The Christian System Repentance and Faith Author of "I own my guilt, my sins confess" in The Voice of Praise Cruttenden, Robert, born cir. 1691, died cir. 1764. He was educated for the ministry among the Dissenters, and when a young man frequently preached for his uncle, the Rev. Mr. Bragg. But finding that he did not really believe in the Evangelical doctrines, he gave up the ministry, and betook himself to trade, in which for a number of years he was successful. In his 52nd year, having retired from business, he was living near to Whitefield's Tabernacle, when, his attention being excited by what he heard concerning the preaching there, a strong impulse seized him to go and hear for himself. The result was his conversion through the ministry of John Cennick. Twelve months later he joined a Congregational Church, of which he continued a member until his death, about 20 years subsequently. The narrative of his Experience, as read to this Church on his application for membership, was published in 1744, with a preface by Whitefield, and republished in 1790, with the addition of a letter from Mr. Cruttenden to Mr. Cennick. To this narrative his Psalms & Hymns, 17 in all, were appended. The full title of the Experience is too quaint to be omitted. It is:— "Sovereign Efficacious Grace displayed in the awakening and converting a Rational, Learned, Aged sinner, exemplified in the Experience of Robert Cruttenden, Esq., as delivered by himself to the Congregational Church, then meeting in Lime Street, near Leadenhall Market, 1743, in order to be admitted into their society. Published, prefaced and recommended by the late Rev. George Whitefield, 1744, as an extraordinary effect of the Divine Spirit. To which is prefixed a Letter from Mr. Cruttenden to Mr. Cennick, 1742. Also several Psalms, Hymns, &c., composed by him. Now particularly addressed to all rational Christians for their perusal. Lon¬don, printed and sold by T. Wilkins, Aldermanbury, MDCCXC." From his Psalms & Hymns in the Experience the following are still in common use:— 1. And is it yet, dear Lord, a doubt? Desiring to love God. 2. Did Jesus die, but not for me? Pardon through Jesus. 3. I own my guilt, my sins confess. Lent. 4. Let others boast their ancient line. Adoption. 5. Rise, Sun of glory, shine reveal'd. Happiness desired. 6. 'Tis false, thou vile accuser, go. Divine Mercy. 7. What adverse powers we feel within. Sin and Holiness. 8. What jarring natures dwell within. Sin and Holiness. This is part of No. 7. Cruttenden's hymns are full of Christian experience: some, as "Let others boast their ancient line," have a good deal of spirit, and the versification is usually smooth and flowing. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)