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Augustus Toplady

1740 - 1778 Person Name: Toplady Author of "Your harps, ye trembling saints" in Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book Toplady, Augustus Montague, the author of "Rock of Ages," was born at Farnham, Surrey, November 4, 1740. His father was an officer in the British army. His mother was a woman of remarkable piety. He prepared for the university at Westminster School, and subsequently was graduated at Trinity College, Dublin. While on a visit in Ireland in his sixteenth year he was awakened and converted at a service held in a barn in Codymain. The text was Ephesians ii. 13: "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." The preacher was an illiterate but warm-hearted layman named Morris. Concerning this experience Toplady wrote: "Strange that I, who had so long sat under the means of grace in England, should be brought nigh unto God in an obscure part of Ireland, amidst a handful of God's people met together in a barn, and under the ministry of one who could hardly spell his name. Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous." In 1758, through the influence of sermons preached by Dr. Manton on the seventeenth chapter of John, he became an extreme Calvinist in his theology, which brought him later into conflict with Mr. Wesley and the Methodists. He was ordained to the ministry in the Church of England in 1762, and in 1768 he became vicar of Broadhembury, a small living in Devonshire, which he held until his death. The last two or three years of his life he passed in London, where he preached in a chapel on Orange Street. His last sickness was of such a character that he was able to make a repeated and emphatic dying testimony. A short time before his death he asked his physician what he thought. The reply was that his pulse showed that his heart was beating weaker every day. Toplady replied with a smile: "Why, that is a good sign that my death is fast approaching; and, blessed be God, I can add that my heart beats stronger and stronger every day for glory." To another friend he said: "O, my dear sir, I cannot tell you the comforts I feel in my soul; they are past expression. . . . My prayers are all converted into praise." He died of consumption August 11, 1778. His volume of Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship was published in 1776. Of the four hundred and nineteen hymns which it contained, several were his own productions. If on a quiet sea 446 Rock of ages, cleft for me 279 Hymn Writers of the Church, 1915 by Charles S. Nutter =============================================== Toplady, Augustus Montague, M.A. The life of Toplady has been repeatedly and fully written, the last, a somewhat discursive and slackly put together book, yet matterful, by W. Winters (1872). Summarily, these data may be here given: he was born at Farnham, in Surrey, on November 4, 1740. His father, Richard Toplady, was a Major in the British array, and was killed at the siege of Carthagena (1741) soon after the birth of his son. His widowed mother placed him at the renowned Westminster school, London. By-and-by circumstances led her to Ireland, and young Augustus was entered at Trinity College, Dublin, where he completed his academical training, ultimately graduating M.A. He also received his "new birth" in Ireland under remarkable conditions, as he himself tells us with oddly mixed humility and lofty self-estimate, as "a favourite of heaven," common to his school:— "Strange that I who had so long sat under the means of grace in England should be brought right unto God in an obscure part of Ireland, midst a handful of people met together in a barn, and by the ministry of one who could hardly spell his own name. Surely it was the Lord's doing and is marvellous. The excellency of such power must be of God and cannot be of man. The regenerating spirit breathes not only on whom but likewise, when and where and as He listeth." Toplady received orders in the Church of England on June 6, 1762, and after some time was appointed to Broadhembury. His Psalms and Hymns of 1776 bears that he was then “B.A." and Vicar of Broadhembury. Shortly thereafter be is found in London as minister of the Chapel of the French Calvinists in Leicester Fields. He was a strong and partizan Calvinist, and not well-informed theologically outside of Calvinism. We willingly and with sense of relief leave unstirred the small thick dust of oblivion that has gathered on his controversial writings, especially his scurrilous language to John Wesley because of his Arminianism, as we do John Wesley's deplorable misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Calvinism. Throughout Toplady lacked the breadth of the divine Master's watchword "Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us" (St. Luke ix. 50). He was impulsive, rash-spoken, reckless in misjudgment; but a flame of genuine devoutness burned in the fragile lamp of his overtasked and wasted body. He died on August 11, 1778. The last edition of his works is in 6 vols., 8 vo., 1825. An accurate reproduction of most of his genuine hymns was one of the reprints of Daniel Sedgwick, 1860. His name occurs and recurs in contemporary memoirs and ecclesiastical histories, e.g., in Tyerman's Life of John Wesley. The reader will find in their places annotations on the several hymns of Toplady, and specially on his "Rock of Ages,” a song of grace that has given him a deeper and more inward place in millions of human hearts from generation to generation than almost any other hymnologist of our country, not excepting Charles Wesley. Besides the "Rock of Ages" must be named, for power, intensity, and higher afflatus and nicer workmanship, "Object of my first desire,” and "Deathless principle arise." It is to be regretted that the latter has not been more widely accepted. It is strong, firm, stirring, and masterful. Regarded critically, it must be stated that the affectionateness with which Toplady is named, and the glow and passion of his faith and life, and yearning after holiness, have led to an over-exaltation of him as a hymnwriter. Many of his hymns have been widely used, and especially in America, and in the Evangelical hymnbooks of the Church of England. Year by year, however, the number in use is becoming less. The reason is soon found. He is no poet or inspired singer. He climbs no heights. He sounds no depths. He has mere vanishing gleams of imaginative light. His greatness is the greatness of goodness. He is a fervent preacher, not a bard. [Rev. A. B. Grosart, D.D., LL.D.] Toplady's hymns and poetical pieces were published in his:— (1) Poems on Sacred Subjects wherein The Fundamental Doctrines of Christianity, with many other interesting Points, are occasionally introduced. . . Dublin: Printed by S. Powell, in Crane-lane, MDCCLIX.; (2) his Psalms & Hymns for Public and Private Worship, 1776; (3) in The Gospel Magazine, 1771-1776; and (4) in Hymns and Sacred Poems on a variety of Divine Subjects, &c. D. Sedgwick's reprint, 1860. His Works, with a Memoir by W. Row, were published in 6 volumes, in 1794. Walter How was also the editor of the 2nd and some later editions of the Psalms & Hymns. He was a most careless editor, and attributed several hymns by C. Wesley and others to Toplady. The following additional hymns in common use together with centos indicated in the sub-lines, are from:— i. His Poems on Sacred Subjects, 1759. 1. Can my heaven-born soul submit? All for Christ. 2. Come from on high, my King and God. Holiness desired. (1.) 0 might this worthless heart of mine. 3. Earnest of future bliss. The Witness of the Spirit. 4. From Thy supreme tribunal, Lord. Christ's Righteousness a Refuge. (1.) The spotless Saviour lived for me. 5. Great God, Whom heaven, and earth, and sea. For Peace. 6. I saw, and lo! a countless throng. Saints' Days. Revised form in the Gospel Magazine, 1774, p. 449. 7. Immovable our hope remains. Divine Faithfulness. 8. Jesus, God of love, attend. Divine Worship. Pt. ii. is "Prayer can mercy's door unlock." 9. Jesus, Thy power I fain would feel. Lent. 10. Lord, I feel a carnal mind. Mind of Christ desired. 11. My yielding heart dissolves as wax. On behalf of Arians, &c. (1.) 0 Jesus, manifest Thy grace. 12. Not to myself I owe. Praise for Conversion, (1.) Not to ourselves we owe. (2.) The Father's grace and love. 13. 0 that my heart was right with Thee. Dedication to God desired. 14. 0 Thou that hearest the prayer of faith. Christ the Propitiation. 15. 0 Thou Who didst Thy glory leave. Thanksgiving for Redemption. 16. 0 when wilt Thou my Saviour be. Trust in Jesus. (1.) Jesus, the sinner's Rest Thou art. 17. Redeemer, whither should I flee? Safety in the Cross. 18. Remember, Lord, that Jesus bled. Pardon. 19. Surely Christ thy griefs hath borne. Redemption. Revised text in Gospel Magazine, 1774, p. 548. (1.) Weary sinner, keep thine eyes. (2.) Weeping soul, no longer mourn. ii. From the Gospel Magazine. 20. Compared with Christ, in all besides. Christ All in All. Feb. 1772. 21. Eternal Hallelujahs Be to the Father given. Holy Trinity, Dec. 1774. 22. From whence this fear and unbelief. Reviving Faith, Feb. 1772. 23. How vast the benefits divine. Redemption. Dec. 1774. From this "Not for the works which we have done" is taken. 24. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Christ All and in All, Feb. 1772. From this "If my Lord Himself reveal" is taken. 25. Jesus, immutably the same. Jesus, the True Vine. June, 1771. All these hymns, together with "O precious blood, 0 glorious death" (Death of Christ), are in D. Sedgwick's reprint of Toplady's Hymns, &c, 1860. We have met with several other hymns to which Toplady's name is appended, but for this we can find no authority whatever. -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

George Burgess

1809 - 1866 Person Name: G. Burgess Author of "The harvest dawn is near" in Songs for the Service of Prayer Burgess, George, D.D. Bishop Burgess was born at Providence, Rhode Island, Oct. 31, 1809, and graduated at Brown University, 1826, where he was for some time a tutor. After studying for two years in Germany, he took Holy Orders, and in 1834 became Rector of Christ Church, Hartford. In 1847 he was consecrated Bishop of Maine, and also entered upon the Rectory of Christ Church, Gardiner. He died in Haiti, April 3, 1866. His Life was published by bis brother in 18G9. His works include The Book of Psalms translated into English Verse, 1839; The American Metrical Psalter, N. Y., 1864; and Poems, Hartford, 1868. His Psalms and Hymns in use are;—- 1. Lord, in Thy Name we spread the sail, Sailor’s Hymn. This hymn is included in his Poems, 1868, p. 268, but is of unknown date and origin. The hymn, "While o'er the deep Thy servants sail," is an altered form of this hymn to be sung on behalf of sailors. It was apparently rewritten for the Connecticut Psalms and Hymns, 1845. 2. The harvest dawn is near. Ps. cxxvi. From his version of Ps. cxxvi., Book of Psalms, &c, 1839, beginning with st. v. Also his American Metrical Psalter, p. 250. It is widely used. 3. The floods, 0 Lord, lift up their voice. From Ps. xciii. in his Book of Psalms, 1839, stanza iii., found in his American Metrical Psalter, p. 179. 4. When forth from Egypt's trembling strand. Ps. cxiv. From his Book of Psalms, 1839, and Psalter, 1864. It has been included in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, 1866. Of these hymns Nos. 1 and 2 are found in almost every recent American collection but that of the Protestant Episcopal Church. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Lavon Bayler

b. 1933 Adapter of "We Love Your Realm, O God" in The New Century Hymnal Lavon Baylor was born on January 17, 1933 in Sandusky, Ohio. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Iowa State Teachers College in 1955, a Master in Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary (St. Louis) in 1959 and did postgraduate work at Lancaster Theological Seminary. She has pastored Church of Christ and Congregational congregations in Ohio and Illinois. She is the author of Fresh Winds of the Spirit: liturgical resources for year A, Whispers of God: liturgical resources for year B and "Refreshing rains of the living Word: liturgical resources for year, as well as other books. Dianne Shapiro, from Prabook (www.prabook.com, accessed 2-3-2019)

Sylvia G. Dunstan

1955 - 1993 Author of "O Saints in Splendor Sing" in The New Century Hymnal After a brief, arduous battle with liver cancer, Canadian Sylvia Dunstan died in 1993 at the age of 38. For thirteen years, Dunstan had served the United Church of Canada as a parish minister and prison chaplain. She is remembered by those who knew her for her passion for those in need, her gift of writing, and her love of liturgy. Sing! A New Creation

John Moultrie

1799 - 1874 Person Name: Moultrie Author of "Rejoice in God alway" in Songs for the Service of Prayer Moultrie, John, M.A., father of Gerard and Mary D. Moultrie, was born Dec. 31, 1799, at London, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A. 1823), where he was Bell's University Scholar, 1820, and Trinity College Scholar, 1822. Taking Holy Orders in 1825, he was presented the same year by the Earl of Craven to the Rectory of Rugby, where he remained till his death, on Dec. 26, 1874. His publications included:— (1) My Brother's Grave, and other Poems, 1837; (2) Dream of Life, Lays of the English Church, &c, 1843; (3) Memoir and Poetical Remains of W. S. Walker, 1852; (4) Sermons, 1852; (5) Altars, Hearths, and Graves, 1854; (6) Psalms and Hymns as Sung in the Parish Church, Rugby, 1851. In his Preface Mr. Moultrie says of the Psalms & Hymns, 1851:— "The present collection of Psalms & Hymns is founded on the basis of that which has been in use during the last twelve years in the Parish Church of Rugby, and for which the congregation of that Church are indebted to the kindness and taste of the Rev. H. J. Buckoll." Further on in the same preface he says:— "More than twenty original compositions--some altered or abridged from my former publications, others written expressly for the present collection, and (I am sorry to add) on the spur of the moment—-have thus been introduced into company with which they have perhaps but slender claims to associate. Several of these are little more than paraphrases of the Epistles or Gospel for the day." These hymns, most of which are in Kennedy, 1863, include the following:— 1. Blest are the eyes of those. Gospel, 13 Sunday after Trinity. (The Good Samaritan.) 2. Bring the infant to the font. Holy Baptism. 3. Christ His own Apostles chooseth. St. Andrew. 4. Dear Lord, a lonely life was Thine. Gospel, 4 S. after Epiphany. (Stilling the Tempest.) 5. Friends and parents lingered weeping. Gospel, 24 S. after Trinity. (Raising the Ruler's daughter.) 6. God, Who dost the increase grant. Sexagesima. (The Sower.) 7. In patient faith till Christ shall come. Gospel, 6 S. after Epiphany. 8. In the beaming brow of Moses. Epistle, 12 S. after Trinity. 9. Lord, with glad and grateful spirits. Epistle, 1 S. after Trinity. (Perfect Love.) 10. Meek to suffer, strong to save. St. Mark. 11. Mysterious to the Christian heart. St. Michael and All Angels. 12. No act of sin our Saviour wrought. Collect, 2 S. after Easter. (Christ the Example.) 13. O Lord, a wondrous story. For Sunday Schools. 14. Our mortal eyes are all too dim. St. Stephen. 15. Source of wisdom, past and present. For Sunday Schools. 16. The world may look serene and bright. Circumcision. 17. Thou gavest, Lord, the life we live. Holy Communion. 18. When our hearts with grief are sore. Epistle. Ash Wednesday. 19. Wondrous was Thy path on earth. Gospel, 2 S. after Epiphany. (Marriage in Cana of Galilee.) These hymns, from the special subjects of which they treat, are of more than ordinary interest to hymnal compilers, and are worthy of attention. Nos. 4, 6, 7, 12, 16, 18, 19, are from his Lays of the English Church, 1843; the rest were written expressly for the Psalms & Hymns, 1851 (S. MSS.). --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Billy Payne

Arranger (last. st. setting) of "ST. THOMAS" in Baptist Hymnal 2008

George Frideric Handel

1685 - 1759 Person Name: Handel Composer of "ST. THOMAS" in Gloria Deo George Frideric Handel (b. Halle, Germany, 1685; d. London, England, 1759) became a musician and composer despite objections from his father, who wanted him to become a lawyer. Handel studied music with Zachau, organist at the Halle Cathedral, and became an accomplished violinist and keyboard performer. He traveled and studied in Italy for some time and then settled permanently in England in 1713. Although he wrote a large number of instrumental works, he is known mainly for his Italian operas, oratorios (including Messiah, 1741), various anthems for church and royal festivities, and organ concertos, which he interpolated into his oratorio performances. He composed only three hymn tunes, one of which (GOPSAL) still appears in some modern hymnals. A number of hymnal editors, including Lowell Mason, took themes from some of Handel's oratorios and turned them into hymn tunes; ANTIOCH is one example, long associated with “Joy to the World.” Bert Polman

Harry L. Crain

Author of "O blessed Son of God" in A Hymnal for Joyous Youth 20th Century

George Smith

1803 - 1870 Person Name: G. Smith Author of "Thou art, O Christ, the Way" in Worship in the School Room Smith, George, D.D., Secretary of the Congregational Union, began his ministry at Liverpool in 1827, and passed on first to Plymouth, and then to Trinity Chapel, Poplar, London (1842). He is the author of The Domestic Prayer Book, 1848; Sermons, 1851; Life Spiritual, 1855; Lectures on the Pentateuch, 1863, &c. He also compiled during his residence at Plymouth a Supplement to Watts's Psalms & Hymns, which, he contributed:— 1. Come in, ye chosen of the Lord. Admission of Church Members. 2. Thou art, O Christ, the Way. Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life. which were included in the New Congregational Hymn Book 1859. --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)