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John Bowring

1792 - 1872 Hymnal Number: 65 Author of "How sweetly flowed the gospel's sound" in The New York Choralist James Bowring was born at Exeter, in 1792. He possessed at an early age a remarkable power of attaining languages, and acquired some reputation by his metrical translations of foreign poems. He became editor of "The Westminster Review" in 1825, and was elected to Parliament in 1835. In 1849, he was appointed Consul at Canton, and in 1854, was made Governor of Hong Kong, and received the honour of knighthood. He is the author of some important works on politics and travel, and is the recipient of several testimonials from foreign governments and societies. His poems and hymns have also added to his reputation. His "Matins and Vespers" have passed through many editions. In religion he is a Unitarian. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 ======================================= Bowring, Sir John, LL.D., a distinguished man of letters, was born at Exeter, Oct. 17, 1792. His studies extended to philology, poetry, politics, and other branches of learning, whilst as editor of the Westminster Review for some years (he received the appointment in 1825) he did considerable work as a reviewer. He held several official appointments under the Government as Commissioner to France on commercial matters (1831-5); British Consul at Hong Kong (1849); and Governor of Hong Kong (1854). He was twice Member of Parliament, and was knighted in 1854. He died Nov. 23rd, 1872. His published works are very numerous, and display an astonishing acquaintance with various languages. Those specially bearing on poetry include:— (1) Russian Anthology, with Biographical and Critical notices of the Poets of Russia, 1821; (2) Specimens of the Russian Poets, 1823; (3) Ancient Poetry and Romance of Spain, 1824; (4) Batavian Anthology, or Specimens of Dutch Poets, 1824; (5) Servian Popular Poetry, 1821; (6) Specimens of Polish Poets, 1827; (1) Poetry of the Magyars, 1830; (8) History of the Poetical Literature of Bohemia, 1832, &c. In addition to these works, which are mainly translations, Sir John Bowring wrote original verse. This was published interspersed with a few translations, as follows:— (1) Matins and Vespers with Hymns and Occasional Devotional Pieces, Lond., 1823; 2nd edition, enlarged, 1824; 3rd edition, again enlarged, 1841; and the 4th, still further enlarged, in 1851. (2) Hymns: as a Sequel to the Matins, 1825. In addition he contributed to a few Unitarian hymnals, especially that of the Rev. J. R. Beard of Manchester, 1837. In that Collection many of the hymns added to the 3rd edition of Matins, &c, 1841, were first published A selection from these, together with a biographical sketch, was published by Lady Bowring in 1873, as a Memorial Volume of Sacred Poetry. This work contains hymns from the Matins and Vespers, together with others from Periodicals, and from his manuscripts. Of his hymns a very large percentage have come into common use. A few have been adopted by almost all denominations, as, "God is love, His mercy brightens;" "How sweetly flow'd the gospel sound;" "In the Cross of Christ I glory;" "Watchman, tell us of the night;"; and others, but the greater portion are confined to the Unitarian collections of Great Britain and America, of which denomination he was a member. In addition to the more important, which are annotated under their first lines, there are also the following in common use:—- 1. Clay to clay, and dust to dust. Burial. From his Hymns, 1825, into the Hymn & Tune Book, Boston, U.S., 1868, &c. 2. Come the rich, and come the poor. Divine Worship. Contributed to Beard's Collection, 1837, No. 290, and repeated in Bowring's Matins, &c., 3rd edition, 1841. It is in a few American collections. 3. Drop the limpid waters now. Holy Baptism. From Matins and Vespers, 3rd edition, 1841, into Kennedy, 1863. 4. Earth's transitory things decay. The Memory of the Just. From his Hymns, 1825, into Beard, 1837; the American Plymouth Collection, 1855; and the Songs for the Sanctuary, N.Y., 1865, &c. 5. Father, glorify Thy name. The Father glorified. Also from Hymns, 1825, into Beard, 1837; the Hymns of the Spirit, Boston, U.S., 1864, &c. 6. Father and Friend, Thy light, Thy love. Omnipresence. From Matins and Vespers, 2nd edition, 1824, into several collections, and sometimes in an abbreviated form. 7. Father of Spirits, humbly bent before Thee. Also in Hymns, 1825, and Dr. Martineau's Hymns of Praise & Prayer, 1873. In Longfellow and Johnson's Hymns of the Spirit, Boston, U.S., 1864, it is given as, "Father of Spirits, gathered now before Thee." 8. From all evil, all temptation. Preservation implored. Contributed to Beard's Collection, 1837. 9. From the recesses of a lowly spirit. Prayer of trust. From Matins and Vespers, 1st edition, 1823, into several American collections. 10. Gather up, 0 earth, thy dead. Published in his Matins & Vespers, 3rd ed., 1841, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines and repeated, slightly altered, in Kennedy, 1863, No. 753. 11. Gently the shades of night descends Evening. A cento from his poem on "Sunday Evening," in the Matins, &c, 1st edition, 1823, p. 6. It is given in the Boston Hymns of the Spirit, 1864; the Boston Hymn & Tune Book, 1868, and other collections. 12. How dark, how desolate. Hope. 1st published in his Matins, &c, 1823, p. 246. In Dr. Martineau's Hymns of Praise & Prayer, 1873, it is No. 515. 13. How shall we praise Thee, Lord of Light! Evening. A cento from the same poem as No. 7 above. It is given in the Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, and other American collections. 14. Lead us with Thy gentle sway. Divine Guidance desired. Hymns, 1825, into Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, and others. 15. Lord, in heaven, Thy dwelling-place. Praise. Contributed to Beard's Collection, 1837, No. 70, repeated in the author's Matins, &c, 3rd edition 1841, p. 235, and given in a few American collections. In the Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, it is altered to "Lord of every time and place." 16. 0 let my [thy] trembling soul be still. Resignation. From the 1st edition of the Matins, &c, 1823, p. 251, in 3 stanzas of 6 lines, into Beard's Collection, 1837; the Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, and others. It is sometimes given as, "0 let thy," &c. 17. 0, sweet it is to feel and know. Monday Morning. A poem in 16 stanzas of 4 lines, given in his Matins, &c, 1823, p. 60. In 1837 stanzas i.-iii. were given in Beard's Collection as No. 448, and entitled "God near in sorrow." In the 3rd edition of the Matins, &c, 1841, this cento was repeated (p. 245), with the same title, notwithstanding the full poem was in the same book. 18. On the dust I'm doomed to sleep. Resurrection. Appeared in his Matins, &c, 1st edition, 1823, p. 252, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines. In the 2nd edition, 1824, p. 232, it was altered to "In the dust," &c. This was repeated in 1841. In some hymnals it reads:— 19. The heavenly spheres to Thee, 0 God. Evening. This "Hymn to the Deity" appeared in the 2nd edition of his Matins, &c, 1824, pp. 235-6, in 4 stanzas of 4 double lines. It is also in the 3rd edition, 1841; the Boston Hymns of the Spirit, 1864 and other American collections. 20. When before Thy throne we kneel. Divine Worship. From his Hymns, 1825, into Beard's Collection, 1837, No. 93; the Boston Hymn & Tune Book, 1868, No. 21, and others. 21. Where is thy sting, 0 death! Death. Also from the Hymns, 1825, into the same collections as No. 20 above. It will be noted that Beard's Collection, 1837, is frequently named above. The full title of that hymnal is— A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship. Compiled by John R. Board, Lond., John Green, 1837. The Rev. John Relly Beard was an Unitarian Minister in Manchester, and the collection is dedicated "To the Manchester Meeting of Ministers." It contained a large number of original hymns. Bowring contributed 82, of which 33 were published therein for the first time. Some of his hymns are of great merit, and most of them are characterised by great earnestness and deep devotion. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Bowring, Sir John, p. 166, i. In the article on Bowring the hymns numbered therein as 4 and 20 are stated to have appeared in his Hymns, 1825, but in error. The earliest date to which we can positively trace them is Beard's Collection, 1837. From the Hymns, 1825, we find, however, that the following are in modern hymnals:— 1. Our God is nigh. Divine Presence. 2. 'Tis not the gift; but 'tis the spirit. Outward and Inward Virtue. 3. When the storms of sorrow gather. God our Guide. From the various editions of his Matins and Vespers additional hymns arc also in modern use:— 4. If all our hopes and all our fears. Heaven Anticipated. (1823.) 5. In Thy courts let peace be found. Public Worship. (1841.) 6. The offerings to Thy throne which rise. Heart Worship. (1824.) 7. Who shall roll away the stone? Easter. In Beard's Collection, 1837, and Matins & Vespers, 1841. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

George Burder

1752 - 1832 Hymnal Number: 123 Author of "Come, ye that [who] know and fear the Lord" in The New York Choralist Burder, George, born in London, June 5, 1752, and trained as an engraver. At the age of 24 he commenced preaching with the Calvinist Methodists, but subsequently joined the Congregationalists,and was pastor sucessively at Lancaster, Coventry, and Fetter Lane, London. He was one of the active founders of the Religious Tract, the London Missionary, and the British and Foreign Bible Societies, and some time editor of the Evangelical Magazine. He died May 29, 1832. His works include Village Sermons, 1704; Sea Sermons, 1821; Cottage Sermons, 1826, and others. He is known to hymnology by his Collection of Hymns from various Authors, intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts, &c, 1784. (Preface dated Nov. 20, 1784.) It had attained to the 25th edition in 1827. To this collection he contributed 4 hymns, the best known being, "Sweet the time, exceeding sweet" (q.v.), sometimes altered to "Great the joy when Christians meet." The remaining three, all from the 1st edition 1784, are:— 1. Come, dear Desire of nations, come. Missions. 2. Come ye that know and fear the Lord. Love of God. In Dr. Hatfield's Church H. Bk., N.Y., 1872, 5 st. out of 9 are given as No. 236. 3. Lord, solemnize our trifling minds. Before Sermon. Altered to "Great God, impress our trifling minds," in the New Congregational Hymn Book, No. 786, &c. Burder's Collection is of importance in the history of Congregational hymnody. The 1st edition, 1784, contained 187 hymns; 2nd edition, 1784, 211; 9th edition, 1803, 257 hymns; 18th edition, 1820, 277; and the last, the 25th edition, 1827, 294. His son, Henry Foster Burder, published a Collection of Ps. & Hymns, 1826; and another son, the Rev. John Burder, also compiled a Collection published without date. To the 18th edition, 1820, of G. Burder's Collection, the wife of his son H. F. Burder contributed "And will the God Who reigns on high " (Sunday Schools), under the signature “S. M. Burder" [Sophia Maria]. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

William Mason

1725 - 1797 Hymnal Number: 196 Author of "Again returns the day of holy rest" in The New York Choralist Mason, William, M.A., was born at Kingston-upon-Hull, 1725, and educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He was some time a Fellow of Pembroke Hall. On taking Holy Orders he became Rector of Aston, and Precentor of York Minster. He died April 5, 1797. His poetical writings, including Poems, Tragedies, Odes, and Hymns, published at intervals, were collected and issued in 4 vols. in 1811 as The Works of William Mason, M.A., Precentor of York, and Rector of Aston. His hymns, few in number, include, "Again the day returns of holy rest”; "Soon shall the evening star with silver [silent] ray", &c. These are in vol. i. of his Works. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ======================= Born: February 12, 1725, Kingston-upon-Hull, England. Died: April 7, 1797, Aston, England. There is a plaque to his memory in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey (next to Milton), with a bas relief image of him. Pseudonym: Malcolm MacGregor. Mason was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge, and became fellow of Pembroke College in 1749. After taking Holy Orders, he became Rector of Aston (near Rotherham), Yorkshire, in 1754. He was appointed Prebend of Holme in York Minster in 1756, Canon Residentiary in 1762, became Precentor and Prebendary of Driffield in 1763. He also served as literary executor for poet Thomas Gray. His works include: Musaeus, 1744 (a lament for Alexander Pope, in the style of Lycidas) Isis, 1748 Elfrida, 1752 Odes, 1756 Caractacus, 1759 The English Garden, 1772, 1777, 1779 and 1782 An Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers, 1774 Ode to Mr. Pinchbeck, 1776 Epistle to Dr. Shebbeare, 1777 Essay, Historical and Critical, of Church Music, 1795 Sappho, 1797 Sources: Julian, p. 717 Robinson, p. 35 http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/s/mason_w2.htm ======================== http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Mason_%28poet%29

Gerard T. Noel

1782 - 1851 Hymnal Number: 105 Author of "When musing sorrow weeps [mourns] the past" in The New York Choralist Gerard Thomas Noel was born in 1782. His studies were pursued at the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge. He graduated M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge. He was successively Curate of Radwell, Vicar of Rainham, and Curate of Richmond. In 1834, he was Canon of Winchester, and in 1840, Vicar of Romsey, were he died in 1851. He published some Sketches of Travel, and a Selection of Psalms and Hymns. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. =================== Noel, Hon. Gerard Thomas, M.A., elder brother of the Hon. Baptist W. Noel, was born Dec. 2, 1782, and educated at Edinburgh and Cambridge. Taking Holy Orders, he held successively the curacy of Bad well, Hertfordshire, the Vicarages of Rainham and Romsey, and a Canonry in Winchester Cathedral. He died at Romsey, Feb. 24, 1851. His published works include Fifty Sermons for the Use of Families, 1830; Sermons preached in Romsey, 1853; and Arvendel, or Sketches in Italy and Switzerland, 1813. In this last work some of his earlier hymns appeared. He also compiled:— A Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the New Version of the Church of England and others; corrected and revised for Public Worship, London, J. Hatchard, 1810. In this Selection he gave a few hymns of his own, but anonymously. The 3rd edition, 1820, is enlarged, and has an Appendix of 17 hymns. Three of his hymns are in common use:— 1. If human kindness meets return. Jesus the Friend. This appeared in his Arvendel, &c, and his Selection of Psalms & Hymns, 1810, No. 45. It is in extensive use. 2. Stamped as the purpose of the skies. Missions. This is found in the February number of the Christian Observer, 1810, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and is signed "N." In his Selection of Psalms & Hymns, 1810, No. 48, and in the 3rd edition, 1820, No. 174, it begins "Mark'd as the purpose of the skies." In this form it is known to the modern collections. 3. When musing sorrow weeps [mourns] the past. Desiring Heaven. Given in the second edition of his Selection 1813, No. 48. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Thomas Scott

1705 - 1775 Hymnal Number: 216c Author of "Angel [Angels], roll the rock [stone] away" in The New York Choralist Thomas Scott was born at Norwich, and was the son of a Dissenting minister. After his education he began his ministerial life at Wartmell, in Norfolk, adding also the labours of school-teaching. Subsequently he changed his pastoral relations several times, spending the last years of his life at Hupton, in Norfolk, where he died in 1776. He was the author of some prose works, several poems, and a few hymns. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 ============================ Scott, Thomas, son of Thomas Scott, Independent Minister at Norwich, brother of Elizabeth Scott, and nephew of Dr. Daniel Scott, was born at Norwich, 1705. As a young man he kept a school at Wortwell, and preached once a month at Harleston, Norfolk. Then, after a short ministry at Lowestoft, he removed in 1734 to Ipswich as co-pastor with Mr. Baxter of the Presbyterian congregation meeting in St. Nicholas Street Chapel. On the death of his senior in 1740 he became sole pastor. In 1774 he retired to Hapton, and died there in 1775. He was the author of various poetical works, including:— (1) The Table of Cebes; or, the Picture of Human Life, in English Verse, with Notes, 1754; (2) The Book of Job, in English Verse; translated from the original Hebrew, with Remarks, Historical, Critical, and Explanatory, 1771; 2nd ed. 1773; (3) Lyric Poems, Devotional and Moral. By Thomas Scott, London, James Buckland, 1773. To Dr. Enfield's Hymns for Public Worship, Warrington, 1772, he contributed "All-knowing God, 'tis Thine to know" (p. 43, ii.); "Angels! roll the rock away" (p. 69, i.); "As various as the moon " (p. 85, ii.); and the following:— 1. Absurd and vain attempt to bind. Persecution. 2. Behold a wretch in woe. Mercy. 3. Imposture shrinks from light. Private Judgment, its Rights and Duties. 4. Mark, when tempestuous winds arise. Meekness. 5. O come all ye sons of Adam and raise. Universal Praise to God. 6. Th' uplifted eye and bended knee. Devotion vain without Virtue. 7. Was pride,alas, e'er made for man? Humility. 8. Why do I thus perplex? Worldly Anxiety reproved. In his Preface to his Lyric Poems, 1773, he said that the object of his work was:— "To form a kind of little poetical system of piety and morals. The work opens with natural religion. Thence it proceeds to the mission of Jesus Christ, his sufferings, his exaltation, and the propagation of his doctrine. Next is the call to repentance, the nature and blessedness of a Christian life, and the entrance into it. These topics are succeeded by the various branches of devotion: after which are ranked the moral duties, personal and social, the happy end of a sincere Christian, and the coming of Jesus Christ to finish his mediatorial kingdom by the general judgment. The whole is closed with a description of the illustrious times, when by means of the everlasting gospel, the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Of Scott's better known hymns this volume contained most of those named above, and:— 9. Hasten, sinner, to be wise. p. 493, ii. 10. Who, gracious Father, can complain? The Divine Dispensation In the Collection of Hymns and Psalms, &c, 1795, by Kippis, Rees, and others, several of the above were repeated, and the following were new:— 11. If high or low our station be. Justice. 12. Happy the meek whose gentle breast. Meekness. Doctrinally Scott might be described as an evangelical Arian. Hymns of his appear in most of the old Presbyterian collections at the close of the last century, and in the early Unitarian collections. Several are still in common use in G. Britain and America. [Rev. Valentine D. Davis, B.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Swertner

1746 - 1813 Hymnal Number: 214b Author of "Sing Hallelujah, praise [ye] the Lord" in The New York Choralist Swertner, John, b. Sept. 12, 1746, at Haarlem, in Holland, Moravian minister at various places in England and Ireland; d. at Bristol, March 11, 1813. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

W. Shrubsole

1759 - 1829 Person Name: William Shrubsole Hymnal Number: 74 Author of "Arm of the Lord, awake, awake, put on thy strength" in The New York Choralist William Shrubsole was born in Sheerness, Kent, in 1759. His first occupation was as a shipwright in Sheerness Dockyard, but he was promoted, and afterwards removed to London, where he at length held the position of Secretary to the Committee of the Treasury in the Bank of England. He died at Highbury, in 1829. Mr. Shrubsole was the author of several hymns, and some articles in the religious magazines of his day. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. ============================= Shrubsole, William, eldest son of William Shrubsole, a master mastmaker in the dockyard at Sheerness, Kent, and a Lay Preacher, was born at Sheerness, Nov. 21, 1759. In his earlier years he was engaged as a shipwright in the dockyard, and then as a clerk. In 1765 he removed to London, and entered the Bank of England as a clerk. He subsequently became the Secretary to the Committee of the Treasury. He died at Highbury, Aug. 23, 1829. Mr. Shrubsole was for some time a communicant at St. Anne's, Blackfriars, during the incumbency of the Rev. W.Goode; but during the last twenty years of his life he was a member with the Congregationalists, and attended the Hoxton Academy Chapel. He interested himself in religious societies, and especially the London Missionary Society (of which he became a director and one of the secretaries), the Bible Society, and the Religious Tract Society. He contributed hymns to the Evangelical Magazine, the Christian Magazine, the Theological Miscellany, the Christian Observer and the Youths' Magazine, at various dates, from 1775 to 1813. To these works we have traced nearly twenty of his hymns. A Memoir of Shrubsole was contributed by his daughter to Dr. Morison's Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society, 2 vols., London, Fisher, Sons & Co., 1844. Seven of his hymns are also given, together with a portrait, in the same work. His hymns in common use include:— 1. Arm of the Lord, awake, awake. Put on Thy strength, the nations shake. Missions. This appeared in Missionary Hymns, 1795; and in Morison's Fathers and Founders, &c, 1844, vol. i. p. 451, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. Dr. Rogers in his Lyra Britannica, 1867, attributes this hymn to Shrubsole's father, and dates it 1780. Against this statement we can only put the fact that it is claimed in Morison for the son. Original text, Lyra Britanica, 1867, p. 502. 2. Bright as the sun's meridian blaze . Missions. Written Aug. 10, 1795, for the first meeting of the London Missionary Society. It was printed in the Evangelical Magazine, Sept., 1795, headed “On the intended Mission," and signed "Junior." It is also in Morison, 1844, i. p. 449, together with the note that the hymn "was duly acknowledged by Mr. Shrubsole in his lifetime, and the original manuscript, with numerous corrections, is in possession of his family, in his own autograph," and that it bears date "August 10, 1795." Original text Lyra Britanica, 1867, p. 504. 3. In all the paths my feet pursue. Looking unto Jesus. Appeared in the Evangelical Magazine, 1794; in Morison, i., 1844, p. 454; and Lyra Britanica, 1867, p. 503. 4. Shall science distant lands explore? Missions. Published in the Evangelical Magazine, 1795; and again in Morison, 1844, i. p. 452. 5. When streaming from the Eastern skies . Daily Duties; or, Morning. Published in the Christian Observer, Aug., 1813, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, headed "Daily Duties, Dependence and Enjoyment," and signed Probus. Also in Morison, 1844, i. p. 453; and Lyra Brittanica, 1867, p. 505. The well-known cento, "As every day Thy mercy spares," is from this hymn, and begins with st. iii. 6. Ye saints, your grateful praises bring

George Keith

1638 - 1716 Hymnal Number: 190 Author of "How firm a foundation, ye [you] saints of the Lord" in The New York Choralist George Keith, according to D. Sedgwick, was the author of "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord." Little is known about Keith, save that he was a publisher, a son-in-law of Dr. Gill, and the composer of several hymns. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.

James Joyce

1781 - 1850 Hymnal Number: 51b Author of "Why, on the bending willows hung" in The New York Choralist Joyce, James, M.A., was born at Frome, Somersetshire, Nov. 2, 1781, and was for some years Vicar of Dorking, and died there Oct. 9, 1850. He published A Treatise on Love to God, &c, 1822, The Lays of Truth, a Poem, 1825; and Hymns with Notes, 1849. This last is a small work which he compiled for his parishioners. It is composed of passages of Holy Scripture, Meditations, and 20 Hymns. Of his hymns, the following are in common use:— 1. Disown'd of Heav'n, by man opprest. [On behalf of the Jews.] Tlds appeared in the Christian Observer, Nov., 1809, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, headed, "Hymn applicable to the present condition of the Jews," and signed "J. J." The form in which it is known to modern collections is, "O why should Israel's sons, once bless'd." This appeared in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, and is widely used. The cento, "Lord, visit Thy forsaken race—vine," in use in America, is Bickersteth's (1833) somewhat altered. 2. High on the bending willows hung. [On behalf of the Jews.] This hymn was given in the December number of the Christian Observer, 1809, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, as "A second hymn applicable to the present condition of the Jews," and signed “J. J." 3. Israel bewails her freedom gone. [On behalf of the Jews.] This is his “Third Hymn applicable to the present condition of the Jews,” and was given in the Christian Observer, Dec. 1809, with No. 2. It is in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and signed “J. J.” --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Simon Browne

1680 - 1732 Hymnal Number: 114b Author of "And now, my soul another year" in The New York Choralist Simon Browne was born at Shepton Mallet, Somersetshire, about 1680. He began to preach as an "Independent" before he was twenty years of age, and was soon after settled at Portsmouth. In 1716, he became pastor in London. In 1723, he met with some misfortunes, which preyed upon his mind, and produced that singular case of monomania, recorded in the text-books of Mental Philosophy; he thought that God had "annihilated in him the thinking substance, and utterly divested him of consciousness." "Notwithstanding," says Toplady, "instead of having no soul, he wrote, reasoned, and prayed as if he had two." He died in 1732. His publications number twenty-three, of which some are still in repute. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872. ================== Browne, Simon. A contemporary of Dr. Watts, born at Shepton Mallet, Somersetshire, cir. 1680, and died in 1732. After studying for the Independent Ministry under the Rev. John Moore, of Bridgewater, he became pastor of an Independent charge in Portsmouth, and then, in 1716, of the Independent-Chapel in Old Jewry, London. His lateryears were clouded by a peculiar malady, under the influence of which "he imagined that God had in a gradual manner annihilated in him the thinking substance, and utterly divested him of consciousness." It is supposed that the death of a highwayman at his hands during a violent struggle, followed by that of his wife and son a short time after, had much to do in producing this sad result. Whilst thus contending that he had no power to think, he produced a work in defence of Christianity, another in defence of the Trinity, a third as an Exposition of the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, and a fourth in the form of a Dictionary. His publications number over 20. Of these works, he is known to hymnology through his:— Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books, designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts, &c, 1720, 2nd edition 1741, 3rd edition 1760. It contains 166 hymns, 7 doxologies, and a Preface of some historical interest. In the old collections Simon Browne's hymns (all of which are from the above collection) held a prominent position, but in modern hymnals they are fast passing out of use. The best known and most widely used are "Come, Holy [gracious] Spirit, Heavenly Dove," "O God, on Thee we all depend," and "Lord, at Thy feet we sinners lie." In addition the following are also in common use:— 1. Eternal God, Almighty Cause. Unity of God. 2. Eternal God, of beings First. God all in all . 3. Frequent the day of God returns. Sunday. 4. Great First of beings, Mighty Lord. Creation. 5. Great God, my joyful thanks to Thee. Thanksgiving. 6. Great God, Thy peerless excellence. Imitation of God. 7. Great Lord of earth and seas and skies. Providence. 8. Great Ruler of the earth and sky. Providence. 9. Hail, Holy Spirit, bright, immortal, Dove. Whitsuntide. 10. Hail, happy day, the [thou] day of holy rest. Sunday. 11. I cannot shun the stroke of death. Death. 12. Lord, Thou art good; all nature shows. Divine Goodness. 13. Lord, what a feeble frame is ours. Frailty of Life. 14. O God, on Thee we all depend. Confidence in God. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)