1824 - 1908 Person Name: Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Author of "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" in Singing the Faith Smith, Walter Chalmer, D.D., was born at Aberdeen Dec. 5, 1824, and educated at the Grammar School and University of that City. He pursued his Theological studies at Edinburgh, and was ordained Pastor of the Scottish Church in Chad well Street, Islington, London, Dec. 25, 1850. After holding several pastorates he became, in 1876, Minister of the Free High Church, Edinburgh. His contributions to poetical literature have been many and of great merit. His principal works are:—
(1) The Bishop's Walk, 1860; (2) Olrig Grange, 1872; (3) Borland Hall, 1874; (4) Hilda among the Broken Gods, 1878; (5) North Country Folk, 1883; (6) Kildrostan, 1884; (7) Hymns of Christ and Christian Life, 1876.
From his Hymns of Christ, &c, 1876, the following, after revision, were included in Horder's Congregational Hymns, 1884 :—
1. Immortal, Invisible, God only wise. God, All in All.
2. Lord, God, Omnipotent. Omnipotence.
3. Our portion is not here. Treasure in Heaven.
4. There is no wrath to be appeased. God is Love. In Horder's Congregational Hymns a new opening stanza was added to this hymn by Dr. Smith at the request of the editor, and in that collection the hymn begins "I vexed me with a troubled thought."
Dr. Smith's hymns are rich in thought and vigorous in expression. They deserve and probably will receive greater notice than hitherto at the hands of hymnal compilers. [Rev. W. Garrett Horder]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Smith, W. C., p. 1064, i. The following additional hymns by Dr. Smith have come into common use, mainly through The Baptist Church Hymnal, 1900:—
1. Earth was waiting, spent and restless. Christmas.
2. Faint and weary Jesus stood. Our Lord's Temptation.
3. If any to the feast have come. Holy Communion.
4. The Lord hath hid His face from us. Providence.
5. To me to live is Christ. Union with Christ.
These hymns appeared in his Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life, 1867, pp. Ill, 122, 241, 10, and 36, respectively. A collected ed. of his Poetical Works (not including his hymns) appeared in 1902. Other hymns that have come into use are:—
1. Gird your loins about with truth. Manliness.
2. Jesus, unto Whom we pray. Christ the Way.
3. One thing I of the Lord desire. Consecration.
Nos. 1, 3 are from his Thoughts and Fancies for Sunday Evenings, 1887, pp. 3, 84. No. 2 is from his Hymns of Christ, 1867, p. 31.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
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