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Christian Gregor
1723 - 1801 Person Name: Christian Gregor, 1723-1801 Author (st. 3) of "Lamb of God, Thy precious blood" in Offices of Worship and Hymns Gregor, Christian, son of Georg Gregor, a peasant living in the Silesian village of Dirsdorf, near Peilau, was born at Dirsdorf, Jan. 1, 1723. In 1742 he went to Herrnhut, where he was at first employed in tuition. He became leader of the music in the [Moravian] Brethren's congregation at Herrnhaag, in 1748, and in 1749 at Zeist; but in 1753 he returned to Herrnhut as cashier of the Brethren's Board of Direction. He was, in 1756, ordained diaconus, in 1767 presbyter, and in 1789 bishop of the Brethren's Church. On Nov. 6,1801, he attended a meeting, held at Herrnhut, of the Board of Direction of which he had been a member from 1764. Just as he entered his house at Berthelsdorf, near Herrnhut, he was struck with paralysis, and died that same day. (Koch, vi. 436; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, ix. 630.)
He was a man greatly beloved and respected, simple of heart, loving, earnest and hardworking; and was entrusted with many important missions and visitations. His hymns are characterised by childlike fervour of devotion to his crucified Lord. A number appeared in Des kleinen Brüder-Gesangbuchs dritter Theil, Barby, 1767; but they were mostly contributed to the Gesang-buch zum Gebrauch der evangelischen Brüder Gemeinen, Barby, 1778, of which he was the principal editor. He was also an excellent organist, and edited, in 1784, a collection of accompanying tunes for the hymnbook of 1778, contributing thereto various melodies by himself. A little volume entitled Historische Nachrteht vom Brüder-Gesangbuche des Jahres 1778, und von dessen Lieder-Verfassern, Gnadau, 1835 (2nd ed., 1851), occasionally referred to in these pages, is based on materials collected by Gregor.
His hymns in English common use are:—
i. Bis dereinst mein Stündlein schlägt. [Love to Christ.] 1778, No. 640, in 5 st. of 4 1. Translated as:—
Till permitted hence to go, of st. i., ii., iv., as No. 563 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 1228). In 1826 an original st.anza by T. Bird was added, beginning, " Till the day when I shall tread." Repeated thus in 1886, No. 1228, and in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 484.
ii. Die Gottes Cherubim. [The Angels.] Appeared as No. 1877 in Appendix xii. c, 1746, to the Herrnhut Gesang-Buch of 1735, thus :—
"Die Gottes Cherubim
Erheben ihre Stimm,
(Funkelnd von Blitz und Strahl,)
Ihr Lied ist, wenn ichs sagen darf,
Dazu spielt mehr als eine Harf:
Ehre dem Seitenmaal!"
In 1778 it is included as No. 1600, beginning, "Die Gottes Seraphim," and expanded to three stanzas; i. of the Angels; ii. of the Redeemed; iii. of the Church on Earth. Here the song, "Ehre dem Seitenmaal," is given to the Church on Earth, and a paraphrase of Is. vi. 3, to the Angels. The only translation in common use is :—
The Seraphim of God, in full from the 1778, by J. Miller and F. W. Foster, as No. 792 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1220), repeated in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 424. Another translation is The Cherubims of God," from the original form, as No. 93 in pt. iii. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1748.
iii. Heiliger, heiliger, heiliger, Herr Zebaoth. [Public Worship.] The introductory hymn in 1778, in 4 st. of 81, as on "The Word of God." The only translation is:—
Holy Lord, Holy lord, Holy and Almighty Lord, by F. W. Foster, C. G. Clemens, and J. Swertner, as No. 1 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1). Included from the text of 1801, as No. 217 in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864.
iv. Nach tausendfachen Plagen. [Passiontide.] 1778, No. 128, in 8 1. It is translated as :—
Behold, my soul, Thy Saviour, by P. H. Molther, as No. 352 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. See No. vi.
v. 0 angenehme Augenblicke. [Eternal Life.] Written in 1766. In 1778, No. 1749, in 2 st. of 8 1. The translations are :—
1. What heavenly joy and consolation, by P. H, Molther, of st. i., as No. 886 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1314, st. iii.). Included as st. iii. of No. 403 in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873.
2. 0 what joy, 0 what joy awaiteth me. No. 988 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801. In the 1886 edition it is marked as a translation of No. v. as above. It bears more resemblance, however, to "O wie wallt mein Herz," which is No. 268 in the 1806 Appendix to the Brüder Gesang-Buchof 1778.
vi. 0 süsse Seelenweide. [Passiontide.] 1778, No. 167, in 11 st. of 8 1. St. i., ii. are ascribed to Gregor; iii., iv., xi. to Johann Prätorius ; and v.-x. to C. B. von Zinzendorf (taken from Nos. 40 and 41 of the collected edition of his hymns, 1754). The translation is:—
How is my soul delighted, a translation of st. i., ii., iv., v., vii., x. by F. W. Foster, and J. Miller, as No. 360 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. In the 1801 and later editions (1886, No. 407), Molther's translation of No. iv. was prefixed as st. i., new trranslations of st. viii., x. given, and the rest altered. In the Book of Common Praise, ed. 1872, No. 86, is st. i., ii., 11. 5-8, and iii., by Gregor; and iv., 11. 5-8, by Prätorius, beginning, "Behold, my soul, thy Saviour."
vii. 0 Tage wahrer Seligkeit. [Joy of Forgiveness.] 1778, No. 398, in 6 st. of 8 1., included in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder S. , ed. 1863. Translated as:—
O days of solid happiness in full as No. 340 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 386). Two centos from the text of 1849 are in common use :—
1. "What days of solid happiness," st. i.-iv., as No. 433 in the edition of 1857 of Mercer's The Church Psalter & Hymnbook.
2. "Whene'er we contemplate the grace," st. iv.-vi. as No. 396 in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873.
viii. Wenn schlägt die angenehme Stunde. [Ascension.] Written for Aug. 17, 1765, and included as No. 113 in 1767, as above, in 8 1. Translated as :—
When, O when shall I have the favour, by P. H. Molther, c. 1774, included as No. 839 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789, repeated as st. ii. of No, 403, in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873. In the 1886 ed. of the Moravian Hymnbook, No. 1314, it begins, "O when shall I have that great favour."
ix. Wie wifd mir einst dooh sein. [Eternal Life.] 1778, No. 1743, in 10 st. of 6 1. In the Historische Nachricht thereto, st. i.-iii. are marked as by Gregor, and st. iv.-x. as by N. L. von Zinzendorf. St. iv.-x. are recast from a hymn beginning, "Die Bäume blühen ab," writ¬ten in the autumn of 1721, and included as No. 1245 in the 3rd edition, 1731, of his Sammlung geistund lieblicher Lieder, in 46 st. of 4 1., the stanza of the original used being in order 39, 42, 34, 18, 22, 29, 45. The only translation in common use is:—
What shall I feel, when I, in full from the 1778, by J. A. Latrobe, as No. 885 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789 (1886, No. 1301). Two centos are in use:-
1. "How shall the joy be told"; st. i.-iv., vi., viii. altered in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 498.
2. "I hear the enraptured song"; st. 2, 6, 9, 10, as No. 582 in the App. of 1873 to Mercer's The ChurchPsalter & Hymnbook.
Hymns not in English common use:—
x. Ach mein Heir Jesu! dein Nahesein. Communion with Christ. 1767, as above, No. 432, in 10 st. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder S.,, ed. 1863, No. 925. Justly characterised by Dr. Schaff in his Christ in Song, 1869, p. 496, as "One of the sweetest hymns from the holy of holies of the believer's personal communion with his Saviour, and very characteristic of Moravian piety in its best form." The trsanslations are (1) "What peace divine, what perfect happiness," by P. H. Molther, as No. 278 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1849, No. 362). In the 1886 ed. of the Moravian Hymn Book, No. 359, it begins with the translation of st. v., "Gracious Redeemer, grant to us while here." (2) "Jesus, our Lord, when Thou art near," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 122). (3) "Ah dearest Lord! to feel that Thou art near," by Miss Winkworth, 1858, p. 168. (4) "Ah, Jesus, Lord, Thou art near to me," in the British Herald, Dec, 1866, p. 372, and as No. 304 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (5) "Jesus, my Lord, Thy nearness does impart," by E. Reynolds for Schaff’s Christ in Song, 1869, p. 496.
xi. Hallelujah! der Heiland lebt. Easter. 1778, No. 203, in 17 st. (st. xiv. being by Matthaus Stach, and first published as st. ii. of No. 109, in 1767). Translated as "Sing Hallelujah, Christ doth live," as No. 131 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 142), repeated in Bishop Ryle's Collection, 1860, No. 131. Beginning with the translation of st. ix., “The God of Peace, to guilty man," 6 st. were included as No. 90 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Christian Gregor
August Gottlieb Spangenberg
1704 - 1792 Person Name: Bishop A. G. Spangenberg Author of "Lamb of God, thy precious blood" in Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church Spangenberg, August Gottlieb, son of Georg Spangenberg, Lutheran pastor at Klettenberg near Nordhausen, was born at Klettenberg, July 15, 1704. He entered the University of Jena in 1722, as a student of law, but soon abandoned law for the study of theology. He lived in the house of Professor Buddeus, graduated M.A. in 1726, and for some time lectured there. In Sept. 1732 he went to Halle as adjunct of the Theological faculty and superintendent of the Orphanage schools. Here he associated himself with the Separatists, and by an edict from Berlin was deprived of his offices, and, on April 8, 1733, was expelled from Halle. He at once proceeded to Herrnhut, and was received into the Moravian Community, with which he had become acquainted as early as 1727. In 1735 he accompanied the Moravian colony which settled in Georgia, and served also in Pennsylvania and in the Island of St. Thomas. He returned to Germany in 1739, and was for some time at Marienborn in Hesse.
In Sept. 1741 he was present at an important Moravian Conference in London, and was there appointed a member of the Unity's Direction, and also director of their financial affairs. While in England he founded, in 1742, the first English Moravian settlement, at Smith House in Yorkshire. He was then, on June 15, 1744, consecrated at Herrenhaag as Moravian Bishop for North America, and from that time till 1762 was for the most part in America, working principally in Pennsylvania, and among the Indians, and paying two visits to Europe. In 1762 he became the senior member of the Unity's Direction as successor to Zinzendorf, and thereafter resided for the most part either at Herrnhut or at Barby. The last years of his life were spent at Berthelsdorf near Herrnhut, where he resigned his offices in Sept. 1791, and died Sept. 18, 1792. (Koch, v. 337; G. F. Otto's Lexicon Oberlausizischer Schriftsteller, iii. 306; Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie, xiv., 460, &c.)
Spangenberg was an earnest and able man, was much beloved and respected, and was entrusted by the Brethren with many important missions, being e.g. the principal agent in the negotiations between the Moravians and the British Government. He did good service both in consolidating the Moravian organization and by untiring labours in America. His Autobiography appeared in 1784. He also wrote a life of Zinzendorf, in 8 vols., published at Barby 1772-75. His other chief work is his Idea fidei fratrum, &c, Barby, 1779 (English tr. as An Exposition of Christian Doctrine, as taught in the Protestant Church of the United Brethren, &c, London, 1784), which is accepted as an authorised exposition of the Moravian theology. He only wrote a few hymns, which are of fervent but rational piety, but do not entitle him to high rank as a, hymnwriter. They were mostly written before 1746. Ten of them are included in the Brüder Gesang-Buch of 1778.
Of these ten hymns the following may be noted here:—
i. Der König runt, und schauet doch. Christian Works. First published as No. 1004 in Appendix, i., 1737, to the Herrnhut Gesang-Buch 1735, and is in 8 stanzas of 10 lines. Tr. as:—
High on His everlasting Throne. This is a spirited but free translation by J. Wesley, in Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1742.
ii. Die Kirche Christi ist hin und her. Unity of the Christian Church. The hymn has been translated as:—
The Church of Christ that He hath hallow'd here. This is a good translation of st. i.-iii. of the 1778 by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 58.
iii. Heilige Einfalt, Gnadenwunder. Christian Simplicity. This is an excellent picture of his own Christian character. According to Bunsen, 1833, p. 904, it was written as a birthday hymn for his sister. The date which Bunsen gives for its composition (1744) is probably a misprint for 1741. Translated as:—
1. When simplicity we cherish. This is given in 14 stanzas as No. 387 in pt. ii., 1746, of the Moravian Hymn Book. In the 1789 and later eds. (1849, No. 603) it is reduced to 6 stanzas, and is entirely rewritten, save the opening line. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
August Gottlieb Spangenberg
Erdmuth Dorothea, Gräfin von Zinzendorf
1700 - 1756 Person Name: Erdmuth D. von Zinzendorf Author of "Lamb of God, thy precious blood" Zinzendorf, Erdmuth Dorothea, Countess von, née Countess of Reuss-Ebersdorf, b. Nov. 7, 1700, at Ebersdorf, married Count N. L. von Zinzendorf, Sep. 7, 1722, and d. June 19, 1756, at Herrnhut. [J. T. M.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Erdmuth Dorothea, Gräfin von Zinzendorf
