You help make Hymnary.org possible.

In 2025, more than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources, and encouragement here. If Hymnary has meant something to you this year, would you take a moment to help sustain it? A gift of any size — and a note of encouragement, if you'd like to share one — directly supports the server costs, research, and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org (c/o Calvin University)
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for being part of this important online ministry resource.

A Constant Friend

Representative Text

1 All unseen the Master walketh
By the toiling servant's side;
Wondrous words of life He speaketh,
While His hands uphold and guide.

Refrain:
Grief, nor pain, nor any sorrow
Rends thy heart, to Him unknown,
He today and He tomorrow
Grace sufficient gives His own.

2 When thy loved ones cross the border,
Jesus is the link between
They can gaze upon His glory,
Thou can'st on His bosom lean. [Refrain]

3 Holy strivings nerve and strengthen,
Long endurance wins the crown;
When the ev’ning shadows lengthen,
Thou shalt lay thy burden down. [Refrain]

Source: Alexander's Gospel Songs No. 2 #147

Author: Thomas MacKellar

Mackellar, Thomas, was born in New York, Aug. 12, 1812. At the age of 14 he entered the printing establishment of Harper Brothers. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia and joined the type-foundry firm of Johnson & Smith, as proof reader. He subsequently became a foreman, and then a partner in that firm, which has been known from 1860 as Mackellar, Smiths, and Jordan, type-founders of Philadelphia. His publications include The American Printer, 1866, a prose work, and the following in verse:— (1) Droppings from the Heart, 1844; (2) Tam's Fortnight Ramble, 1847; (3) Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; (4) Rhymes Atween Times, 1872. The last contains some of his hymns. (5) Hymns and a few Metrical Psalms, Phila. 1883 (71 hymns, 3 psalms… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: All unseen the Master walketh
Title: A Constant Friend
Author: Thomas MacKellar
Meter: 8.7.8.7
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Grief, nor pain, nor any sorrow
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

STOCKWELL (Jones)


[All unseen the Master walketh]


STUTTGART

STUTTGART was included in Psalmodia Sacra (1715), one of the most significant hymnals of the early sixteenth century [sic: eighteenth century]. Christian F. Witt (b. Altenburg, Germany, e. 1660; d. Altenburg, 1716) was an editor and compiler of that collection; about 100 (of the 774) tunes in that c…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #16934
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances in all hymnals

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #16934

Include 32 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.