O help us, Lord; each hour of need. H. H. Milman. [Lent.] First published in Bishop Heber's posthumous Hymns, &c, 1827, p. 52, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines and appointed for second Sunday in Lent, being based on the Gospel of that day. In his Selection of Psalms & Hymns, 1837, Milman omitted stanzas iv. and v., thus reducing it to 4 stanzas of 4 lines and each stanza beginning with the words, "Oh! help us." In this form it has come into extensive use in all English-speaking countries. In the Mitre Hymn Book, 1836, No. 190, it is partly rewritten by E. Osier as, "O help us, Lord! in all our need." This is repeated in Osier's Church and King, June 1, 1837, but it has failed to attract attention. Another arrangement, beginning with stanza ii., "O help us, when our spirits bleed," is sometimes found in modern hymnals.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Milman, Henry Hart, D.D., the youngest son of Sir Francis Milman (who received his Baronetage as an eminent Court physician), was born Feb. 10th, 1791, and educated at Dr. Burney's at Greenwich, and subsequently at Eton. His career at B. N. C. Oxford, was brilliant. He took a first class in classics, and carried off the Newdigate, Latin Verse, Latin Essay, and English Essay. His Newdigate on the Apollo Belvedere, 1812, is styled by Dean Stanley "the most perfect of Oxford prize poems." His literary career for several years promised to be poetical. His tragedy Fazio was played at Covent Garden, Miss O'Neill acting Bianca. Samor was written in the year of his appointment to St. Mary's, Reading (1817); The Fall of Jerusalem (1820); Belshazzar… Go to person page >
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