O Thou Great Friend

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O Thou great Friend to all the sons of men

Author: Theodore Parker (1846)
Published in 113 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

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Representative Text

1 O Thou great Friend to all the sons of men,
Who once appeared in humblest guise below,
Sin to rebuke, to break the captive’s chain,
And call Thy brethren forth from want and woe,

2 Thee would I sing: Thy truth is still the light
Which guides the nations groping on their way,
Stumbling and falling in disastrous night,
Yet hoping ever for the perfect day.

3 Yes, Thou art still the Life; Thou art the Way
The holiest know— Light, Life, and Way of heaven;
And they who dearest hope and deepest pray
Toil by the truth, life, way, which Thou hast given.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnal #174

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Author: Theodore Parker

Parker, Theodore, M.A., was born at Lexington, Massachusetts, Aug. 24, 1810; laboured with his father as a farmer and mechanic; entered Harvard College in 1830, but continued his work at home and attended the College for examinations; attended the Divinity School from 1834 to 1836, and became pastor of the Unitarian congregation in West Roxbury, June 21, 1837. He received the degree of M.A. from his College in 1840. Changes in his theological views led him to undertake the pastorate of a congregation in Boston, in January 1846. He continued his writing, preaching, and lecturing till 1859, when bleeding at the lungs compelled him to seek relief in Europe. He died at Florence, May 10, 1860. His publications were numerous, and have been republ… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	O Thou great Friend to all the sons of men
Title:	O Thou Great Friend
Author:	Theodore Parker (1846)
Meter:	10.10.10.10
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

LANGRAN

LANGRAN (also known as ST. AGNES) was composed by James Langran (b. London, England, 1835; d. London, 1909) and first published by Novello in a pamplet in 1861 as a setting for the hymn text "Abide with Me." Several other texts have also been set to the tune, which is one of Langran's best. Sing it…

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MORECAMBE

MORECAMBE was composed in 1870 by Frederick C. Atkinson (b. Norwich, England, 1841; d. East Dereham, England, 1896) as a setting for Henry Lyte's "Abide with Me" (442). It was first published in G. S. Barrett and E.J. Hopkins's Congregational Church Hymnal (1887). The tune is named for a coastal tow…

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CASSIDY

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