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Anna Sophia von Hessen-Darmstadt

1638 - 1683 Person Name: Anna Sophia of Hesse-Darmstadt Hymnal Number: 260 Author of "Speak, O Lord, Thy servant heareth" in The Lutheran Hymnary Anna Sophia, daughter of the Landgrave Georg II. of Hesse-Darmstadt, was born at Marburg, Dec. 17, 1638. Carefully educated, especially in Holy Scripture and the Christian Fathers, she was in 1657 elected Pröbstin of the Lutheran Fürsten-Tochter-Stift at Quedlinburg, where she became Abbess 1680, and died Dec, 13, 1683 (Koch, iii. 549-554; Stromberger's preface, &c). Her hymns, contemplations on the union of the soul with Christ, in the spirit of the Canticles, mostly appeared in her devotional work:— Der Treue Seelen-Freund Christus Jesus mit nach denklichen Sinn-Gemählden, anmuthigen Lehr-Gedichten und neuen geistreichen Gesangen, abgedruckt und vorgestellet, Jena, 1658. The only one translation into English is Wohl dent der Jesum liebet [Holy Scripture], her best hymn, 1658, Appx. p. 26. The translations are: (l) "How happy they, who know and love," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 82. (2) "What joy to love the Saviour," in the British Herald, Nov. 1866, p. 363, repeated as No. 433 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

George Lomas

1834 - 1884 Person Name: G. Lomas. 1834—1884 Hymnal Number: 398 Composer of "[I lift my heart to Thee]" in The Lutheran Hymnary Born: 1834, Birch Hall, Bolton, Lancashire, England. Died: 1884, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. A student of William Sterndale Bennett and Charles Steggall, Lomas received his BMus degree from New College, Oxford. He played the organ at Didsbury Parish Church, and at Emmanuel Church, Barlow Moor, Manchester (1858-84). Music: CHAMOUNI ST. PAUL'S COLLEGE SURSUM CORDA http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/l/o/m/lomas_g.htm ============= George Lomas was born in England and was a volunteer organist for twenty-five years before becoming a professional musician. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music at age forty-five, only five years before his death. The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, 1993

Michael Altenburg

1584 - 1640 Person Name: J. M. Altenburg Hymnal Number: 85 Author of "Be not dismayed, thou little flock" in The Lutheran Hymnary Altenburg, Johann Michael, b. at Alach, near Erfurt, on Trinity Sunday, 1584. After completing his studies he was for some time teacher and precentor in Erfurt. In 1608 he was appointed pastor of Ilversgehofen and Marbach near Erfurt; in 1611, of Troch-telborn; and in 1621 of Gross-Sommern or Som-merda near Erfurt. In the troublous war times he was forced, in 1631, to flee to Erfurt, and there, on the news of the victory of Leipzig, Sept. 17, 1631, he composed his best known hymn. He remained in Erfurt without a charge till, in 1637, he was appointed diaconus of the Augustino Church, and, in 1638, pastor of St. Andrew's Church. He d. at Erfurt February 12, 1640 (Koch, iii. 115-117 ; Allg. Deutsche Biog., i. p. 363, and x. p. 766—the latter saying he did not go to Erfurt till 1637). He was a good musician, and seems to have been the composer of the melodies rather than of the words of some of the hymns ascribed to him. Two of his hymns have been tr. into English, viz. :—1. Aus Jakob's Staxnm ein Stern sehr klar. [Christmas.] Included as No. 3 of his Christ-liche liebliche und anddchtige newe Kirchen- und Hauss-Gestinge, pt. i., Erfurt, 1G20, in 3 st. of 5 1. According to Wetzel's A. H., vol. i., pt. v. p. 41, it was first pub. in J. Forster's Jlohen Festtags-Schreinlein, 1611. In the Unv. L. S., 1851, No. 24. It has been tr. as " From Jacob's root, a star so clear," by Miss Manington, 1864, p. 13.2. Verzage nicht du Hauflein klein. [In Trouble.] Concerning the authorship of this hymn there are three main theories—i. that it is by Gustavus Adolphus; ii. that the ideas are his and the diction that of his chaplain, Dr. Jacob Fabricius; and iii. that it is by Altenburg. In tracing out the hymn we find that:—The oldest accessible form is in two pamphlets published shortly after the death of Gustavus Adolphus, viz., the Epicedion, Leipzig, n.d. but probably in the end of 1632 [Royal Library, Berlin]: and Arnold Mengering's Blutige Siegs-Crone, Leipzig, 1633 [Town Library, Hamburg]. In the Epicedion the hymn is entitled, " Konig-licher Schwanengesang So ihre Majest. vor dem Ltltzen-schen Treffen inniglichen zu Gott gesungen "; and in the Siegs-Crone, p. 13, "Der S. Kon. Mayt. zu Schweden Lied, welches Sie vor der Schlacht gesungen." In both cases there are 3 sts. :—i. Verzage nicht, du Hiiuffiein klein. ii. Triistedich dess, dass deine Sach. iii. So wahr Gott Gott ist, und sein Wort.The next form is that in J. Clauder's Psalmodiae Novae Pars Tertia, Leipzig, 1636, No. 17, in 5 st. of 6 lines, st. i.-iii. as above, and—iv. Ach Gott gieb in des deine Gnad v. Hilff dass wir auch nach deinem Wort. No author's name is given. In the Bayreuth G. B., 1668, p. 266, st. iv., v., are marked as an addition by Dr. Samuel Zehner; and by J. C. Olearius in his Lieder-Schatz, 1705, p. 141, as written in 1638 (1633 ?), when the Croats had partially burnt Schleusiugen, where Zehner was then superintendent.The third form of importance is that given in Jcremias Weber's Leipzig G. B., 1638, p. 651, where it is entitled " A soul-rejoicing hymn of Consolation upon the watchword—God with us—used by the Evangelical army in the battle of Leipzig, 7th Sept., 1631, composed by M. Johann Altenburg, pastor at Gross Soinmern in Dtiringen," [i.e. Sommerda in Thuringia]. It is in 5 sts., of which sts. i.-iii. are the same as the 1633, and are marked as by Altenburg. St. iv., v., beginning— iv. Drilmb sey getrost du kleines Heer v. Amen, das hilff Ilerr Jesu Christ, are marked as " Additamentum Ignoti." This is the form in C. U. as in the Berlin G. L. S., ed. 1863, No. 1242.In favour of Altenburg there is the explicit declaration of the Leipzig G. B., 1638, followed by most subsequent writers. The idea that the hymn was by Gustavus Adolphus seems to have no other foundation than that in many of the old hymn-books it was called Gustavus Adolphus's Battle Hymn. The theory that the ideas were communicated by the King to his chaplain, Dr. Fabricius, after the battle of Leipzig, and by Fabricius versified, is maintained by Mohnike in his Hymnologische Forschungen, 1832, pt. ii. pp. 55-98, but rests on very slender evidence. In Koch, viii. 138-141, there is the following striking word-picture:—If, then, we must deny to the hymn Albert Knapp's characterisation of it as " a little feather from the eagle wing of Gustavus Adolphus," so much the more its original title as his "Swan Song" remains true. It was on the morning of the 6 Nov., 1632, that the Catholic army under Wallenstein and the Evangelical under Gustavus Adolphus stood over against each other at Lutzen ready to strike. As the morning dawned Gustavus Adolphus summoned his Court preacher Fabricius, and commanded him, as also the army chaplains of all the other regiments, to hold a service of prayer. During this service the whole host sung the pious king's battle hymn—" Verzage nicht, du Hauflein klein."He himself was on his knees and prayed fervently. Meantime a thick mist had descended, which hid the fatal field so that nothing could be distinguished. When the host had now been set in battle array he gave them as watchword for the fight the saying, "God with us," mounted his horse, drew his sword, and rode along the lines of the army to encourage the soldiers for the battle. First, however, he commanded the tunes Ein feste Burg and Es wollt tins Gott genadig sein to be played by the kettledrums and trumpets, and the soldiers joined as with one voice. The mist now began to disappear, and the sun shone through. Then, after a short prayer, he cried out: " Now will we set to, please God," and immediately after, very loud, " Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, help me today to fight for the honour of Thy Holy Name." Then he attacked the enemy at full speed, defended only by a leathern gorget. " God is my harness," he had said to the servant who wished to put on his armour. The conflict was hot and bloody. About 11 o'clock in the forenoon the fatal bullet struck him, and he sank, dying, from his horse, with the words, “My God, my God!" Till twilight came on the fight raged, and was doubtful. But at length the Evangelical host obtained the victory, as it had prophetically sung at dawn."This hymn has ever been a favourite in Germany, was sung in the house of P. J. Spener every Sunday afternoon, and of late years has been greatly used at meetings of the Gustavus Adolphus Union—an association for the help of Protestant Churches in Roman Catholic countries. In translations it has passed into many English and American collections. Translations in C. U.:— Fear not, 0 little flock, the foe. A good tr. from the text of 1638, omitting st. iv., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Ger., 1855, p. 17. Included, in England in Kennedy, 1863, Snepp's S. of G. and G., 1871, Free Church H. Bk., 1882, and others; and in America in the Sabbath H. Book., 1858, Pennsylvania Luth. Ch. Bk., 1868, Hys. of the Church, 1869, Bapt. H. Bk., 1871, H. and Songs of Praise, 1874, and many others. Be not dismay'd, thou little flock. A good tr. of st. i.-iii. of the 1638 text in Mrs. Charles's V. of Christian Life in Song, 1858, p. 248. She tr. from the Swedish, which, in the Swensha Psalm Boken, Carlstadt, N.D. (1866), is given as No. 378, "Forfaras ej, du lilla hop !" and marked Gustaf II. Adolf. Her version is No. 204 in Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865. Thou little flock, be not afraid. A tr. of st. i.-iii. from the 1638 text, by M. Loy, in the Ohio Luth. Hymnal, 1880, No. 197. Other trs. are all from the text of 1638.(1.) " Be not dishearten'd, little flock," by Dr. II. Mills, 1856, p. 121. (2.) " Despond not, little band, although," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 41. (3.) "Be not dismay'd, thou little flock, Nor," by E. Massie, 1866, p. 143. (4.) " 0 little flock, be not afraid," in J. D. Burns's Memoir and Remains, 1869. p. 226. –John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Ludwig Helmbold

1532 - 1598 Person Name: L. Helmbold Hymnal Number: 349 Author of "From God shall naught divide me" in The Lutheran Hymnary Helmbold, Ludwig, son of Stephan Helmbold, woollen manufacturer at Muhlhausen, in Thuringia, was born at Mühlhausen, Jan. 13, 1532, and educated at Leipzig and Erfurt (B.A. in 1550). After two years' headmastership of the St. Mary's School at Mühlhausen, he returned to Erfurt, and remained in the University (M.A. 1554) as lecturer till his appointment in 1561 as conrector of the St. Augustine Gymnasium at Erfurt. When the University was reconstituted in 1565, after the dreadful pestilence in 1563-64, he was appointed dean of the Philosophical Faculty, and in 1566 had the honour of being crowned as a poet by the Emperor Maximilian II., but on account of his determined Protestantism he had to resign in 1570. Returning to Mühlhausen, he was appointed, in 1571, diaconus of the St. Mary's Church, and 1586, pastor of St. Blasius's Church and Superintendent of Mühlhausen. He died at Mühlhausen, April 8, 1598. (Koch, ii. 234-248; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xi. 701-702; Bode, pp. 87-88, &c.) Helmbold wrote many Latin hymns and odes, and numerous German hymns for school use, including a complete metrical version of the Augsburg Confession. His Hymns for church use are mostly clear and concise paraphrases of Scripture histories and doctrines, simple and earnest in style. Lists of the works in which his hymns appeared (to the number of some 400) are given by Koch and Bode. His hymns translated into English are:— i. Herr Gott, erhalt uns für und für. Children. On the value of catechetical instruction as conveyed in Luther's Catechism for Children. First published in Helmbold's Dreyssig geistliche Lieder auff die Fest durchs Jahr. Mühlhausen, 1594 (preface to tenor, March 21, 1585), and thence in Wackernagel, iv. p. 677, and Mützell, No. 314, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines in Porst's Gesang-Buch, ed. 1855, No. 977. The only translation in common use is:— O God, may we e'er pure retain, in full, by Dr. M. Loy, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880. ii. Nun lasst uns Gott dem Herren. Grace after Meat. Included in his Geistliche Lieder, 1575, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and thence in Wackernagel, iv. p. 647, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 500. The translations are: (1) To God the Lord be rendered," as No. 326 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "Now let us praise with fervour," in the Supplement to German Psalmody, ed. 1765, p. 75. (3) "To God the Lord be praises," as No. 778 in the Moravian Hymn Book 1789 (1849, No. 1153). iii. Von Gott will ich nicht lassen. Trust in God. Lauxmann in Koch, viii. 365-370, thus relates the origin of this the best known hymn by Helmbold:— In 1563, while Helmbold was conrector of the Gymnasium at Erfurt, a pestilence broke out, during which about 4000 of the inhabitants died. As all who could fled from the place, Dr. Pancratius Helbich, Rector of the University (with whom Helmbold bad formed a special friendship, and whose wife was godmother of his eldest daughter), was about to do so, leaving behind him Helmbold and his family. Gloomy forebodings filled the hearts of the parting mothers. To console them and nerve them for parting Helmbold composed this hymn on Psalm lxxiii. v. 23. The hymn seems to have been first printed as a broadsheet in 1563-64, and dedicated to Regine, wife of Dr. Helbich, and then in the Hundert Christenliche Haussgesang, Nürnberg, 1569, in 9 stanzas of 8 lines Wackernagel, iv. pp. 630-33, gives both these forms and a third in 7 stanzas from a MS.[manuscript] at Dresden. Included in most subsequent hymnbooks, e.g. as No. 640 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The translations in common use are:— 1. From God the Lord my Saviour, by J. C. Jacobi, in his Psalmodia Germanica, 1722, p. 139, omitting st. vii. (1732, p. 134), repeated slightly altered (and with st. vi., lines 1-4 from vii., lines 1-4 of the German) as No. 320 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. Stanzas i.-iii., v., rewritten and beginning "From God, my Lord and Saviour," were included in the American Lutheran General Synod's Collection, 1850-52, No. 341. 2. Ne'er be my God forsaken. A good translation of stanzas i., ii., iv., by A. T. Russell in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 229. 3. From God shall nought divide me. A good translation, omitting st. ii., vii. by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 140. Partly rewritten in her Christian Singers, 1869, p. 154. Other translations are: (l)"God to my soul benighted," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 179). (2) "From God I will not sever," by Dr. N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 202. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock

1724 - 1803 Person Name: F. G. Klopstock Hymnal Number: 590 Author of "Blessed are the heirs of heaven" in The Lutheran Hymnary Klopstock, Friedrich Gottlieb, the eldest of the 17 children of Gottlob Heinrich Klopstock (then advocate and commissionsrath at Quedlinburg, and after 1735 amtmann at Friedeburg, on the Saale, near Halle), was born at Quedlinburg, July 2, 1724. From 1739 to 1745 he attended the famous school at Schulpforte, near Naumburg (where he conceived the first idea of his Messias); then he entered the University of Jena, in the autumn of 1745, as a student of theology, and the University of Leipzig at Easter, 1746. At Leipzig he made acquaintance with J. A. Cramer (q.v.); and became one of the contributors to the Bremer Beiträge, in which the first three books of his Messias appeared. In 1748 he became tutor in the house of a merchant named Weiss at Langensalza; and in 1750 accepted an invitation to visit Zurich (the literary capital of Switzerland), where his Messias had been received with great enthusiasm. He was then, in the spring of 1751, invited by the Danish prime minister, Count von Bernstorff, to take up his residence at the Court of King Frederick V., at Copenhagen, in order to be able to finish his Messias free from the cares of a profession; and was, in 1763, appointed Legationsrath. After the Count ceased, in the end of 1770, to be prime minister, Klopstock retired to Hamburg, in 1771, on a pension. The rest of his life was passed mainly at Hamburg, except about a year spent at Carlsruhe, at the Court of the Margave Carl Friedrich of Baden, who appointed him Hofrath. He d. at Hamburg, March 14, 1803, and was buried with civic honours on the 22nd, under a lime-tree in the churchyard at Ottensen (Koch, vi. 322; Allg. Deuteche Biog., xvi, 291, &c). Klopstock ranks among the classic poets of Germany. In his Oden (collected at Hamburg, 1771; enlarged, Leipzig, 1798; finally enlarged, Leipzig, 1804) he is seen at his best; his earlier compositions of this class being the finest modern examples for perfection of form, lyric grace, majesty, and purity of rhythm. His most famous work is his Messias, which on its first appearance created an enthusiasm such as had not been awakened by any German work for centuries. It was suggested by Milton's Paradise Lost, but Milton's calm majesty, firmness of touch, and unity of action were all foreign to Klopstock's nature—his genius was lyric rather than epic. With all its defects of style and construction, it is still a noble work, and could only have been written by a true poet and a sincere Christian; though to us its interest perhaps consists as much in its historical importance and results as in its intrinsic merits. (Books 1-3 written in prose at Jena, and then in hexameter verse at Leipzig, and first pub. in the Neue Beyträge, Bremen, 1748. Books 1-3 revised, and 4, 5 added at Halle, 1751; 6-10 added in the Copenhagen ed., 1755; 11-15, Copenhagen, 1768; 16-20, Halle, 1773. Finally revised ed. in 4 vols., Leipzig, 1800.) In his hymns Klopstock is not seen at his best. He seems to have had little apprecia¬tion of the requirements which the writer of hymns for use in public worship has to meet. His hymns are emotional and subjective, little suited to congregational tunes, and not sufficiently simple in style. In his first collection (1) Geistliche Lieder, Copenhagen, 1758, he included a number of indifferent recasts of earlier German hymns; his second collection (2) Geistliche Lieder, Copenhagen, 1769, consists entirely of original compositions. The only one of his hymns which is still much used in Germany is "Auferstehn, ja auferstehn, wirst du" (q.v.). The others which have passed into English common use are:— i. Deine heilige Geburt. Supplication. In his Geistliche Lieder, 1758, p. 44, in 141, repeated in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837, No. 468. Translated as "Saviour! by Thy holy birth," by Dr. W. L. Alexander, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines. It was written about 1830, but 1st published in the 2nd ed., 1858, of his Selection of Hymns, No. 339, entitled "Christ's aid invoked." ii. Herr, du wollst sie vollbereiten. Holy Communion. In his Geistliche Lieder, 1758, p. 135, arranged for antiphonal singing by choir and congregation. The form translated into English is "Herr, du wollst uns vorbereiten," being the first two stanzas for choir altered as No. 246 in the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, in 2 stanzas of 12 lines. Translated as "Grant us, Lord! due preparation," by L. Heyl, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Another tr. is, "O God, do Thou Thy folk prepare," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 64. iii. Nicht nur streiten, überwinden. Christian Warfare. 1st pub. in the G. B. für St. Petri Kopenhagen, 1760, No, 639; repeated in his Geistliche Lieder, 1769, p. 23, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "The Victory of the Faithful." In the Berlin Geistliche Leidersegen, ed. 1863. Translated as “Labour ever, late and early," a full but rather free tr. by Dr. Kennedy, in his Hymnologia Christiana, 1863. iv, Zeige dich uns ohne Hülle. Sunday. In his Geistliche Lieder, 1769, p. 88, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled “Preparation for Divine Service." Included in the Berlin Geistliche Leidersegen, ed. 1863. It is the only hymn by Klopstock much used in English. Translated as "Lord, remove the veil away," a good and full tr. by Miss Borthwick,in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 3rd Ser., 1858, p. 47 (1884, p. 168). Included in full in Kennedy, 1863; Eng. Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, 1867; Temple Hymn Book, 1867; Dale's English Hymn Book, 1875, and others. It is abridged in W. F. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873, Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884, and others. Hymns not in English common use:-- v. Ach wie hat mein Herz gerungen. Strength in Weakness. 1769, p. 101, in 10 stanzas, Translated as “Ah me, what woes this heart have wrung," by J. Sheppard, in his Foreign Sacred Lyre , 1857, p. 68. vi. Du wollst erhoren Gott, ihr Flehn. For the Dying . 1758, p. 73, in 11 stanzas. The form translation is the recast (probably by J. S. Diterich), as No. 120, in the Berlin Gesang-Buch 1765, beginning "Dein sind wir Gott! in Ewigkeit." Translated as "We're Thine, O God, for evermore," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 241). vii. Selig sind des Himmels Erben. For the Dying; or, At Funerals. 1758, p. 15, in 4 pts., arranged for choir and congregation, in all 10 stanzas. Founded on Rev. xiv. 13. Sung at the funeral of J. C. Lavater, January 4, 1801. Translated as "Blessed are the heirs of heaven," by G. Moultrie, in his Hymns & Lyrics, 1867, p. 337. viii. Starke, die zu dieser Zeit. For the Dying , 1758, p. 1, in 3 stanzas. Translated as "Strengthen, Lord, the weary soul," by G. Moultrie, in his Hymns & Lyrics , 1867, p. 355, marked as an "orison for the departing spirit." ix. Um Erden wandeln Monde. The Lord's Prayer. In his Oden, vol. ii., Leipzig, 1798, p. 119, marked as written in 1789, and entitled "Psalm." It is an ode of 58 lines, embodying and amplifying the Lord's Prayer. Sung at his own funeral. Translated as, (1) "Moons round their planets roll," by J. Sheppard, 1857, p. 46. (2) "Round their planets roll the moons," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 332. x. Wenn ich einst von jenem Schlummer. Morning. 1769, p. 57, in 3 stanzas. In the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 562. The translations are, (1) "When I rise again to life," by W. Nind, in his Odes of Klopstock, 1848, p. 307. (2) "When I wake from out that slumber," in A. Baskerville's Poetry of Germany, 1854, p. 39, repeated in the Schaff-Gilman Library of Religious Poetry, ed. 1883, p. 282. (3) "Father, let no day to come" (the text used begins with stanza ii. altered to "Gieb dass keiner meiner Tage"), by J. Sheppard, 1857, p. 88. (4) "Since I one day from yonder sleeping," by Miss Warner, 1869, p. 40. xi. Zitternd freu ich mich. The Vision of God. First published in the Nordische Aufselier ed. by J. A. Cramer, vol. ii. (Kopenhagen, 1760). In his Oden, Hamburg, 1771, p. 25, in 90 lines, and marked as written in 1759. Translated as, (1) "With trembling I rejoice," by W. Nind, 1848, p. 130. (2) "I joy, but tremblingly," by J. Sheppard, 1857, p. 24. (3) "Trembling I rejoice," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 329. Besides the above a considerable number of Klopstock's Oden are translated by J. Sheppard in his Foreign Sacred Lyre, 1857. A full selection from the Oden appeared as Odes of Klopstock from 1747 to 1780. Translated from the German by William Nind , London, W. Pickering, 1848. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johannes Matthaeus Meyfart

1590 - 1642 Person Name: J. M. Meyfart Hymnal Number: 610 Author of "Jerusalem, thou city fair and high" in The Lutheran Hymnary Meyfart, Johann Matthäus, was born Nov. 9, 1590 at Jena, during a visit which his mother (wife of Pastor Meyfart of Wablwinkel, near Waltershausen, Gotha) was paying to her father. He studied at the Universities of Jena (M.A. 1611; D.D. 1624) and Wittenberg, and was thereafter for some time adjunct of the philosophical faculty at Jena. In 1616, he was appointed professor in the Gymnasium at Coburg and in 1623 director; and during his residence at Coburg was a great moral power. When his colleagues in the Gymnasium made a complaint to the government regarding a dissertation (De disciplina ecclesiastica) which he published in 1633, he accepted the offer of the professorship of theology in the revived University of Erfurt. He entered on his work at Erfurt, July, 1633, was rector of the University in 1634, and in 1636 became also pastor of the Prediger Kirche. He died at Erfurt, Jan. 26, 1642 (Koch iii. 117; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xxi. 646, &c.). Meyfart's devotional works (Tuba poenitentiae prophetica, 1625; Tuba Novissima, 1626; Höllisches Sodoma, 1629; Himmlisches Jerusalem, 1630; Jüngste Gericht, 1632) passed through various editions, and produced a great impression by their vivid picturing and their earnest calls to repentance and amendment of life. His well-meant efforts, by books and otherwise, towards raising the tone of student life in Germany, and his exposition of the excesses and defects in both academical and churchly life at that period, brought him much ill will and opposition, and did not produce useful fruit till much later. His hymns were few in number, and appeared mostly in his devotional books. Only one of Meyfart's hymns has passed into English, viz. :— Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt. The New Jerusalem. This splendid hymn appeared in his Tuba Novissima, Coburg, 1626 [Ducal Library, Gotha], a volume containing four sermons preached at Coburg on the Four Last Things, viz. Death, Last Judgment, Eternal Life, and Eternal Punishment. It forms the conclusion of the third sermon (on St. Matt. xvii. 1-9) which is entitled "On the joy and glory which all the Elect are to expect in the Life everlasting." This conclusion is reprinted verbatim et literatim (i.e. with the introductory and closing sentences, and the connecting sentences between st. i., ii., iii. and iv.) in the Blätter für Hymnologie, 1883, pp. 120-124. The text of the hymn, in 8 st. of 8 1., is given unaltered, according to the marginal directions of the original (save st. vii. 1. 6, where the original is "Man spielt"), as No. 1537 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder ed. 1863. Of it Lauxmann, in Koch viii. 669, says:— "The hymn is a precious gem in our Treasury of Song, in which one clearly sees that from it the whole heart of the poet shines out on us. Meyfart had his face turned wholly to the Future, to the Last Things; and with a richly fanciful mysticism full of deep and strong faith, he united a flaming zeal for the House of the Lord, and against the abuses of his times." He adds that the hymn was a great favourite with Charles Gützlaff, the apostle of China (died at Hong Kong, Aug. 9, 1851), whose last words were "Would God I were in thee" (st. i. 1. 3) ; and of Julius Schnorr of Carolsfeld, the well-known painter, whose last work was the illustrating of this hymn, and at whose funeral in 1872 it was sung. The popularity of the hymn was greatly aided by the magnificent melody, generally ascribed to Melchior Franck [born at Zittau, 1580 ; c. 1604, capellmeister at Coburg; died at Coburg, June 1,1639], but not yet traced earlier than to the Erfurt Gesang-Buch, 1663. Translations in common use:— 1. Jerusalem, thou city built on high. A good tranlation of st. i.-iv., vii., as No. 112 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. 2. Jerusalem, thou city built on high. A good translation of st. i., iv., vi., vii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 261 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. St. i., 11. 1, 2, 4 are from the 1848 translation. The form in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 288, is i. 11. 1-4, ii. as 1848; i. 11. 5-8, vii. as 1851. 3. Jerusalem, thou city fair and high. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 220; repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 193, set to the melody of 1663. Included in full in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, and, abridged, in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, and the Uppingham and Sherborne School Hymn Book, 1874. 4. Jerusalem! high tow’r thy glorious walls. A good and full translation, by Bishop W. R. Whittingham, in the American Episcopal Hymns for Church and Home, 1860, No. 414; and the American Episcopal Hymnal, 1871. St. i., iv., viii. are in M. W. Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885. Translations not in common use:— (l) "Jerusalem, thou city of the skies." In the United PresbyterianJuvenile Mission Magazine, Dec. 1857. (2) "Jerusalem! thou glorious city-height." By Mrs. Sevan, 1858, p. 19, repeated in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868. (3) “Jerusalem, thou high-built, fair abode." In the Christian Examiner (Boston, U. S.), Sept. 1860, p. 254. (4) "Jerusalem, thou city rear'd on high. By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 94. (5) "Jerusalem! thou city towering high." By Miss Cox, in her Hymns from the German, 1864, p. 101, and in Lyra Mystica, 1865, p. 365. (6) "Jerusalem! thou city builded high." By Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, April, 1866, p. 249, and Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (7) "Jerusalem! high tow'r thy glorious walls." A full and spirited translation by J. H. Hopkins, in his Carols, Hymns and Songs, 1882, p. 182, dated 1862. St. i., 11. 1-2, are taken from Bishop Whittingham's version. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Samuel Gilman

1791 - 1858 Hymnal Number: 92 Author of "Father, be Thy blessing shed" in The Lutheran Hymnary Gilman, Samuel, D.D., was born at Gloucester, Massachusetts, Feb. 16, 1791; graduated at Harvard, 1811, and was a tutor there from 1817 to 1819. In 1819 he became the pastor of a Unitarian congregation at Charlestown, South Carolina, and retained the same to his death. He died at Kingston, Mass., Feb. 9, 1858. His hymns include:— 1. 0 God, accept the sacred hour. Holy Communion. Contributed to Dr. Harris's Hymns for the Lord's Supper , July, 1820, republished in Sewall's Unitarian Collection, New York, 1820, and in later collections. 2. We sing Thy mercy, God of love. Holy Communion. Published as in the case of No. 1. 3. Yes, to the [that] last command. Holy Communion. Published as in the case of Nos. 1 & 2. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Hullah

1812 - 1884 Person Name: J. Hullah Hymnal Number: 238 Composer of "[My God and Father, while I stray]" in The Lutheran Hymnary Born: June 27, 1812, Worcester, England. Died: February 21, 1884, London, England.

Johann D. Meyer

1636 - 1696 Person Name: J. D. Meier Hymnal Number: 443 Composer of "[O would, my God, that I could praise Thee]" in The Lutheran Hymnary

Christian Keimann

1607 - 1662 Person Name: Chr. Keimann Hymnal Number: 338 Author of "I will leave my Jesus never!" in The Lutheran Hymnary Keimann, Christian, son of Zacharias Keimann, Lutheran pastor at Pankratz, in Bohemia, and after 1616 at Ober-Ullersdorf, was born at Pankratz, Feb. 27, 1607. In the autumn of 1627 he entered the University of Wittenberg, where he graduated M.A., March 19, 1634; and in the next month was appointed by the Town Council of Zittau as Conrector of their Gymnasium, of which he became Rector in 1638. He died at Zittau, Jan. 13, 1662 (Koch, iii. 369; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xv. 535, &c). Keimann was a distinguished teacher. He was the author of a number of scholastic publications, of a few Scriptural plays, and of some 13 hymns. Almost all of his hymns came into church use. They take high rank among those of the 17th century, being of genuine poetic ring, fresh, strong, full of faith under manifold and heavy trials, and deeply spiritual. Two have passed into English:— i. Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle. Christmas. This beautiful hymn is included in 4 stanzas of 10 1. as No. 24 in pt. iv. of A. Hammerschmidt's Musikalische Andachten, published at Freiberg in Saxony, 1646; and is set to a tune by Hammerschmidt introduced by Hallelujah repeated twelve times. In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 34. According to Koch, viii. 25, it was composed as part of a piece written by Keimann for his scholars to perform at Christmastide, 1645, and published as Der neugeborne Jesus, at Görlitz, 1646. Stanza iv. may refer to the truce of 1645 between Saxony and Sweden. Translated as:— 0 rejoice, ye Christians, loudly. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, as No. 33 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, where it is set to the original melody. ii. Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht; Weil er sich fur mien gegeben. Love to Christ. First appeared in A. Hammerschmidt's Fest- Bus- und Dancklieder, Zittau and Leipzig, 1658 (engraved title, 1659), pt. iii., No. 4, in 6 stanzas of 6 lines. It is an acrostic on the dying words uttered on Oct. 8, 1656, by the Elector Johann Georg I. of Saxony: Meinen (i.), Jesum (ii.), lass (iii.) ich (iv.) nicht (v.); st. vi. giving in the initial letters of lines 1-5 (J. G. C. Z. S.) the name, viz. Johann Georg Churfürst zu Sachsen, and then in line 6 the motto in full. Founded on the words of Jacob in Gen. xxxii. 26, it has comforted and strengthened many in life and at the hour of death; and has served as the model of many later hymns. Included as No. 131 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Translated as:— I will leave my Jesus never! A good translation, omitting st. iii., included as No. 448 in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, marked as Unknown translator, 1864. Other translations are:—(1) "Never will I part with Christ," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 80 (1732, p. 132), and thence in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754 (1886 as pt. of No. 452 altered, and beginning, "Jesus will I never leave"). (2) "I will not let Jesus go," by J. S. Stallybrass in the Tonic Solfa Reporter, Dec. 1860. (3) "Jesus will I ne'er forsake," by E. Massie, 1867, p. 117. (4) "My Redeemer quit I not," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, P, 185. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)