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John Haynes Holmes

1879 - 1964 Author of "O God, whose smile is in the sky" in The Beacon Song and Service book Born: November 29, 1879, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Died: April 3, 1964, New York City. Buried: Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist, New York City. Holmes graduated from Harvard University, Phi Beta Kappa. His grandfather, John Cummings Haynes, manager of the Oliver Ditson music publishing house, helped pay his Harvard tuition. Holmes was ordained in 1904, and became minister of the Unitarian Third Congregational Church, Dorchester, Massachusetts. In February 1907, he became junior minister at the Church of the Messiah in New York City. His works include: I Speak for Myself, 1959 Collected Hymns, 1960 --www.hymntime.com/tch/

Joseph Stennett

1663 - 1713 Author of "Behold The Savior Of The World" in The Cyber Hymnal The author was a Baptist preacher in London, from 1690, to his death in 1713. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. ============================= Stennett, Joseph, the earliest English Baptist hymnwriter whose hymns are now in common use, was born at Abingdon, Berks, in 1663. He received a superior education at the Grammar School of Wallingford, and at the age of 22 removed to London, where for several years he engaged in tuition. In 1688 he married a daughter of George Guill, a French Protestant refugee, another of whose daughters was the wife of the celebrated Presbyterian minister, Dr. Daniel Williams, who became a generous friend to Stennett. In the following year he was called to preach by the Baptist Sabbatarian congregation then meeting in Devonshire Square, London, afterwards in Pinners' Hall; and in 1690 became its pastor, a position he retained to his death, July 4, 1713. Since the meetings of this congregation for worship were on the seventh day of the week, he was free to preach to other congregations on the Sunday, which he did very frequently, especially to the General Baptist Church in the Barbican. Such was Stennett's repute for piety, learning and practical wisdom that his advice was very much sought by his Christian friends, and by the "great Whig Lords” of that day he was occasionally consulted as to the feeling of the Dissenters concerning national affairs. His published works include:— (1) Hymns in commemoration of the Sufferings of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, compos'd for the Celebration of his Holy Supper, 1697; 2nd ed. 1703 (This is entitled in Stennett's Works, 1732, Hymns for the Lord's Supper). These were 37 in number, increased to 50 in the 3rd edition, 1709. (2) In 1700 he published a poetical Version of Solomon's Song of Songs, together with the XLVth Psalm. A second edition, corrected, appeared in 1709. (3) In 1712 he published twelve Hymns composed for the Celebration of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism; 2nd ed. 1722. Stennett also translated Dacier's Plato and other works from the French, and published several sermons preached on days of National Thanksgiving and other public occasions. His Works were collected after his death and published in 1732, in 4 vols. They contain a Memoir, Sermons and Letters, the Hymns and Poems mentioned above, and a few other poetical pieces. A controversial work, An Answer to Mr. Russen's Book on Baptism, 1702, may be reckoned as a 5th vol. Of his hymns, that which, in the form of varying centos, is most widely known is, "Another six days' work is done". Others in common use include:— 1. Gracious Redeemer, how divine. Holy Communion. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, first edition, 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 98.) Usually abbreviated. 2. Immortal praise be given. Holy Communion. Published in his Hymns for The Lord's Supper, first ed., 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 97.) From this "We'll praise our risen Lord," is taken. 3. Jesus, O word divinely sweet. Redemption through Jesus. Published in Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 3rd ed. 1709, No. 47. 4. Lord, at Thy Table I behold. Holy Communion. This hymn is not in Stennett's Works. From it "With humble faith and trembling heart," is taken. 5. My blessed Saviour, is Thy love? Self-Consecration to God. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 1697, No. 22. Usually abbreviated. 6. The great Redeemer we adore. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712. 7. Whene'er one sinner turns to God. Holy Baptism. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712, No. 12. From this "See how the willing converts trace" is taken. It begins with st. iii. Several of his hymns additional to these are given in the older collections, but have passed out of use. We may add that the Joseph Stennett, the subject of this article, had a son, Joseph Stennett, D.D., who also became an eminent Baptist minister, and was the father of Samuel Stennett. [Rev.W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Edmund Jones

1722 - 1765 Author of "Come, Humble Sinner" in Songs of the Soul No. 2 Jones, Edmund, son of the Rev. Philip Jones, Cheltenham, was born in 1722, and attended for a time the Baptist College at Bristol. At the age of 19 he began to preach for the Baptist Congregation at Exeter, and two years afterwards he became its pastor. In 1760 he published a volume of Sacred Poems. After a very-useful ministry he died April 15, 1765. From an old manuscript record of the Exeter Baptist Church, it appears that it was under his ministry in the year 1759, that singing was first introduced into that Church as a part of worship. As a hymn-writer he is known chiefly through:— Come, humble sinner, in whose breast. This hymn appeared in Rippon's Baptist Selection, 1181, No. 355, in 1 stanza of 4 lines, and headed, "The successful Resolve—'I will go in unto the King,' Esther iv. 16." It has undergone several changes, including:— 1. "Come, sinner, in whose guilty breast." In the Methodist Free Church Sunday School Hymn Book, 1860. 2. “Come, trembling sinner, in whose breast." This is in a great number of American hymn-books. 3. “Come, weary sinner, in whose breast." Also in American use. Miller, in his Singers & Songs of the Church, 1869, p. 333, attributes this hymn to a Welsh Baptist hymn-writer of Trevecca, and of the same name. Rippon, however, says in the first edition of his Selection that Edmund Jones, the author of No. 333, was pastor of the Baptist Church at Exon, Devon. This decides the matter. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================ Jones, Edmund, p. 605, ii. In The Church Book, by L. W. Bacon, N. Y., 1883, No. 279 begins with stanzas ii. of Jones's hymn, "Come, humble sinner, &c," and begins:—"I'll go to Jesus, though my sin." Also note that in that article the words “author of No. 333," should read "author of No. 355." --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Thomas Cotterill

1779 - 1823 Author (attributed to) of "Our God is Love, and all His sons" in Christian Science Hymnal (Rev. and enl.) Thomas Cotterill (b. Cannock, Staffordshire, England, 1779; d. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, 1823) studied at St. John's College, Cambridge, England, and became an Anglican clergyman. A central figure in the dispute about the propriety of singing hymns, Cotterill published a popular collection of hymns (including many of his own as well as alterations of other hymns), Selection of Psalms and Hymns in 1810. But when he tried to introduce a later edition of this book in Sheffield in 1819, his congregation protested. Many believed strongly that the Church of England should maintain its tradition of exclusive psalm singing. In a church court the Archbishop of York and Cotterill reached a compromise: the later edition of Selection was withdrawn, and Cotterill was invited to submit a new edition for the archbishop's approval. The new edition was published in 1820 and approved as the first hymnal for the Anglican church of that region. Cotterill's suppressed book, however, set the pattern for Anglican hymnals for the next generation, and many of its hymns are still found in modern hymnals. Bert Polman =============== Thomas Cotterill was born in 1779; studied at S. John's College, Cambridge, graduating M.A.; ordained in 1806, and enterred upon parochial work at Tutbury; afterwards removed to Lane End, where he remained for nine years among the Potteries; in 1817, became perpetual Curate of S. Paul's, Sheffield. He died in 1823. He was the author of several books; among them, "A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use, adapted to the Services of the Church of England." In the preparation of this collection (the 8th ed., 1819), he had the assistance of Montgomery, who in this work did what he condemned in others, viz., altering and remodeling other authors' hymns. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872. ====================== Cotterill, Thomas, M.A., was the son of a woolstapler at Cannock, Staffordshire, where he was born Dec. 4, 1779. After attending the local boarding-school of the Rev. J. Lomax, he proceeded to the Free School, Birmingham. He graduated at St. John's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1801, M.A. 1805), of which he became a Fellow. Taking Holy Orders, he became Curate of Tutbury in June, 1803 (not 1806, as stated by Miller in Singers & Songs of the Church). His subsequent charges were the Incumbency of Lane End, Staffordshire, 1808-17, and the Perpetual Curacy of St. Paul's Sheffield, 1817-23. He died at Sheffield Dec. 29, 1823 (not Jan. 5, 1824, as in the Gentleman’s Magazine), aged 44. His volume of Family Prayers attained to the sixth edi¬tion in 1824. As a hymn-writer, Cotterill is less known than as the compiler of a Selection of Psalms and Hymns which has had a most marked effect on modern hymnals. The first edition of that Selection was published in 1810, and the 9th in 1820. All subsequent issues were reprints of the last. The most important edition is the 8th, 1819. To that Selection Cotterill contributed at various dates 25 original hymns and versions of individual psalms. These, in common with all the hymns in the Selection, are given without author's name. Through the aid, however, of marked copies [in the collections of Brooke and Julian] and of members of Cotterill's family, we are enabled to identify most, if not all, of his original productions. In addition to those which are annotated under their first lines, we have— i. In his Selection of Psalms & Hymns for Public and Private Use, adapted to the Festivals of the Church of England, &c, 1st ed., 1810:— 1. Awake, O sword, the Father cried. Atonement. 2. Before Thy throne of grace, O Lord. Lent. 3. From Sinai's mount, in might array'd. The Law and the Gospel. 4. From Thine all-seeing Spirit, Lord. Ps. 139. 5. In all the ways and works of God. Ps. 145. 6. Out of the deeps, O Lord, we call. Ps. 130. 7. The Lord, who once on Calvary. The Intercessor. This is based on “Where high the heavenly temple stands," q. v. ii. In the Appendix to the 6th ed. of the same Selection, Staffordshire, 1815:— 8. Blessed are they who mourn for sin. Lent. 9. Father of mercies, let our songs [way, ways]. Thanksgiving. 10. I was alive without the law. Lent. 11. Lord of the Sabbath, 'tis Thy day. Sunday. iii. In the 8th edition of the same, 1819 :— 12. Help us, O Lord, Thy yoke to wear. Charity Sermons. This is sometimes given as "Lord, let us learn Thy yoke to wear," as in Kennedy, 1863, &c. 13. I love the Lord, for He hath heard. Ps. 116. 14. Lo in the East a star appears. Epiphany. This in an altered form begins in Kennedy, 1863, No. 188, with stanza ii., "The ancient sages from afar." 15. Lord, cause Thy face on us to shine. For Unity. 16. When Christ, victorious from the grave. Easter. The 9th ed. of the Selection, 1820, was practically a new work. It was compiled by Cotterill, but revised by Dr. Harcourt, the Archbishop of York, and was dedi¬cated to him. It was the outcome of the compromise in the legal proceedings over the 8th ed., 1819. The 8th ed. contained 367 hymns in addition to 128 versions of the Psalms and 6 Doxologies, the 9th only 152. Its full title was A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship, Lond., T. Cadell, 1820. It may be noted that copies of the 8th ed., 1819, are found with two distinct title-pages. One of these, accompanied with the preface, was for the general public, the second, without the preface, for the use of the congregations of St. James's and St. Paul's, Sheffield. Of Cotterill's hymns the most popular are, "O'er the realms of pagan darkness," "Let songs of praises fill the sky," and "Jesus exalted far on high," but these are not distinguished by any striking features of excellence. He was more happy in some of his alterations of older hymns, and in the com¬piling of centos. Many of the readings introduced into the great hymns of the Church first appeared in his Selection. The most notable amongst these are, "Rock of Ages," in 3 stanzas, as in Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861, the Wesleyan Hymn Book, and other collections; "Lo! He comes with clouds descending;" and “Great God, what do I see and hear." Cotterill's connection with the Uttoxeter Psalms & Hymns, 1805, is given in detail in the article on Staffordshire Hymn-books, and his lawsuit over the 8th ed. of his Selection, 1819, in the article on England Hymnody, Church of. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John McPherson

Author of "Good Night" in Songs and Praises John McPherson (Late 19th Century)

Michael Müller

1673 - 1704 Person Name: Mich. Müller Author of "Auf Seele, auf, und säume nicht" in Gesangbuch mit Noten Müller, Michael , son of Zacharias Müller, brewer at Blankenburg, in the Saxon Harz, was born at Blankenburg, January 12, 1673, studied theology at Halle under Francke and Breithaupt, and received license as a Candidate of Theology (general preacher). Just after completing his university course, in 1697, he was seized with violent hemorrhage. He so far recovered as to be able to accept the position of house tutor in the family of Gaisberg (Geyssberg) at Schaubeck, near Klein-Bottwar in Württemberg, but after a time his illness returned and he died there March 13, 1704 (Koch iv. 405; Blätter für Hymnologie, 1886, p. 146; MS. from General Superintendent G. Schönerniark, Blankenburg, &c). Müller's principal work is his excellent version of the Psalter (Die Psalmen Davids, &c, Stuttgart, Paul Treuer, 1700. To the copy of this work in the Royal Library at Berlin there is appended (without separate title page or date, but by the same printer) his Auffmunternder Neu-Jahrs-Zuruff an die Braut, &c. This contains 5 hymns which are repeated in his Geistliche Erquickstunden, dated 1706, but without name of publisher [Wernigerode Library]. This last work contains 61 hymns on the Gospels for Sundays and Festivals, followed by hymns 62-83, on miscellaneous subjects. The first lines of all these hymns are given in the Blätter as above. Many of Müller's psalm versions came deservedly into favour in Germany, but of his hymns few are found except in the hymn books of the Separatists from 1710 to 1750. In Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch1704 and 1714, there are 21 of his psalms and 2 of his hymns. Those of Müller's hymns which have passed into English are— i. Auf, Seele, auf, und säume nicht. Epiphany. First published as No. 4 in his Zuruff as above, in 34 st. of 4 1. entitled "The way to Life. On the Gospel for the Three Holy Kings Day, Luke ii." In Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, No. 68, st. vii., x.-xvi. were omitted, and the same form is No. 205 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. The translation in common use is—- Up, up, new light upon thee breaks. A free translation of st. i.-iv., xvii., xviii. xxii., xxxi., xxxii., by Dr. Kennedy, in his Hymnologia Christiana, 1863. ii. Sieh wie lieblich und wie fein. Brotherly love. The original form of this hymn is a ver¬sion of Ps. cxxxiii. by Müller, in his Psalmen Davids, 1700, p. 244, in 4 st. of 4 1. In Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, No. 390, these st. are i.-iv., while st. v.-xiv. (on the subject of brotherly love) are added from the MS. of' J. C. Nehring (q.v.). This text, in 14 st., is No. 1045 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. The form tr. into English is that in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, No. 534, being st. i., iv., viii., x. of the above text and the following three st.:— l. Sonne der Gerechtigkeit, Gehe auf zu unsrer Zeit, Brich in deiner Kirche an Dass die Welt es sehen kann. 2. Jesu, Haupt der Kreuzgemein, Mach uns alle, gross und klein, Durch dein Evangelium Ganz zu deinem Eigenthum. 3. Lass die ganze Brüderschaar, Lieben, loben immerdar, In dir ruhen allezeit, Immer und in Ewigkeit. These three st. are from the Bruder Gesang-Buch, 1778, No. 711, and are by Christian David. The first and third had previously appeared in the Kleine Brüder Gesang-Buch, London, 1754, pt. ii., Bk. ii., on the Church of God, section 7. The only translation in common use is:— Good and pleasant 'tis to see. A good translation from Bunsen, by Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 143, repeated abridged in Alford's Psalms & Hymns, 1844, and Year of Praise, 1867, and in the Rev. F. Pott's Collection, 1861. Other translations are, both from Bunsen's text:—(1) “Behold how sweet it is to see," by Lady E. Fortescue, 1843, p. 64. (2) "Lo! how sweet it is to see," by W. Arnot, in the Family Treasury, 1812, p. 204. . [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

James Freeman Clarke

1810 - 1888 Person Name: J. F. C. Author of "Ti, Ffrind, ar ŵyl oedd brin ei gwedd (Dear friend, whose presence in the house)" in Mawl a chân = praise and song Clarke, James Freeman, D.D., is a grandson of James Freeman (q. v.)> from whom he was named. He was born at Hanover, New Hampshire, April 4, 1810, and graduated at Harvard College, in Arts, in 1829, and in Divinity, 1833. Receiving ordination as a Unitarian Minister, he was Pastor at Louisville, Kentucky, from 1833 to 1840; of the Church of the Disciples, Boston, from 1811 to 1830; and also from 1853. Dr. Clarke for some time edited, whilst at Louisville, The Western Messenger, and is the author of Orthodoxy, its Truths and Errors, 1866; The Christian Doctrine of Forgiveness, 1852; The Christian Doctrine of Prayer, 1854, and other works. In 1844 he published the Hymn Book for the Church of the Disciples. This he enlarged in 1852. To each edition be contributed five hymns. Of these ten hymns five are found in the Lyra Sacra Americana The best known of Dr. Clarke's hymns are:— 1. Father, to us Thy children, humbly kneeling. [thoughts desired.] Dr. Clarke says this was manufactured from:— 2. Infinite Spirit, who art round us ever. [Holy thoughts desired], “which was written in Kentucky about 1833, and printed in the Dial soon after." 3. Brother, hast thou wandered far! [The Prodigal Son.] This appeared in his Disciples' Hymn Book, 1844, and is somewhat extensively used. It appeared in an Brother abbreviated form as, "Hast thou wasted all the powers?" beginning with stanza ii., in Hymns for the Church of Christ, Boston, 1853; Beecher's Plymouth Collection, 1855, and subsequently in others in Great Britain and America. The next three are also in one or two English collections. 4. To Thee, 0 God, in heaven. [Holy Baptism.] 1844. 5. To Him who children blessed. [Holy Baptism.] 1844. 6. Friend, whose presence in the house. [Christ's presence desired.] 1855. The beauty and value of this last hymn have been partly, and deserve to be more fully, recognized. It is found in Lyra Sac. Amer., which also has the following on "The Protestant Reformation":— 7. For all Thy gifts we praise Thee, Lord. This hymn was sung at the collation given by the Unitarians of New York and Brooklyn to the Members of the Convention assembled in the former city, Oct. 22, 1845. As originally written it contained 8 stanzas; the last two are omitted from both Lyra Sac. Americana and Putnam's Singers and Songs of the Liberal Faith. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Alexander Pope

1688 - 1744 Author of "To Thee, whose temple is all space" in College Hymnal Alexander Pope was born in London, in 1688. His parents were Roman Catholics. He had a feeble constitution, was deformed in person, and attained the age of only fifty-six. He early acquired the means of independence by his literary gifts, and purchased his celebrated villa at Twickenham, whither he went to reside at the age of thirty. Of his many published works, his translation of the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" of Homer has given him the greatest reputation. As an English satirist, also, he stands very high. Nearly all his works, however, are imitations. He died at Tickenham, in 1744. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 ======== Pope, Alexander, the poet, son of a wholesale linen merchant in Lombard Street, London, was born in Plough Court, Lombard Street, May 21, 1688. His father being a Roman Catholic, he was first placed under the charge of Father Taverner, who taught him the rudiments of Greek and Latin. Later he attended a school at Winchester, and then at Hyde Park Corner. When about twelve he retired with his parents to Binfield, in Windsor Forest, and from thenceforth his education was mainly in his own hands. His subsequent success as a writer and poet is a matter of history, and has been dealt with in detail by Dr. Johnson in his Lives of the Poets, and by others. He died May 30, 1744, and was buried in a vault in Twickenham Church. For distinct public use, so far as we are aware, Pope wrote no hymns. His "Messiah"; his "Universal Prayer"; and his "Vital Spark" (q.v.), have been made use of for congregational purposes, but as a Roman Catholic he had no object in writing a hymn in a language which, at that time, his Church would refuse to use. In modern hymn-books his name is identified with the following pieces:-- 1. Father of all, in every age. Universal Prayer. The Lord's Prayer. This Prayer was published in 1738, as a conclusion to his Essay on Man, in 13 st. of 4 1. Warburton in his Advertisement of the 1748 ed. of the Essay, says:— "Concerning the Universal Prayer which concludes the Essay, it may be proper to observe that some pas¬sages in the Essay having been unjustly suspected of a tendency towards Fate and Naturalism, the author composed that Prayer as the sum of all, to show that hi a system was founded in Freewill, and terminated in Piety: that the First Cause was as well the Lord and Governor as the Creator of the Universe; and that by submission to His will (the great principle enforced throughout the Essay) was not meant the suffering ourselves to be carried along with a blind determination; but a religious acquiescence, and confidence full of hope and immortality. To give all this the greater weight and reality, the Poet chose for his model The Lord's Prayer, which of all others best deserves the title prefixed to his Paraphrase." The title here referred to is "The Universal Prayer, Deo Opt. Max." The hymn is found in common use in the following forms:— (1.) Father of all in every age. This is an abbreviated form, and has been in use, especially in Unitarian hymnbooks, from an early date. (2.) Father of all, [and] Thou God of love. This cento was given in 6 st. of 4 1. in the 1815 edition of Cotterill's Selections, No. 2; again in the 1819 ed., 141; in Stowell's Psalms & Hymns, 1831, No. 179; and again in later collections. (3.) Not to this earth's contracted span. In Collyer's Collection 1812, No. 629, in 4 st. of 4 1., and others. (4.) Teach me to feel another's woe. Also in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 630, in 4 st. of 4 1., and others. (5.) Thou Great First Cause, least understood. Also in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 628, in 4 st. of 4 1., and later hymnals. (6.) When I am right Thy grace impart. Given in Kennedy, 1863, No. 1166. 2. Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song. The Messiah. In No. 378 of the Spectator for Wednesday, May 14, 1712, Addison gave this poem with the introduction :— "I will make no apology for entertaining the reader with the following poem, which is written by a great genius, a friend of mine, in the country, who is not ashamed to employ his wit in the praise of his Maker." Then follows the poem with the heading, “Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, composed of several passages of Isaiah the Prophet. Written in imitation of Virgil's Pollio." It consists of 107 lines. When republished by Pope this heading was expanded into a paragraph as an "Advertisement." As a poem it is unknown to the hymn-book; but from it the following centos have passed into common use:-- (1.) As the Good Shepherd tends his fleecy care. This was given in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 626, in 6 st. of 4 1., and has been repeated in later hymnals, but usually in an abridged form. (2.) From Jesse's root, behold a branch arise No. 624 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 5 st. of 4 1.; and again in later hymnals. (3.) Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers. No. 625 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 4 st. of 4 1.; in Bishop Heber's posthumous Hymns, &c, 1827, p. 106; and again in later collections. (4.) Rise crowned with light, imperial Salem rise. In the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, No. 687, in 3 st. of 8 1., and several later collections. (5.) The Saviour comes! by ancient seers foretold. In Mercer's Church Psalm & Hymn Book, 1864, and others. It may be noted that 1. 46 of The Messiah reads in the original "He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes." This was altered by Pope at the suggestion of Steele, made to Pope in a letter dated June 1, 1712, to "From every face He wipes off every tear." This latter is the poet's authorized reading, is given in his Works, and is found also in the book form reprints of the Spectator. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Michael Franck

1609 - 1667 Person Name: Michael Frank Author of "Was mich in dieser Welt betrübt" in Die Glaubensharfe (With Melodies) Franck, Michael, son of Sebastian Franck, merchant at Schleusingen, was born at Schleusingen, March 16, 1609. At the Gymnasium of his native town he made good progress, but at his father's death it was found possible only to give his brothers Sebastian and Peter a university education. Michael was accordingly apprenticed to a baker, and in 1628 became a master baker at Schleusingen. Reduced to poverty by the sufferings of war, he fled in 1640 to Coburg, was there kindly received by one of the master bakers, and in 1644, somewhat unexpectedly, was appointed master of the lower classes in the town school. He died at Coburg Sept. 24, 1667 (Koch, iii. 435-441; Allg. Deutsche Biog. , vii. 259-260). He was a friend of Dach and Neumark; was in 1659 crowned by Rist as a poet, and afterwards received into his order of Elbe Swans. In his times of trial he found consolation in hymn writing. While many of his pieces are crude in form and expression, some are yet popular in style, and are full of faith. The best of his hymns probably is:— Ach wie flüchtig! ach wie nichtig. For the Dying. Appeared as the third of three hymns by Franck, published with music in four parts at Coburg, 1652, entitled Die Eitelkeit, Falschheit und Unbeständigkeit der Welt [Wernigerode], in 13 stanzas. In his Geistliches Harpffen-Spiel, Coburg, 1657 [Gotha], No. 24 with the motto “Der Mensch und all sein Thun must mit der Zeit hergehn; Wer Gott und Gottesfurcht recht liebt, wird ewig stehn." Repeated in Crüger's Praxis, 1661, No. 530, and many subsequent collections, as in the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 803. It is a powerful picture of the vanity and nothingness of this world and all its treasures. The only translation in common use is:— “0 how cheating, 0 how fleeting”, Is, &c. In full by Sir J. Bowring in his Hymns, 1825, No. 35. The translations of stanzas i., iii., iv., xiii. were included in Curtis's Union Collection, 1827, and of stanzas i.-iv., xiii. in the Plymouth Collection, 1855. Another translation is: "Ah how fleeting, ah how cheating,” by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 153. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Caroline A. Mason

1823 - 1890 Person Name: Caroline A. Mason, 1823-1890 Author of "I cannot walk in darkness long" in The Sanctuary Hymnal, published by Order of the General Conference of the United Brethren in Christ Mason, Caroline Atherton, née Briggs, daughter of Dr. Calvin Briggs, of Marblehead, b. there July 27, 1823, married Charles Mason, a lawyer at Fitchburg, in 1853, and d. there June 13, 1890. She published a volume of poems as Utterance: or Private Voices to the Public Heart, 1852. Her Lost Ring and other Poems was issued in 1891. Of her hymns the following are in common use:— 1. I cannot walk in darkness long. [Evening.] This begins with st. v. of her poem on eventide, "At cool of day with God I walk." In her Lost Ring, 1891, p. 165. 2. 0 God. I thank Thee for each sight. [The Joy of Living.] From her Lost Ring, Dec, 1891, p. 164, where it is entitled "A Matin Hymn," and begins "I lift the sash and gaze abroad." 3. The changing years, eternal God. [Adoration.] Written for the Bicentennial of the First Cong. Church, Marblehead, Aug. 13, 1884 (Lost Ring, 1891, p. 174). It begins "The changing centuries, O God." Of these Nos. 1 and 2 are in Putnam's Singers & Songs, 1875, pp. 464-5. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)