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S. L. Findlater

1823 - 1907 Person Name: S. B. Findlater, 1823-1907 Hymnal Number: 543 Translator of "Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Sarah Laurie Borthwick Findlater United Kingdom 1823-1907. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, sister of Jane Laurie Borthwick, she married Erick John Findlater, a pastor in the Free Church of Scotland at Lochearnhead, Perthshire, and they had three daughters: Sarah Jemima, Mary Williamina, and Jane Helen. Findlater and her sister Jane's translations were collected in “German hymns from the land of Luther”, appearing in four volumes (1854-1862). As an author, Sarah wrote fiction, juvenile works, music scores, anthems, and musical parts. She died at Torquay, Devon, England. John Perry

Paulus Speratus

1484 - 1554 Person Name: P. Speratus, 1484-1551 Hymnal Number: 227 Author of "Salvation Unto Us Is Come" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Speratus, Paulus, D.D., was born in Swabia, Dec. 13, 1484. In a poem, written circa 1516, on Dr. J. Eck, he calls himself Elephangius, i.e. of Ellwangen; and in his correspondence, preserved at Königsberg, he often styles himself "a Rutilis" or "von Rötlen." These facts would seem to indicate that he was born at the castle of Röthlen, near Ellwangen. This property belonged to the Probst of the ecclesiastical corporation at Ellwangen, and Speratus's father was probably their bailiff or agent. The family name seems to have been Hoffer or Offer, and to have been in later years, following a practice common in the 16th cent., Latinized by himself into Speratus. He is probably the "Paul Offer de Ellwangen," who matri¬culated at the University of Freiburg (Baden) in l503. He is also said to have studied at Paris, and at some of the Italian universities. In 1518 we find him settled as a preacher at Dinkelsbühl, in Bavaria. In the end of that year he was invited to become preacher in the cathedral at Würzburg. He went to Würzburg in Feb. 1519, but his preaching was much too evangelical for the new bishop, and he had to leave, apparently in the beginning of 1520. Proceeding to Salzburg he preached for sometime in the cathedral, until the archbishop there also would not tolerate his pronounced opinions. He left Salzburg in the autumn of 1520, and went to Vienna, where he appears to have graduated D.D. at the University. He was already married (probably as early as 1519), and was one of the first priests who had dared to take this step. After a violent sermon against marriage, delivered by a monk in St. Peter's church, at Vienna, the governor of Lower Austria (Count Leonhard von Zech) asked Speratus to make a reply. With the consent of the bishop he did so, and preached, on Jan. 12, 1522, a sermon in the cathedral (St. Stephen's), founded on the Epistle for the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany, in which he expressed his opinions very freely regarding the monastic life and enforced celibacy, and also clearly set forth the doctrine of Justification by Faith. This sermon (published at Königsberg in 1524) made a great impression, and was condemned by the Theological Faculty at Vienna, who also prevented Speratus from accepting an invitation to become preacher at Ofen, near Vienna. On his way from Vienna to the north he stayed at Iglau in Moravia, where the abbot of the Dominican monastery appointed him as preacher. Here the people became greatly enamoured of him and of the Reformation doctrines,and stood firmly by him, notwithstanding the remonstrances and threats of the king, and of the bishop of Olmütz. In the summer of 1523 king Ludwig came to Olmütz and summoned Speratus to him. Without even the form of a trial he put him in prison, but after three months he released him, probably through the influence of his queen (Maria of Hungary), and of his cousin, the Margrave Albrecht of Brandenburg, but on the condition of his leaving Iglau and Moravia. In the end of 1523 Speratus came to Wittenberg, where he worked with Luther, and assisted him in the preparation of the first Lutheran hymn book (the Etlich cristlich lider. It contained 4 German hymns by Luther, 3 by Speratus, and 1 anonymous German hymn). Luther then recommended him to the Margrave Albrecht, and about May 1524 the Margrave appointed him as court preacher at Königsberg. Here he had also charge of the Altstadt church till Graumann came into residence, in Oct. 1525. He seems to have had the principal share in drawing up the Liturgy and Canons (Kirchenordnung or "Book of Church Order") for the Prussian church, which was presented to the Diet in December 1525, and printed in 1526. On March 31, 1526, he was chosen as the clerical commissioner to visit the parishes of Prussia and see that the new arrangements were carried out; and in the end of 1529 he was appointed Lutheran bishop of Pomesania, with his residence at Marienwerder. Here he remained until his death on Aug. 12, 1551. Speratus was the author of various works, hut was best known as the Reformer of Prussia. Feeling that for the working of ordinary parishes it was necessary to have pastors who had been brought up in Prussia, and could preach, if need be, in Polish or Lettish, he gladly welcomed the foundation at Königsberg (1544) of the first Prussian university. Among other important events affecting his administration may be mentioned the Visitations of 1528, of 1538, and especially that which lasted from Dec. 15, 1542, to the middle of February 1543; the Synods of 1529 (the Synodical Constitutions were pub. in 1530), of 1530, and of 1531; the new Kirchenordnung of 1544; and the welcome he extended, in 1548, to the exiled Bohemian Brethren who settled iu Prussia. As a hymn writer Speratus is principally known by the three hymns published in the Etlich cristlich lider, 1524. He also published (no place or date but Königsberg, 1527), in 1527, a version of Ps. xxvii., beginning, " Erzurn dich nicht, sei nicht neidisch;" and a Hymn of Thanksgiving, to be used after the sermon, beginning, "Gelobet sei Gott, unser Gott." These five are all that can be confidently ascribed to him. Of the five hymns mentioned above two have passed into English, viz.:— i. Es ist das Heil uns kommen her. Law and Gospel. This, his most famous hymn, is founded on Rom. iii. 28. It was probably written in the autumn of 1523, either during his imprisonment at Olmütz, or else during his stay at Wittenberg. Included as one of the 8 hymns in the Etlich cristlich lider1524, dated 1523, and entitled, “A hymn of Law and Faith, powerfully furnished with God's Word. Doctor Paul Speratus." Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 236, calls it "the true confessional hymn of the Reformation, or, as Albert Knapp puts it, 'the poetical counterpart of Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans.'" He relates many instances of the effects it produced. It is a Scriptural ballad, setting forth, in what was, for the time, excellent verse, the characteristic teachings of the German Reformers; and is indeed of considerable historical importance. But for present day use it is too long, somewhat harsh in style, and too much a compend of doctrinal theology. The only version we have found in English common use is:— To us salvation now is come. In full by Dr. H. Mills, in his Horae Germanicae, 1845, p. 44. Other translations are:— (1) "Now is our health come from above." By Bishop Coverdale, 1539 (Remains. (2) "Our whole Salvation doth depend." By J. C. Jacobi, 1725, p. 23. (3) "Now comes salvation from above." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 79. (4) "Salva¬tion hath come down to us." By Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 123. ii. In Gott gelaub ich, dass er hat aus nich.The Apostles' Creed. This is a free version, in 9 stanzas of 19 lines. First published in the Etlich cristlich lider, 1524. It was included in V. Babst's Gesang-Buch, 1545, and many others, but on account of its length and its unusual metre it has not found a place in recent hymnals. It is translated as "In God I trust, for so I must." By Bishop Coverdale, 1539. (Remain, 1846, p. 547.) [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johann Mentzer

1658 - 1734 Person Name: J. Mentzer, 1658-1734 Hymnal Number: 443 Author of "O that I Had a Thousand Voices" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Mentzer, Johann, was born July 27, 1658, at Jahmen, near Rothenburg, in Silesia, and became a student of theology at Wittenberg, In 1691 he was appointed pastor at Merzdorf; in 1693 at Hauswalde, near Bischofswerda; and in 1696 at Kemnitz, near Bernstadt, Saxony. He died at Kemnitz, Feb. 24, 1734 (G. F. Otto's Lexicon . . . Oberlausizischer Schriftsteller, ii., 581; ms. from Pastor Richter of Kemnitz, &c). He was a great friend of J. C. Schwedler, of Henrietta Catherine von Gersdorf, and of N. L. von Zinzendorf, all hymnwriters, and all his near neighbours. He was himself greatly tried in the furnace of affliction. He wrote a large number of hymns, over 30 of which appeared in the various hymnbooks of his time. Many of them, especially those of Praise and Thanksgiving, and those of Cross and Consolation, are of high merit, though sometimes exaggerated and not very refined in their imagery, and are full of ardent love to Christ, Scriptural, poetical, and also popular in style. The only one in English common use is:— 0 dass ich tausend Zungen hatte. Praise and Thanksgiving. His best hymn. First published as No. 496, in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, in 15 st. of 6 1., and repeated in many later collections as the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 719. Lauxmann, in Koch viii. 350, says this hymn was written in 1704 after his house was burned down. In reply to enquiries addressed to Kemnitz, pastor Richter informs me that the parsonage house there was built in the years 1696 and 1697, and has never been burned down. In 1697 a farmhouse near was destroyed by lightning, and possibly Mentzer may have been living there at the time; or at any rate this may have suggested the hymn and the story. Lauxmann speaks of the hymn as having been a great favourite of Caroline Perthes of Hamburg, and of J. C. Schlipalius of Dresden, and relates various incidents regarding its blessed and comforting effects. The translations in common use are:— 1. Oh that I had a thousand voices! A mouth. A full translation by Dr. H. Mills, in his Horae Germanica, 1845 (1856, p. 189); repeated, abridged, in the American Lutheran General Synod's Collection, 1850-52, the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, &c. 2. Oh be unceasing praise ascending. A good translation of st. i., vii., viii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 203, in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 3. Oh would I had a thousand tongues. A good translation, omitting stanzas ix., x., xiii., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855, p. 170; and repeated, abridged, in the Methodist New Congregational Hymn Book, 1863. 4. 0 would, my God, that I could praise Thee. A good translation, in the original metre, by Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 5, being of stanzas i., iii.—v, xiv., xv. This was repeated in the Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1830. A filtered form, beginning with st. iii., "0 all ye powers that God implanted” is in Dr. Knight's Collection, Dundee, 1871 and 1874. 5. I praise Thee, 0 my God and Father. By Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 6. This is of st. vi.-viii., xi., xii., and fol¬lows the text of Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, No. 846, this stanza beginning there, "Lob sei dir, treuer Gott und Vater." Her translation is repeated in Dr. Thomas's Augustine Hymn Book, 1866. Other translations are:— (1) "0 that a thousand tongues were granted," by N. L. Frothingham, 1810, p. 155. (2) "0 that a thousand tongues were mine, And each," by Dr. Alexander Mair in the Family Treasury, 1872, p. 462. Other hymns by Mentzer, translated into English but not in common use are:— ii. Du gehest in den Garten beten. Passiontide. First published in the Löbau Gesang-Buch, 1725, as No. 370, in 12 stanzas of 6 lines, marked as by Mentzer and entitled "The true school of prayer of Jesus, praying on the Mount of Olives, Matt. xxvi. 36-46." In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 223, beginning "Du gehst zum Garten urn zu beten," and wrongly ascribed to B. Schmolck. Translated as "Into the garden shade to pray," by J. Kelly, in the Family Treasury, 1868, p. 691. iii. Wer das Kleinod will erlangen. Christian Warfare. A call to spiritual energy, founded on 1 Cor. ix. 24, 25. Included as No. 783 in the Neuvermehrtes Geistreiches Gesang-Buch Berlin, 1711, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines; and previously in Schlechtiger's Gesang-Buch, Berlin, 1704. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 679. Translated as "Who would make the prize his own." By Miss Winkworth, 1858, p. 167. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

James Russell Woodford

1820 - 1885 Person Name: J. R. Woodford, 1820-85 Hymnal Number: 185 Author of "Within the Father's House" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Woodford, James Russell, D.D., was born April 30, 1820, and educated at Merchant Taylors School, and Pembroke College, Cambridge, of which he was a scholar; B.A. Senior Optime, and 2nd class in the Classical Tripos. He was ordained in 1843, and became second Master in Bishop's College, Bristol; and Curate of St. John the Baptist, Broad Street, in that city. He became Incumbent of St. Saviour's, Coalpit Heath, 1845; of St. Mark's, Easton, Bristol, 1848; and Vicar of Kempsford, Gloucestershire, 1855. In 1868 he was preferred by the Crown to the important vicarage of Leeds on Dr. Atlay's appointment as Bishop of Hereford. He was several times Select Preacher at Cambridge. He was also Hon. Chaplain to the Queen (1867). In 1873 he was consecrated, in Westminster Abbey, Bishop of Ely. He died at Ely on Oct. 24, 1885. Bishop Woodford published Sermons, 1853; Lectures for Holy Week, 1853; Lectures on the Creed, 1853; Sermons, 1864; and Sermons, Charges, &c, at later dates. His Hymns arranged for the Sundays and Holy Days of the Church of England appeared in 1852 and 1855. He also joined H. W. Beadon, and Greville Phillimore in editing The Parish Hymn Book, 1863, and (enlarged) 1875. To these collections his original hymns, and his translations from the Latin, were contributed. The originals include:— 1. Lamb of God, for sinners slain. Passiontide. 1852. 2. Not by Thy mighty hand. Epiphany. 1863. 3. O come, and with the early morn. Easter. 1852. 4. Within the Father's house. Epiphany. 1863. Bishop Woodford's translations are annotated under their respective Latin first lines. They are good and popular, the best known being "Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, Thee." -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Julie von Hausmann

1825 - 1901 Person Name: J. K. von Hausmann, 1825-1901 Hymnal Number: 210 Author of "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Julie Katharina von Hausmann (born 7 March [O.S. 19 March] 1826 in Riga; died 2 August [O.S. 15 August] 1901 in Võsu, Estonia) was a Baltic German poet, known for the hymn Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me (German: So nimm denn meine Hände) with a melody by Friedrich Silcher. Earlier translations had been made by Herman Brueckner as "O take my hand, dear Father" and Elmer Leon Jorgenson as "Take Thou My Hand, and Lead Me." The hymn has also been translated by Martha D. Lange, whose version appears in the Great Songs of the Church Revised (1986). Julie Hausmann was the daughter of a teach­er. She worked for a while as a gov­ern­ess, but due to her ill health she lived with and cared for her fa­ther, who had gone blind. Af­ter his death in 1864, she lived with her sis­ters in Ger­ma­ny, Southern France and St. Petersburg, Russia. She died during a summer vacation in Es­ton­ia. A legend circulates that Hausmann wrote her most famous poem "So nimm denn meine Hände" after journeying to see her fiancé at a mission and, on arriving, finding that he had just died. Various explorations of her biography have yet to confirm or deny the rumor. She never married. Her poetry was published by others, including Gustav Knak without mentioning her name, at her request. Maiblumen. Lieder einer Stillen im Lande.(May flowers) 2 volumes, 1862 (6th edition around 1880: Front cover Vol. 1) Bilder aus dem Leben der Nacht im Lichte des Evangeliums. 1868 Hausbrot. Schlichte Morgen- und Abend-Andachten. 1899 Blumen aus Gottes Garten. Lieder und Gedichte. 1902 (posthumous collection) --en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

J. Freeman Young

1820 - 1885 Person Name: J. F. Young, 1820-85 Hymnal Number: 140 Translator of "Silent Night" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary John Freeman Young (1820-1885) Born: Oc­to­ber 30, 1820, Pitts­ton, Maine. Died: No­vem­ber 15, 1885, New York Ci­ty. Buried: Old Ci­ty Cem­e­te­ry, Jack­son­ville, Flor­i­da. Young at­tend­ed Wes­ley­an Un­i­ver­si­ty, Mid­dle­town, Con­nec­ti­cut; Wes­ley­an Sem­in­a­ry, Read­field, Maine; and the Vir­gin­ia The­o­lo­gic­al Sem­in­ary, Al­ex­and­ria, Vir­gin­ia. Or­dained a Pro­test­ant Epis­co­pal min­is­ter, he served in Tex­as, Mis­sis­sip­pi, Lou­i­si­a­na, and New York, and be­came the se­cond bi­shop of Flor­i­da in 1867. His works in­clude: Carols for Christ­mas Tide (New York: Dan­i­el Da­na, Jr., 1859) Hymns and Mu­sic for the Young, 1860-61 Great Hymns of the Church (ed­it­or; pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in 1887 by John H. Hop­kins) --www.hymntime.com/tch

Sydney H. Nicholson

1875 - 1947 Person Name: S. H. Nicholson, 1875-1947 Hymnal Number: 194 Composer of "CRUCIFER" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Sydney H. Nicholson, (b. St. Marylebone, London, England, 1875; d. Ashford, Kent, England, 1947) was an organist and church music educator who greatly influenced English hymnody. Educated at Oxford's New College, the Royal College of Music in London, and in Frankfurt, Germany, he became organist at several famous cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey (1919-1928). Nicholson founded and administered the School of English Church Music at Chislehurst in 1927; this important institution, with branches throughout the English-speaking world, was renamed the Royal School of Church Music in 1945. Located in Canterbury after World War II, its headquarters were moved to Addington Palace, Croydon, in 1954. Nicholson was music adviser for the 1916 Supplement of Hymns Ancient and Modern and prepared the way for its 1950 edition. He wrote Church Music: a Practical Handbook (1920) and Quires and Places Where They Sing (1932) and composed operettas, anthems, and hymn tunes. In 1938 he was knighted for his contributions to church music. Bert Polman

Edward Osler

1798 - 1863 Person Name: E. Osler, 1798-1863 Hymnal Number: 502 Author of "Lord of the Church" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Osler, Edward, was born at Falmouth in January, 1798, and was educated for the medical profession, first by Dr. Carvosso, at Falmouth, and then at Guy's Hospital, London. From 1819 to 1836 he was house surgeon at the Swansea Infirmary. He then removed to London, and devoted himself to literary pursuits. For some time he was associated with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, both in London and at Bath. In 1841 he became the Editor of the Royal Cornwall Gazette, and took up his residence at Truro. He retained that appointment till his death, at Truro, March 7, 1863. For the Linnaean Society he wrote Burrowing and Boring Marine Animals. He also published Church and Bible; The Voyage: a Poem written at Sea, and in the West Indies, and Illustrated by papers on Natural History, 1830; The Life of Lord Exmouth, 1837, &c. His hymnological work is mainly connected with the Mitre Hymn Book. During 1835-36 he was associated with Prebendary W. J. Hall, the editor, in producing that collection, which was published in 1836 as Psalms and Hymns adapted to The Services of the Church of England. He resided in Mr. Hall's house during the time. From the "hall manuscript" we gather that he contributed 15 versions of the Psalms (5 being rewritten from others), and 50 hymns (a few rewritten). Most of these hymns and Psalm versions, together with others not in the Mitre Hymn Book, were afterwards given in the monthly numbers of his Church and King, from Nov. 1836 to Aug. 1837. The best known of these hymns are, “O God, unseen, yet ever near," and “Worship, honour, glory, blessing." Several of his hymns in common use are:— 1. Father, Whose love and truth fulfil. Holy Baptism. 2. Glory to God! with joyful adoration. Praise to the Father. 3. Great God, o'er earth and heaven supreme. Men the Stewards of God's Bounties. 4. Great God of hosts, our ears have heard. Ps. xliv. Based on the N. Version. 5. Great God, Whose awful mystery. Holy Trinity. 6. I hold the sacred book of God. Martyrs. 7. Jehovah hath spoken, the nations shall hear. Second Advent. 8. Lord, may the inward grace abound. Holy Baptism. 9. May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfil. Love. 10. Mighty Saviour, gracious King. Advent. 11. 0 God, the help of all Thy Saints. Ps. x. 12. O Thou, the Lord and Life of those. Christ the Life of Men. 13. O Saviour, Who didst come. Easter. 14. Saviour, Whose love could stoop to death. Easter. 15. See, Lord, before Thy mercy seat. For Schools. 16. Set in a high and favoured place. Advent. 17. Wake frem the dead, new life begin. Lent. 18. With trembling awe we come. Lent. Several of these hymns are not in Osier's Church and King. We have ascribed them and others to him on the authority of the "hall MSS." It must be noted also that the text in the Church and King often differs from that in the Mitre. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) Though not mentioned by Julian, perhaps his most enduring contribution to hymnody is the third stanza of "Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him", whose first two stanzas are of anonymous authorship. --Leland Bryant Ross (2019)

John Julian

1839 - 1913 Person Name: J. Julian, 1839-1913 Hymnal Number: 170 Author of "O God of God, O Light of Light" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Born: Jan­u­a­ry 27, 1839, St. Ag­nes, Corn­wall. Died: Jan­u­a­ry 22, 1913, Thirsk, York­shire, Eng­land. Educated pri­vate­ly, Ju­li­an grad­u­at­ed from Dur­ham Un­i­ver­si­ty (MA 1887), Lam­beth (DD 1894), and How­ard Un­i­ver­si­ty in Wash­ing­ton, DC (LLD 1894). He took Ho­ly Or­ders in 1866, and served as Vi­car of Win­co­bank (1876-1905) and Vi­car of Top­cliff, York­shire (1905-). How­ev­er, he is best known as a hymn­ol­o­gist. The stand­ard ref­er­ence work in this field is his ma­ssive Dic­tion­ary of Hym­nol­o­gy: Or­i­gin and His­to­ry of Chris­tian Hymns and Hymn­writ­ers of All Ag­es and Na­tions, To­ge­ther with Bi­o­graph­ic­al and Cri­ti­cal No­tic­es of Their Au­thors and Trans­lat­ors. This work has been re­vised and re­print­ed sev­er­al times; its pub­li­ca­tion dates in­clude: -- London: J. Murray, 1892 -- London: J. Murray, 1908 (this may be the edi­tion re­vised by James Mearns (1855-1922), Vi­car of Rush­den, Hert­ford­shire) --Grand Ra­pids, Mi­chi­gan: Kre­gel Pub­li­ca­tions, 1985 His other works in­clude: Concerning Hymns, 1874 History of the Use of Hymns in Pub­lic Wor­ship, and Their Pro­per Char­ac­ter­is­tics, 1894 Carols, An­cient and Mo­dern, 1900 Julian do­nat­ed his large col­lect­ion of hym­no­lo­gi­cal books and man­u­scripts to the Church House, Dean’s Yard, Lon­don, where it formed the hym­no­lo­gi­cal de­part­ment of the li­bra­ry. www.hymntime.com/tch

William J. Irons

1812 - 1883 Person Name: W. J. Irons, 1812-83 Hymnal Number: 537 Translator of "Day of Wrath" in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Irons, William Josiah, D.D., son of Joseph Irons, was born at Hoddesdon, Herts, Sep. 12, 1812, and educated at Queen's College, Oxford (B.A. 1833, D.D. 1854), and took Holy Orders 1835. In 1837 he became Incumbent of St. Peter's, Walworth, and was subsequently Vicar of Barkway, Incumbent of Brompton, Rector of Wadingham; and in 1872, Rector of St. Mary-Woolnoth, formerly held by his father's friend, John Newton. He was also Bampton Lecturer in 1870, and Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral. He died June 18, 1883. Dr. Irons took a somewhat prominent part in the ecclesiastical controversies of his day, and published extensively thereon in the form of Sermons, Letters, Pamphlets, &c. His important work, the Bampton Lectures, 1870, was on Christianity as taught by St. Paul. His hymnwriting and translating began during his Curacy at St. Mary, Newington, 1835-1837, and was continued to his death. Many were first printed as broadsheets, and subsequently included in the Rev. R. T. Lowe's (Rector of Lea, Lincolnshire) Hymns for the Christian Seasons, Gainsburgh, 1st ed., 1854, and in his own collections. Of these separate publications the most important were his translation of the Dies Irae, and Quicumque vult, and a few special Hymns (Hayes) in 1867. His hymnological works, in addition to these, were:— (1) Metrical Psalter, 1857; (2) Appendix to the Brompton Metrical Psalter, 1861 (22 hymns); (3) Hymns for Use in Church, 1866 (100 hymns). These contained hymns by Dr. Irons, and others. The next contains his Translations and Original Hymns only. (4) Psalms and Hymns for the Church, 1st ed., 1873 (126 h.); 2nd ed., 1875 (190 h.); 3rd ed., 1883 (308 h.). The principal object of this last work was to supply special hymns on the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, and for Advent and Lent, together with special hymns for the Festivals; and this to a great extent Dr. Irons was enabled to accomplish. His versions of individual Psalms are directly from the Hebrew, line for line. In addition to those of Dr. Irons's hymns and translations, which are annotated under their respective first lines, the following are in common use outside of his own collections, the details appended being from his MS. notes:— 1. Blest voice of love, 0 Word divine. Confirmation. Written for a Confirmation at Brompton, and published in Lowe's Hymns for the Christian Seasons, 1854, No. 184; in the Appendix to the Brompton Metrical Psalter, 1861; and the author's later collections. 2. Can earthly voices fitly sing. Public Opening of a School. Written at Brompton on the occasion of the opening of a School, and published in the 1861Appendix as above, and in the author's later collections. 3. Children of earth, for heaven we seek. Epiphany. A meditation on the Collect for the first Sunday after the Epiphany, and published in his Psalms & Hymns, 1875. 4. Eternal Spirit, God of Grace. Whitsuntide. Written in 1865, and published in his Hymns for Use in Church, 1866, and in a revised form in his Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 5. Faithful Creator, Lord Divine. Consecration to God. Published in his Psalms & Hymns, &c, 1873. 6. Father of love, our Guide and Friend. Confirmation. Written for a large Confirmation at Brompton, in 1844, and published in Lowe's Hymns for the Christian Seasons, 1854, No. 185, and in the 1861 Appendix as above, and the author's later collections. 7. Hail, holy rest, calm herald of that day. Sunday. Published in his Psalms & Hymns, &c, 1873. 8. Is not this our King and Prophet? Palm Sunday. Published in his Psalms & Hymns, &c, 1873. 9. It is not finished, Lord of grace. Preparation for Heaven. Written in 1850. It is No. 45 of his Hymns, 1866, in 6 stanzas of 5 lines. 10. Jesu, Who for us didst bear. Words from the Cross. In his Hymns, 1866, No. 42. 11. Joy of joys, He lives, He lives. Easter. Written in 1873. In the New Mitre, 1875; and the author's Hymns, 1875. 12. Lord, hear my prayer, bow down Thine ear. Lent. Published in Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 13. Lord, in Thy wrath Thou thinkest yet. Lent. In his Hymns, 1866, No. 91. 14. Lord, Thy voice hath spoken. The Beatitudes. In Hymns for use in the Church of Saint Ethelburga, Bishopsgate, 1873, and Dr. Irons's Psalms & Hymns, 1875. 15. No sorrow and no sighing. Heaven. Published in his Psalms & Hymns, 1873, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. In Thring's Collection 1882, stanzas i.-iii. were given from the 1875 text, and a new stanza was added by Dr. Irons at Prebendary Thring's request. 16. 0 God with us, the Saviour. For use during a Retreat. Given in Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 17. 0 how long, how long. Ps. xiii. Appeared in his Psalms & Hymns, &c, 1873. 18. 0 Saviour, now at God's right hand. Jesus the High Priest. Published in the 1861 Appendix as above, and revised in the author's latter collections. In the Psalms & Hymns, 1873., stanzas i., ii., v. are from 1861, iv. from 1866; and iii. is new. 19. 0 who are they so pure and bright? Holy Innocents . Written on the death of Infants in the Epidemic of 1837, and published in Lowe's Hymns for the Christian Seasons, 1854, No. 20, and in the 1861 Appendix as above, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. In the 1866 Hymns it was divided into 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and this arrangement was repeated in the 1873 Psalms & Hymns. 20. Sing with all the sons of men. Easter. Given in his Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 21. Thanks be to God for meet and right. Processional. Published in his Hymns, &c, 1866, and again in his Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 22. To whom but Thee, 0 God of Grace. Passiontide. Appeared in his Hymns, &c, 1866; and in his Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 23. Triumphant Lord, Thy work is done. Ascension. Published in the 1861 Appendix as above, in 3 st. of 4 1. In the 1866 Hymns the st. (iii.) “0 by Thy spotless, wondrous birth " was added; and in this enlarged form the hymn was repeated in the Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 24. We praise Thee, 0 our God--to Thee. Children's Hymn of Praise to the Holy Trinity. Written for the Schools at St. Mary's Newington, and published in the 1861 Appendix as above, and repeated in the Hymns, &c, 1866, and the Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 25. Who is this from Bethlehem coming? Purification of Blessed Virgin Mary. Appeared in the Psalms & Hymns, 1873. 26. Why art thou weary, 0 my soul? Ps. lxi. Given in his Hymns, &c, 1866, and his Psalms & Hymns, 1873, in 6 stanzas of 7 lines. In Thring's Collection, 1882, stanza iii. is omitted. Amongst modern hymnwriters, Dr. Irons ranks with the first. His hymns have not been largely used outside of his own congregation; but their high excellence, variety of subjects and metres, intense earnestness, powerful grasp of the subject, and almost faultless rhythm must commend them to the notice of hymnbook compilers. Prebendary Thring has enriched his Collection (1882) with most of those named above. They are of more than usual excellence, and others remain of equal merit. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ====================== Irons, W. J., p. 571, ii. Of the hymns noted under his name, Nos. 13, 21, and 26, appeared in Chope's Hymnal, 1862. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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