Chapter XVII: Book I: Hymns for Worship and Praise (11)

_MUSIC._ PATTEN was written for this hymn for use in _The Methodist Hymnal_, 1905. The composer, Peter C. Lutkin, 1858-1931, the youngest of six children, was born of Danish parents, at Thompsonville, Wis., March 27, 1858. He was only a lad when both his parents died, shortly after the family had moved to Chicago. His ability at the organ and his success as boy soloist at the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago opened to him attractive opportunities for the study of music, and he advanced rapidly. After teaching piano at Northwestern University for several years, he left for Europe to study music in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna, returning after four years to Chicago where he held various positions as organist and choirmaster. In 1896, he organized the Northwestern University School of Music and was given the title of “Dean.” An authority in the field of church music and hymnology, Dean Lutkin did much through his teaching and writing to raise the standards of music throughout all the churches.

YOUTH

391. I feel the winds of God today _Jessie Adams_, 1863—

For many years the authorship of this hymn was unknown since the writer preferred to remain anonymous. It finally came to light that the lines were penned by Miss Jessie Adams, a member of the Society of Friends in England. She was a progressive teacher and a leader of the local Adult School at Frimley, England, where she long resided. Miss Adams wrote the hymn after a long period of service as teacher in which she felt a considerable measure of disappointment and failure, as if tugging and laboring at the oars of a boat without making much headway. She wrote:

If then, quitting the labors at the oars, we humbly believe that God’s
Spirit still leads us aright, we shall pass the point of danger and
helplessness. Some little act of kindness may be as the upturned sail
which that spirit waits to fill, in spite of past and future.

The message of the hymn is for our time. Many in our day labor at the oars, in their own strength, only to find themselves worn and discouraged. Progress comes by lifting the sails and permitting the invisible power of God to carry life forward.

_MUSIC._ HARDY NORSEMEN is an anonymous Norse melody, the origin of which has not been traced. It is a popular tune among the Dutch Mennonites where it is often sung at their young people’s gatherings.

392. “Are ye able,” said the Master _Earl Marlatt_, 1892—

Written for a consecration service at Boston University School of Religious Education, in 1926, where the author was Professor of Religious Education.

It is based on Jesus’ question of James and John, and their answer: “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto Him, Lord, we are able” (Matt. 20:22).

The second verse came to the author’s mind as a result of seeing the Passion Play at Oberammergau, where he was greatly moved by the scene where the dying thief turned to Jesus and said, “Remember me when Thou contest into Thy Kingdom.” “As Anton Lang, playing the part of Christ, said, ‘Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise,’” the author writes, “Immortality suddenly became as real to me as the sunlight at that moment driving the clouds from the mountains, and I knew that nothing, nothing could ever shake my faith in that vision.”

The hymn was written for the tune “Beacon Hill.” The combination of words and tune was adopted as one of the school songs of Boston University School of Theology, whose students have carried it all over the world. It was incorporated into the _Methodist Hymnal_ of 1935, from whence it came into the _Hymnary_.

Earl Bowman Marlatt, son of a Methodist minister, was born at Columbus, Indiana. He graduated from De Pauw University and then studied at Boston University, Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Berlin, becoming Professor of Philosophy at Boston University in 1923 and later Professor of Religious Education in that institution.

_MUSIC._ BEACON HILL received its name from Beacon Hill, Boston, where Marlatt resided when he wrote the words for this tune. The composer, Harry Silvernale Mason, born in 1881, was a student at Boston University when he wrote the tune. He is now serving as instructor in Fine Arts in Religion at Auburn Theological Seminary, Auburn, N. Y.

393. Just as I am, Thine own to be _Marianne Hearn_, 1834-1909

A young people’s consecration hymn, contributed to _The Voice of Praise_, 1887, published by the Sunday School Union of London. Verses 5 and 6, omitted here, read as follows:

With many dreams of fame and gold,
Success and joy to make me bold,
But dearer still my faith to hold,
For my whole life I come.

And for Thy sake to win renown,
And then to take the victor’s crown,
And at Thy feet to cast it down,
O Master, Lord, I come.

It was written by an Englishwoman, Marianne Hearn (_nom de plume_, Marianne Farningham), who, in early life, was a teacher in the primary schools, and later became a successful writer of articles for various periodicals, including _The Christian Herald_, published by James Clarke and Co. For a time she edited the London _Sunday School Times_. Miss Hearn published a half dozen or more volumes of poetry and an autobiography, _A Working Woman’s Life_.

_MUSIC._ JUST AS I AM. For comments on the composer, Joseph Barnby, see Hymn 21.

394. Savior, while my heart is tender _John Burton, the younger_,
1803-77

A hymn of dedication to Christian service, suitable for use with young people’s groups.

The author, John Burton, usually called “the younger” to distinguish him from another English hymn writer of the same name, was born and died in Stratford, England. From his 15th to 25th year he suffered greatly from ill health but recovered sufficiently to spend the next 50 years in business as a cooper and basket-maker in his home town. A devout Congregationalist, he served as deacon in his church and as a Sunday school teacher for 27 years. While visiting a poor chimney sweeper, he contracted small pox and died of that disease. He published several volumes of religious works, including _One Hundred Original Hymns for the Young_, 1850, in which the present hymn is found.

_MUSIC._ LILLE is an old French melody, the origin of which has not been traced.

(Correction: second last soprano note in the first score should be on B, not A as in the earlier editions of the _Hymnary_.)

395. Savior, like a shepherd lead us _Dorothy Ann Thrupp_, 1779-1847

Published anonymously in the author’s _Hymns for the Young_, 1836. Dorothy Ann Thrupp was born and reared in London where she spent all her life. She had a special gift for writing hymns suited to the worship experiences of children. A modest person, always avoiding personal publicity. Miss Thrupp did not always receive full credit for her work. This hymn is sometimes wrongly credited to H. F. Lyte.

_MUSIC._ BRADBURY was written for this hymn and derives its name from the composer. It first appeared in a popular Sunday school book, _Oriola_, published in 1859 by W. B. Bradbury.

For comments on the composer, W. B. Bradbury, see Hymn 103.

396. O Son of man, our hero _Frank Fletcher_, 1870-1936

A hymn deeply sympathetic with the aspirations and needs of young Christians, and appealing to the heroism of youth.

Frank Fletcher was Head Master of Charterhouse School, Godalming, England, the first layman elected to such a position. He wrote these words in 1921, while on a motor drive between London and Charterhouse. After having been sung for some time in Charterhouse School, the poem was sent to a church newspaper, _The Challenge_, and from thence it found its way into the hymnals of England and America. The word “mate” in the last line comes from an explanation of the trinity given by a Bishop in answer to a working man’s question on that subject: “God our Father, God our Brother, God our Mate.” Fletcher heard the Bishop give this answer and the phrase stuck in his mind.

_MUSIC._ LONDONDERRY, the famous Irish traditional melody, is a tune which every congregation loves to sing. It rises gradually and skilfully to an effective climax near the end. The tune, unfortunately, has suffered at the hands of arrangers who have employed it, with various degrees of merit, for many different combinations of voices and instruments. Its appropriateness for church use is questioned only by those who have long associated it with secular words and occasions.

397. Lord in the fulness of my might _Thomas Hornblower Gill_,
1819-1906

A consecration hymn for young people, much used in schools and colleges. It was written by Gill in 1855 and published in his _Golden Chain of Praise_, 1869, under the title, “Early Love. ‘How good it is to close with Christ betimes!’ Oliver Cromwell.” The original poem has eight stanzas.

For comments on Thomas Hornblower Gill see Hymn 385.

_MUSIC._ AZMON. For comments on this tune see Hymn 12.

398. Shepherd of eager youth _Clement of Alexandria_, _c._ 170-_c._
220
_Tr. Henry M. Dexter_, 1821-90

A hymn to Christ, based on a Greek poem attributed to Clement of Alexandria, beginning with the line

Στόµιον πώλων ἀδαῶν.

The poem is one of two which Clement attached to his book, _The Tutor_. Some say it is the earliest Christian hymn extant. (But see comments on Hymn 34).

Titus Flavius Clemens, known as St. Clement of Alexandria, _c._ 170-_c._ 220, remains something of an enigmatic figure in church history. It is not known where or exactly when he was born. He was a pagan philosopher in his younger days. After his conversion to Christianity, he became head of the Cathedral School at Alexandria, then the center of Christian scholarship. Here he remained until A.D. 203 when he was driven out by persecution under Septimus Severus. Clement then became a wanderer and nothing is known of his later life.

Henry Martyn Dexter was a graduate of Yale and Andover Theological Seminary, a Congregational minister and editor. He translated the text of Clement’s hymn into prose and then made a free rendering of it into verse, in 1846. The hymn was written for use in a service in Dexter’s church in which he preached on the text, Deut. 32:7: “Remember the days of old,” his sermon topic being, “Some Prominent Characteristics of the Early Christians.”

Hymnbook editors have made a few changes in the text: “eager youth” for “tender youth” in the first stanza; and “let all the holy throng” for “infants and the glad throng” in Stanza 4. The third stanza, omitted here, reads as follows:

Thou art the great High Priest;
Thou hast prepared the feast
Of holy love;
And in our mortal pain
None calls on Thee in vain;
Help Thou dost not disdain,
Help from above.

_MUSIC._ KIRBY BEDON was composed by Edward Bunnett, 1834-1923, a prominent English organist and composer of church music. The tune first appeared in _The Congregational Hymnary_ of the Congregational Union of England and Wales.

399. Lead on, O King Eternal _Ernest W. Shurtleff_, 1862-1917

Written upon request of the author’s classmates at Andover Theological Seminary, as a hymn for their graduation in 1887. It has come into wide use as a processional and a recessional on baccalaureate and other occasions.

Ernest W. Shurtleff, graduate of Harvard University and Andover Theological Seminary, held Congregational pastorates in Massachusetts and at Minneapolis, Minn. He then went to Frankfurt, Germany, where he did his finest work as founder and pastor of the American Church at that place. He also served as spiritual counselor to a large group of American students in Paris. During the first World War, he and his wife were active in relief work in Europe. Besides his gifts as preacher, and pastor, Shurtleff also possessed ability as musician and writer, and published several volumes of poetry.

_MUSIC._ LANCASHIRE. For comments on this tune see Hymn 115.

400. Give of your best to the Master _Howard B. Grose_, 1851—

A challenge to youth to give heart and strength to the service of the Master.

The author, Howard B. Grose, was born in Millerton, N. Y. After graduating from the University of Rochester, he served successively as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the First Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.; president of the University of South Dakota; and teacher of history in the University of Chicago. In 1910 he became editor of the Baptist magazine, _Missions_. He was a leader in the Christian Endeavor movement and wrote this hymn for a Christian Endeavor hymnal that he was then editing.

_MUSIC._ BARNARD was composed by Charlotte A. (Mrs. Charles C.) Barnard, 1820-69, an Englishwoman who after her marriage in 1851 began composing songs and ballads under the pseudonym of “Claribel.” These were very popular in their day. She composed a hymn tune, “Brocklesbury,” which is widely used with the hymn, “Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me.”

The descant was written by Professor W. H. Hohmann, head of the music department of Bethel College. The “descant” is an old variation in the use of tunes. It consists of a second melody over that of the tune and is to be sung by a few sopranos. It is only an embellishment and should be no more than audible, otherwise it will detract from the melody which should remain as the main center of interest.

401. Father in heav’n who lovest all _Rudyard Kipling_, 1865-1936

“The Children’s Hymn,” in Kipling’s _Puck of Pook’s Hill_, published in 1906. It was written for boys, but is suitable also for adults. Permission to use the hymn in the _Hymnary_ was granted by Mrs. Kipling on condition that all eight stanzas, unaltered, be used.

Rudyard Kipling, famous English writer, was born in Bombay, India, and died in Sussex, England. After receiving his education in England, he returned to India to engage in journalism and became widely known for his short stories, novels, children’s books, histories, and books of travel. The Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded him in 1907, and he received honorary degrees from universities all over the world. His _Jungle Book_, _Just-So Stories_, _Puck of Pook’s Hill_, _Rewards and Fairies_ made him beloved of all children. His writings extol the virtues of clean living and manly duty which make a nation great. However, his passionate patriotism made him pen the unfortunate lines:

“O East is East and West is West
And ne’er the twain shall meet”

a prophecy completely discredited by the world events of recent years.

_MUSIC._ HEBRON. For comments on Lowell Mason, the composer of this tune, see Hymn 12.

402. Lord, through changing days, unchanging _W. Russell Bowie_, 1882—

This hymn was written originally for the hymn book of the Hill School, of Pottstown, Pa., from which the author graduated as a boy in 1900, and where he afterward taught for a year. The motto of the school is “Whatsoever things are true” (Phil. 4:8). The hymn is built around that theme.

W. Russell Bowie was born in Richmond, Va. After taking an A.B. and an A.M. at Harvard and teaching for a year at the Hill School, he spent most of three years at the Theological Seminary of Virginia, near Alexandria, graduating with the B.D. degree in 1908. Part of his senior year was spent in special study at Union Theological Seminary in New York. For many years he was rector of Grace Church (Episcopal) in New York, a post he resigned in 1939 to become Jesup Graduate Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Students at Union Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, the most widely known of which is the _Story of the Bible_, published by the Abingdon-Cokesbury Press. Among his other volumes are _The Children’s Year_, _The Inescapable Christ_, _The Master: A Life of Christ_ (1928) and _Which Way Ahead_ (1943). In the late 1920’s he was elected Bishop Coadjutor of Pennsylvania, but did not accept.

_MUSIC._ REGENT SQUARE. For comments on this tune see Hymn 81.