The year 1850 saw the birth of at least three people who, though largely forgotten now, made their own important contribution to English hymnody by penning at least a great hymn still sung today. Sadly, little is known about two of these three.
O breath of life, come sweeping through us was written by Elizabeth Ann Head (1850-1936). She was also known by here maiden name of Bessie Porter. The hymn was probably written in 1914 and first appeared in her Heavenly Places and other Messages in 1920. By the mid-thirties it had become a firm favourite especially at the annual Keswick Convention. Norfolk born, Mrs Head was involved in various forms of Christian work including the YMCA. Her husband was a Swansea man. The author of the tune Spiritus Vitae was a Mary Jane Hammond (1878-1964). Little is known about her.
As originally published the hymn included a fifth verse often omitted
O heart of Christ, once broken for us,‘Tis there we find our strength and rest;Our broken heart now solace,And let thy waiting church be blest.
*
In tenderness he sought me appears in both Christian Hymns and Grace. Unlike the other two hymns mentioned here it does not merit inclusion in the new Praise! hymn book. It first appeared in an American hymnbook published in 1894 called The Coronation Hymnal. The author of the hymn, W Spencer Walton (1850-1906) seems to have been an associate of the author of the music, Adoniram J Gordon (1836-95). Gordon (for whom Gordon College was named) was a Baptist minister and a friend and supporter of D L Moody. He edited The Coronation Hymnal along with Arthur T Pierson.*
*
O teach me what it meaneth is sung to various tunes and contains the distinctive request
Teach me that if none other,Had sinned, but I alone,Yet still thy blood, Lord Jesus,Thine only, must atone.
The author is again someone who is otherwise unknown. Her name was Lucy Ann Bennett (1850-1927) and she lived from 1850 until 1927. It again appears in both Grace and Christian Hymns. The Praise! version begins O teach me, Lord, its meaning.**
*
On November 19, 1900 the minor hymn writer, Samuel John Stone (1839-1900), died. He was born April 25, 1839 in his father’s rectory in Whitmore, Staffordshire. Educated at Charterhouse, he went on to Pembroke College, Oxford (BA, 1862; MA, 1872). After his degree he entered the Anglican ministry and became curate of Windsor. In 1879 he joined his father at St. Paul’s, Haggerston, a poverty stricken parish in London. In 1874, he succeeded his father as incumbent and remained there until 1890 when he became Rector of All-Hallows-on-the-Wall..
He wrote at least four dozen hymns. His works include Lyra Fidelium (1866), The Knight of Intercession and Other Poems (1872) Sonnets of the Christian Year (1875), Order of the Consecutive Church Service for Children, with Original Hymns (1883) and Hymns (1886). He is best remembered for his hymn The Church’s one foundation, the Church’s ‘national anthem’. He is also the author of Weary of Earth and Laden with My Sin which also appears in both Christian Hymns and Grace (but not Praise!).
The Church’s one foundation was written in 1866 partly in response to the liberal ideas being promoted by Bishop Colenso of Natal, that stirred up great consternation among the faithful. It is the ninth of the 12 hymns that appeared in his Lyra Fidelium which contained 12 hymns based on the 12 articles of the Apostles Creed. This original had seven stanzas. A revised five verse version appeared in 1868 in an appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern. A longer ten verse version was also produced later. The tune Aurelia was composed in 1864 by Samuel Wesley.
Weary of Earth is also from Lyra Fidelium. It is based on Article 10 of the Creed (Forgiveness of sins). He wrote of it as the hymn ‘Most dear to me because of the letters I have received from, or about, persons to whose joy and peace in believing it has been permitted to be instrumental in the first instance or later.’
Among his other hymns are
A Sower Went to Sow His SeedBear the Troubles of Thy LifeBy Paul at War in Gentile LandsBy Shepherds First Was HeardBy Thy Love Which ShoneChrist the Wisdom and the PowerDark Is the Sky That Overhangs My SoulDeeply Dark and Deeply StillFar Off Our Brethren’s CryGod the Father’s Only SonLord of Our Soul’s SalvationLord of the Harvest, It Is RightMistful Are Our Waiting EyesNone Else But Thee ForevermoreRound the Sacred City GatherThrough Midnight Gloom from MacedonWeary of Earth and Laden with My Sin;Winter in His Heart of Gloom
Here we close with the text of another of his lesser known hymns
O Thou before Whose presence naught evil may come in,Yet Who dost look in mercy down on this world of sin,O give us noble purpose to set the sin bound free,And Christlike tender pity to seek the lost for Thee.Fierce is our subtle foeman: the forces at his handWith woes that none can number despoil the pleasant land;All they who war against them, in strife so keen and long,Must in their Saviour’s armor be stronger than the strong.So hast Thou wrought among us the great things that we see!For things that are we thank Thee, and for the things to be.For bright hope is uplifting faint hands and feeble knees,To strive beneath Thy blessing for greater things than these.Lead on, O Love and Mercy, O Purity and Power,Lead on till peace eternal shall close this battle hour:Till all who prayed and struggled to set their brethren free,In triumph meet to praise Thee, most holy Trinity.
*I subsequently discovered that Walton was born in London. Converted at 22, he began to serve the Lord full time as an evangelist, firstly in the UK then in South Africa, his first trip there being in 1888. Back in England he establish the Cape General Mission (1889) and married Kathleen Dixon, who also served in South Africa. Sadly, after only 10 months together, she died in childbirth. In 1893, he married Lena Gibson, and they continued to work in South Africa through war, famine and plague. In 1904, the mission sent the Waltons and their three children to America and Britain. As they travelled Walton was taken ill and died. He was only 56.
** Again to add to the scant information - Born in Falfield, Gloucestershire, as of 1881, she was living with her brother in Holdenhurst, Hampshire. After visiting Keswick conventions, beginning in 1888, she met many notable Christians of the day. Among her correspondents were Christina Rossetti and C H Spurgeon. She was instrumental in founding All Nations College and Mount Hermon College, Streatham Common.
