My Starred Hymns
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
Planning worship?
Check out our sister site, ZeteoSearch.org,
for 20+ additional resources related to your search.
- |
User Links
Search Results
O for a faith that will not shrink
Author: William Hiley Bathurst Appears in 689 hymnals Topics: The Catechism Faith; Third Sunday after Epiphany; Second Sunday in Lent; Twenty First Sunday after Trinity Lyrics: 1 O for a faith that will not shrink,
Tho' pressed by ev'ry foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!
2 That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast'ning rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain
Will lean upon its God;
3 A faith that shines more bright and clear,
When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness, feels no doubt;
4 That bears, unmoved the world’s dread frown,
Nor heeds its scornful smile;
That seas of trouble cannot drown,
Nor Satan’s arts beguile,
5 A faith that keeps the narrow way
Till life’s last hour is fled,
And with a pure and heavenly ray
Lights up a dying bed.
6 Lord, give us such a faith as this,
And then, whate’er may come,
We’ll taste e’en here the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home. Used With Tune: MANOAH
O for a faith that will not shrink
A mighty fortress is our God
Author: M. Luther Meter: 8.7.8.7.6.6.6.6.7 Appears in 674 hymnals Topics: The Church Year First Sunday in Lent; The Church Year First Sunday in Lent Lyrics: 1 A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
Our help is He in all our need,
Our stay whate'er doth happen;
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
Strong mail of craft and power
He weareth in this hour;
On earth is not his equal.
2 Stood we alone in our own might,
Our striving would be losing;
For us the one true Man doth fight,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Who is this chosen One?
'Tis Jesus Christ, the Son,
The Lord of hosts, 'tis He
Who wins the victory
In every field of battle.
3 And were the world with devils filled,
All watching to devour us.
Our souls to fear we need not yield,
They cannot overpower us;
Their dreaded prince no more
Can harm us as of yore;
His rage we can endure;
For lo! his doom is sure,
A word shall overthrow him.
4 Still must they leave God's word its might,
For which no thanks they merit;
Still is He with us in the fight,
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And should they, in the strife,
Take kindred, goods, and life,
We freely let them go,
They profit not the foe;
With us remains the kingdom. Used With Tune: [A mighty fortress is our God]
A mighty fortress is our God
O God, Thou faithful God
Author: Johann Heermann; Catherine Winkworth Appears in 61 hymnals Topics: First Sunday in Lent Lyrics: 1 O God, Thou faithful God,
Thou Fountain ever-flowing,
Without whom nothing is,
All perfect gifts bestowing;
A pure and healthy frame
O give me, and within
A conscience free from blame,
A soul unhurt by sin.
2 And grant me, Lord, to do
With ready heart and willing,
Whate'er Thou shalt command,
My calling here fulfilling;
To do it when I ought,
With all my strength, and bless
The work I thus have wrought,
For Thou must give success.
3 And let me promise naught
But I can keep it truly,
Abstain from idle words,
And guard my lips still duly;
And grant, when in my place
I must and ought to speak,
My words due power and grace;
Nor let me wound the weak.
4 If dangers gather round,
Still keep me calm and fearless;
Help me to bear the cross,
When life is dark and cheerless;
To overcome my foe
With words and actions kind;
When counsel I would know,
Good counsel let me find.
5 And let me be with all
In peace and friendship living,
As far as Christians may;
And if Thou aught art giving
Of wealth and honors fair,
That nought be mingled there
Of goods unjustly got.
6 And if a longer life
Be here on earth decreed me,
And Thou through many a strife
To ripe old age wilt lead me,
Thy patience in me shed.
Avert all sin and shame,
And crown my hoary head
With pure untarnished fame.
7 Let nothing here earth
Me from my Savior sever;
And when I die, O take
My soul to Thee forever;
And let my body have
A little space to sleep
Beside my kindred' grave,
And o'er it vigil keep.
8 And when the Day is come,
And all the dead are waking,
O reach me down Thy hand,
Thyself my slumbers breaking;
Then let me hear Thy voice,
And change this earthly frame,
And bid me aye rejoice
With those who love Thy name. Used With Tune: MUNICH (O Gott, du frommer Gott)
O God, Thou faithful God
MISSIONARY CHANT
Appears in 469 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Heinrich Christopher Zeuner Topics: First Sunday in Lent Tune Key: A Flat Major Incipit: 33331 22771 11132 Used With Text: O pour Thy Spirit from on high!
MISSIONARY CHANT
[Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg]
Appears in 642 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Luther Topics: First Sunday in Lent High Mass; First Sunday in Lent For Evening Tune Key: D Major Incipit: 11156 71765 17656 Used With Text: Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg
[Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg]
Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg
Author: Luther; Landstad Hymnal: Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika #266 (1919) Topics: First Sunday in Lent; First Sunday in Lent Lyrics: 1 Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg,
Han er vort Skjold og Bærge,
Han hjælper os af Nød og Sorg,
Og veed os vel at bjerge.
Vor gamle Fiende haard
Til Strid imod os staar,
Stor Magt og arge List
Han bruger mod os vist,
Paa Jord er ei hans Lige.
2 Vor egen Magt er intet værd,
Vi vare snart nedhugne,
Men En gaar frem i denne Færd,
For ham maa al ting bugne.
Vil du hans Navn saa vidst?
Han heder Jesus Krist,
Den Høvding for Guds Hær,
I ham kun Frelse er,
Han Marken skal beholde.
3 Om Verden fuld af Djævle var,
Der vilde os opsluge,
Vi frygte ei, vi med os har
Den Mand som den kan true;
Er Verdens Fryste vred,
Og vil os støde ned,
Han ingen Ting formaar,
Fordi alt dømt han gaar,
Et Guds ord kan ham binde.
4 Det Ord de skal vel lade staa,
Og Utak dertil have,
Thi Gud han vil selv med os gaa
Alt med sin Aand og Gave;
Og tage de vort Liv,
Gods, Ære, Børn og Viv,
Lad fare hen, lad gaa!
De kan ei mere faa,
Guds Rige vi beholde.
Languages: Norwegian
Vor Gud han er saa fast en Borg
Vær i Korset tro og stille
Author: Benj. Prætorius; Brorson Hymnal: Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika #270 (1919) Topics: First Sunday in Lent; First Sunday in Lent Lyrics: 1 Vær i Korset tro og stille,
Tænk, hvad Jesus for dig led,
Lad dig ingen Jammer skille
Fra hans store Kjærlighed!
Tænk, hvor mangen Vei han gik,
Før han dig tilbage fik!
Da fra ham du vendte Hjertet,
Om det ikke ham har smertet!
2 Vær dog tro i Troens Stride,
Uforandret, uforsagt,
(Fast paa Jesus kan du lide)
At du fra den visse Pagt,
Som du har i Daaben gjort,
Aldrig, aldrig viger bort,
Men arbeider alle Dage
Til din Jesus at behage!
3 Vær dog tro i Kjærligheden
Til din Gud af ganske Sjæl,
Elsk din Næste og isteden
For hans Brede und han vel!
Tænk, hvor Jesus bad for dem,
Som ham pinte hvert et Lem!
Tænk, Gud vil din synd tilgive!
Saadan maa du ogsaa blive.
4 Vær dog tro i Haab at vinde!
Kon du ingen Udgang se,
Gud kan snart et Middel finde
Til at ende al din Ve.
Haab kun stadig, Gud er her,
Som dig har af Hjertet kjær,
Haab, at Gud din Sag vil fremme,
Haabet skal dig ei beskjæmme!
5 Vær dog tro i Dødsens Dale,
Det er dog den sidste Strid,
Det er dog saa kort en Dvale,
Og saa stor en Seiers Tid!
Hvo med Gud i Kampen gaar,
Og med Jakob mandig staar,
Han er evig Seier vinder,
Og den Livsens Krone finder.
6 Vær dag tro til sidste Ende,
Før til Seier hver en Kamp,
Lad det bide, lad det brænde,
Koste blodig Sved og Damp;
Al vor Trængsel er dog her
Ikke Herligheden værd,
Som dig Jesus hisset giver,
Naar du hans Medarving bliver.
7 I Guds Navn saa vil jeg lide,
Elske, tro og haabe fast,
Jesus hjælper mig at stride,
Aldrig har han den forkast',
Som i Korset stødig stod,
Og paa ham sig fast forlod;
Ham vil jeg mig overgive,
Han skal al min Nød fordrive.
Languages: Norwegian
Vær i Korset tro og stille
Staa fast, min Sjæl, staa fast
Author: Brorson Hymnal: Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika #284 (1919) Topics: First Sunday in Lent Lyrics: 1 Staa fast, min Sjæl, staa fast
I Herrens Krige!
Tænk, hvilken Skam og Last
Sin Gud at svige!
Tænk, hvilken skamfuld Ting,
Først Gud at tjende,
Og siden sig omkring,
Og siden sig omkring,
Til Verden vende!
2 Begyndt er ikke endt,
Det maa du vide,
Som har din Jesus kjendt;
Bliv ved at stride!
Alt, hvad dit Hjerte vil
Fra Himlen vende,
Skal overvindes til,
Skal overvindes til,
Din sidste Ende.
3 At staa med Magt imod
Paa alle Sider,
Den Sag er ret og god
For den, der strider;
Men der vil mere til
Sin Krans at finde,
Bestandigheden vil,
Bestandigheden vil,
Alene vinde.
4 Hvad hjælper mange Saar
Og blodig Skramme,
Naar du dog siden staar
Til Spot og Skamme?
Vær tro til Døden! saa
Og ellers ikke
Kan Kronen vel sig paa,
Kan Kronen vel sig paa,
Dit Hoved skikke.
5 Se op, og tænk engang
Paa Livets Krone,
Paa din bestemte Rang
For Lammets Throne!
I Sandhed, hvad du her
Skal gaa og taale,
Af Kronen ei er værd,
Af Kronen ei er værd,
Den mindste Straale.
6 Ja tænk, min kjære Sjæl,
Paa vores Hoved
Hvad vor Immanuel
For os har vovet;
For os han flyde lod
Sit Blod tilhobe,
Sit Blod–sit dyre Blod,
Sit Blod-sit dyre Blod,
Til sidste Draabe.
7 Naar Jesu Kjærlighed
Kun ret betragtes,
Og Verdens Herlighed
For intet agtes,
Naar Himlen et os kjær
Og sød og yndig,
Da bliver Herrens Hær,
Da bliver Herrens Hær,
I Striden myndig.
8 Gud være Lov og Pris,
Ja ham alene,
Som lod es Paradis
Saa dyrt forstjene!
Vor Jesu Kamp og Strid
Til Æreminde,
Vi vil vor korte Tid,
Vi vil vor korte Tid,
Staa fast og vinde.
Languages: Norwegian
Staa fast, min Sjæl, staa fast
James Montgomery
1771 - 1854 Topics: First Sunday in Lent Author of "O pour Thy Spirit from on high!" in Evangelical Lutheran hymnal James Montgomery (b. Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1771; d. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, 1854), the son of Moravian parents who died on a West Indies mission field while he was in boarding school, Montgomery inherited a strong religious bent, a passion for missions, and an independent mind. He was editor of the Sheffield Iris (1796-1827), a newspaper that sometimes espoused radical causes. Montgomery was imprisoned briefly when he printed a song that celebrated the fall of the Bastille and again when he described a riot in Sheffield that reflected unfavorably on a military commander. He also protested against slavery, the lot of boy chimney sweeps, and lotteries. Associated with Christians of various persuasions, Montgomery supported missions and the British Bible Society. He published eleven volumes of poetry, mainly his own, and at least four hundred hymns. Some critics judge his hymn texts to be equal in quality to those of Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley . Many were published in Thomas Cotterill's Selection of Psalms and Hymns (1819 edition) and in Montgomery's own Songs of Zion (1822), Christian Psalmist (1825), and Original Hymns (1853).
Bert Polman
========================
Montgomery, James, son of John Montgomery, a Moravian minister, was born at Irvine, Ayrshire, Nov. 4, 1771. In 1776 he removed with his parents to the Moravian Settlement at Gracehill, near Ballymena, county of Antrim. Two years after he was sent to the Fulneck Seminary, Yorkshire. He left Fulneck in 1787, and entered a retail shop at Mirfield, near Wakefield. Soon tiring of that he entered upon a similar situation at Wath, near Rotherham, only to find it quite as unsuitable to his taste as the former. A journey to London, with the hope of finding a publisher for his youthful poems ended in failure; and in 1792 he was glad to leave Wath for Shefield to join Mr. Gales, an auctioneer, bookseller, and printer of the Sheffield Register newspaper, as his assistant. In 1794 Mr. Gales left England to avoid a political prosecution. Montgomery took the Sheffield Register in hand, changed its name to The Sheffield Iris, and continued to edit it for thirty-one years. During the next two years he was imprisoned twice, first for reprinting therein a song in commemoration of "The Fall of the Bastille," and the second for giving an account of a riot in Sheffield. The editing of his paper, the composition and publication of his poems and hynms, the delivery of lectures on poetry in Sheffield and at the Royal Institution, London, and the earnest advocacy of Foreign Missions and the Bible Society in many parts of the country, gave great variety but very little of stirring incident to his life. In 1833 he received a Royal pension of £200 a year. He died in his sleep, at the Mount, Sheffield, April 30, 1854, and was honoured with a public funeral. A statue was erected to his memory in the Sheffield General Cemetery, and a stained glass window in the Parish Church. A Wesleyan chapel and a public hall are also named in his honour. Montgomery's principal poetical works, including those which he edited, were:—
(1) Prison Amusements, 1797; (2) The Wanderer of Switzerland, 1806; (3) The West Indies, 1807; (4) The World before the Flood, 1813; (5) Greenland and Other Poems, 1819; (6) Songs of Zion, 1822; (7) The Christian Psalmist, 1825; (8) The Christian Poet, 1825; (9) The Pelican Island, 1828; (10) The Poet’s Portfolio, 1835; (11) Original Hymns for Public, Private, and Social Devotion, 1853. He also published minor pieces at various times, and four editions of his Poetical Works, the first in 1828, the second in 1836, the third in 1841, and the fourth in 1854. Most of these works contained original hymns. He also contributed largely to Collyer's Collection, 1812, and other hymnbooks published during the next 40 years, amongst which the most noticeable was Cotterill's Selections of 1819, in which more than 50 of his compositions appeared. In his Christian Psalmist, 1825, there are 100 of his hymns, and in his Original Hymns, 1853, 355 and 5 doxologies. His Songs of Zion, 1822, number 56. Deducting those which are repeated in the Original Hymns, there remain about 400 original compositions.
Of Montgomery's 400 hymns (including his versions of the Psalms) more than 100 are still in common use. With the aid of Montgomery's MSS. we have given a detailed account of a large number. The rest are as follows:—
i. Appeared in Collyer's Collection, 1812.
1. Jesus, our best beloved Friend. Personal Dedication to Christ.
2. When on Sinai's top I see. Sinai, Tabor, and Calvary.
ii. Appeared in Cotterill's Selection, 1819.
3. Come to Calvary's holy mountain. The Open Fountain.
4. God in the high and holy place. God in Nature. The cento in Com. Praise, 1879, and others, "If God hath made this world so fair," is from this hymn.
5. Hear me, O Lord, in my distress. Ps. cxliii.
6. Heaven is a place of rest from sin. Preparation for Heaven.
7. I cried unto the Lord most just. Ps. cxlii.
8. Lord, let my prayer like incense rise. Ps. cxxxix.
9. O bless the Lord, my soul! His grace to thee proclaim. Ps. ciii.
10. Out of the depths of woe. Ps. cxxx. Sometimes "When from the depths of woe."
11. The world in condemnation lay. Redemption.
12. Where are the dead? In heaven or hell? The Living and the Dead.
iii. Appeared in his Songs of Zion, 1822.
13. Give glory to God in the highest. Ps. xxix.
14. Glad was my heart to hear. Ps. cxxii.
15. God be merciful to me. Ps. lxix.
16. God is my strong salvation. Ps. xxvii.
17. Hasten, Lord, to my release. Ps. lxx.
18. Have mercy on me, O my God. Ps. li.
19. Hearken, Lord, to my complaints. Ps. xlii.
20. Heralds of creation cry. Ps. cxlviii.
21. How beautiful the sight. Ps. cxxxiii.
22. How precious are Thy thoughts of peace. Ps. cxxxix.
23. I love the Lord, He lent an ear. Ps. cxvi.
24. In time of tribulation. Ps. lxxvii.
25. Jehovah is great, and great be His praise. Ps. xlviii. Sometimes, "0 great is Jehovah, and great is His Name."
26. Judge me, O Lord, in righteousness. Ps. xliii.
27. Lift up your heads, ye gates, and wide. Ps.xxiv.
28. Lord, let me know mine [my] end. Ps. xxxi.
29. Of old, 0 God, Thine own right hand. Ps. lxxx.
30. O God, Thou art [my] the God alone. Ps. lxiii.
31. 0 Lord, our King, how excellent. Ps. viii. Sometimes, "0 Lord, how excellent is Thy name."
32. O my soul, with all thy powers. Ps. ciii.
33. One thing with all my soul's desire. Ps. xxvii. From this, "Grant me within Thy courts a place."
34. Searcher of hearts, to Thee are known. Ps. cxxxix.
35. Thank and praise Jehovah's name. Ps. cvii.
36. Thee will I praise, O Lord in light. Ps. cxxxviii.
37. The Lord is King; upon His throne. Ps. xciii.
38. The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know. Ps. xxiii.
39. The tempter to my soul hath said. Ps. iii.
40. Thrice happy he who shuns the way. Ps. i.
41. Thy glory, Lord, the heavens declare. Ps. xix.
42. Thy law is perfect, Lord of light. Ps. xix.
43. Who make the Lord of hosts their tower. Ps. cxxv.
44. Yea, I will extol Thee. Ps. xxx.
iv. Appeared in his Christian Psalmist. 1825.
45. Fall down, ye nations, and adore. Universal adoration of God desired.
46. Food, raiment, dwelling, health, and friends. The Family Altar.
47. Go where a foot hath never trod. Moses in the desert. Previously in the Leeds Congregational Collection, 1822.
48. Green pastures and clear streams. The Good Shepherd and His Flock.
49. Less than the least of all. Mercies acknowledged.
50. Not to the mount that burned with fire [flame]. Communion of Saints.
51. On the first Christian Sabbath eve. Easter Sunday Evening.
52. One prayer I have: all prayers in one. Resignation.
53. Our heavenly Father hear. The Lord's Prayer.
54. Return, my soul, unto thy rest. Rest in God.
55. Spirit of power and might, behold. The Spirit's renewing desired.
56. The Christian warrior, see him stand. The Christian Soldier. Sometimes, "Behold the Christian warrior stand."
57. The days and years of time are fled. Day of Judgment.
58. The glorious universe around. Unity.
59. The pure and peaceful mind. A Children's Prayer.
60. This is the day the Lord hath made (q. v.). Sunday.
61. Thy word, Almighty Lord. Close of Service.
62. What secret hand at morning light ? Morning.
63. While through this changing world we roam. Heaven.
64. Within these walls be peace. For Sunday Schools.
v. Appeared in his Original Hymns, 1853.
65. Behold yon bright array. Opening a Place of Worship.
66. Behold the book whose leaves display. Holy Scriptures.
67. Come ye that fear the Lord. Confirmation.
68. Home, kindred, friends, and country, these. Farewell to a Missionary.
69. Let me go, the day is breaking. Jacob wrestling.
70. Not in Jerusalem alone. Consecration of a Church.
71. Praise the high and holy One. God the Creator.
In common with most poets and hymnwriters, Montgomery strongly objected to any correction or rearrangement of his compositions. At the same time he did not hesitate to alter, rearrange, and amend the productions of others. The altered texts which appeared in Cotterill's Selections, 1819, and which in numerous instances are still retained in some of the best hymnbooks, as the "Rock of Ages," in its well-known form of three stanzas, and others of equal importance, were made principally by him for Cotterill's use. We have this confession under his own hand.
As a poet, Montgomery stands well to the front; and as a writer of hymns he ranks in popularity with Wesley, Watts, Doddridge, Newton, and Cowper. His best hymns were written in his earlier years. In his old age he wrote much that was unworthy of his reputation. His finest lyrics are "Angels from the realms of glory," "Go to dark Gethsemane," "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," and "Songs of praise the angels sang." His "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire," is an expanded definition of prayer of great beauty; and his "Forever with the Lord" is full of lyric fire and deep feeling. The secrets of his power as a writer of hymns were manifold. His poetic genius was of a high order, higher than most who stand with him in the front rank of Christian poets. His ear for rhythm was exceedingly accurate and refined. His knowledge of Holy Scripture was most extensive. His religious views were broad and charitable. His devotional spirit was of the holiest type. With the faith of a strong man he united the beauty and simplicity of a child. Richly poetic without exuberance, dogmatic without uncharitableness, tender without sentimentality, elaborate without diffusiveness, richly musical without apparent effort, he has bequeathed to the Church of Christ wealth which could onlv have come from a true genius and a sanctified! heart.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
James Montgomery
Lowell Mason
1792 - 1872 Person Name: Lowell Mason, Mus. Doc. Topics: First Sunday in Lent Composer of "MALVERN" in Evangelical Lutheran hymnal Dr. Lowell Mason (the degree was conferred by the University of New York) is justly called the father of American church music; and by his labors were founded the germinating principles of national musical intelligence and knowledge, which afforded a soil upon which all higher musical culture has been founded. To him we owe some of our best ideas in religious church music, elementary musical education, music in the schools, the popularization of classical chorus singing, and the art of teaching music upon the Inductive or Pestalozzian plan. More than that, we owe him no small share of the respect which the profession of music enjoys at the present time as contrasted with the contempt in which it was held a century or more ago. In fact, the entire art of music, as now understood and practiced in America, has derived advantage from the work of this great man.
Lowell Mason was born in Medfield, Mass., January 8, 1792. From childhood he had manifested an intense love for music, and had devoted all his spare time and effort to improving himself according to such opportunities as were available to him. At the age of twenty he found himself filling a clerkship in a banking house in Savannah, Ga. Here he lost no opportunity of gratifying his passion for musical advancement, and was fortunate to meet for the first time a thoroughly qualified instructor, in the person of F. L. Abel. Applying his spare hours assiduously to the cultivation of the pursuit to which his passion inclined him, he soon acquired a proficiency that enabled him to enter the field of original composition, and his first work of this kind was embodied in the compilation of a collection of church music, which contained many of his own compositions. The manuscript was offered unavailingly to publishers in Philadelphia and in Boston. Fortunately for our musical advancement it finally secured the attention of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society, and by its committee was submitted to Dr. G. K. Jackson, the severest critic in Boston. Dr. Jackson approved most heartily of the work, and added a few of his own compositions to it. Thus enlarged, it was finally published in 1822 as The Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music. Mason's name was omitted from the publication at his own request, which he thus explains, "I was then a bank officer in Savannah, and did not wish to be known as a musical man, as I had not the least thought of ever making music a profession." President Winchester, of the Handel and Haydn Society, sold the copyright for the young man. Mr. Mason went back to Savannah with probably $500 in his pocket as the preliminary result of his Boston visit.
The book soon sprang into universal popularity, being at once adopted by the singing schools of New England, and through this means entering into the church choirs, to whom it opened up a higher field of harmonic beauty. Its career of success ran through some seventeen editions. On realizing this success, Mason determined to accept an invitation to come to Boston and enter upon a musical career. This was in 1826. He was made an honorary member of the Handel and Haydn Society, but declined to accept this, and entered the ranks as an active member. He had been invited to come to Boston by President Winchester and other musical friends and was guaranteed an income of $2,000 a year. He was also appointed, by the influence of these friends, director of music at the Hanover, Green, and Park Street churches, to alternate six months with each congregation. Finally he made a permanent arrangement with the Bowdoin Street Church, and gave up the guarantee, but again friendly influence stepped in and procured for him the position of teller at the American Bank.
In 1827 Lowell Mason became president and conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society. It was the beginning of a career that was to win for him as has been already stated the title of "The Father of American Church Music." Although this may seem rather a bold claim it is not too much under the circumstances. Mr. Mason might have been in the average ranks of musicianship had he lived in Europe; in America he was well in advance of his surroundings. It was not too high praise (in spite of Mason's very simple style) when Dr. Jackson wrote of his song collection: "It is much the best book I have seen published in this country, and I do not hesitate to give it my most decided approbation," or that the great contrapuntist, Hauptmann, should say the harmonies of the tunes were dignified and churchlike and that the counterpoint was good, plain, singable and melodious.
Charles C. Perkins gives a few of the reasons why Lowell Mason was the very man to lead American music as it then existed. He says, "First and foremost, he was not so very much superior to the members as to be unreasonably impatient at their shortcomings. Second, he was a born teacher, who, by hard work, had fitted himself to give instruction in singing. Third, he was one of themselves, a plain, self-made man, who could understand them and be understood of them."
The personality of Dr. Mason was of great use to the art and appreciation of music in this country. He was of strong mind, dignified manners, sensitive, yet sweet and engaging.
Prof. Horace Mann, one of the great educators of that day, said he would walk fifty miles to see and hear Mr. Mason teach if he could not otherwise have that advantage.
Dr. Mason visited a number of the music schools in Europe, studied their methods, and incorporated the best things in his own work. He founded the Boston Academy of Music. The aim of this institution was to reach the masses and introduce music into the public schools. Dr. Mason resided in Boston from 1826 to 1851, when he removed to New York. Not only Boston benefited directly by this enthusiastic teacher's instruction, but he was constantly traveling to other societies in distant cities and helping their work. He had a notable class at North Reading, Mass., and he went in his later years as far as Rochester, where he trained a chorus of five hundred voices, many of them teachers, and some of them coming long distances to study under him. Before 1810 he had developed his idea of "Teachers' Conventions," and, as in these he had representatives from different states, he made musical missionaries for almost the entire country. He left behind him no less than fifty volumes of musical collections, instruction books, and manuals.
As a composer of solid, enduring church music. Dr. Mason was one of the most successful this country has introduced. He was a deeply pious man, and was a communicant of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Mason in 1817 married Miss Abigail Gregory, of Leesborough, Mass. The family consisted of four sons, Daniel Gregory, Lowell, William and Henry. The two former founded the publishing house of Mason Bros., dissolved by the death of the former in 19G9. Lowell and Henry were the founders of the great organ manufacturer of Mason & Hamlin. Dr. William Mason was one of the most eminent musicians that America has yet produced.
Dr. Lowell Mason died at "Silverspring," a beautiful residence on the side of Orange Mountain, New Jersey, August 11, 1872, bequeathing his great musical library, much of which had been collected abroad, to Yale College.
--Hall, J. H. (c1914). Biographies of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company.
Lowell Mason
John Bacchus Dykes
1823 - 1876 Person Name: J.B. Dykes, 1823—76 Topics: The Church Year First Sunday in Lent Composer of "[Lord, I hear of showers of blessing]" in The Lutheran Hymnary As a young child John Bacchus Dykes (b. Kingston-upon-Hull' England, 1823; d. Ticehurst, Sussex, England, 1876) took violin and piano lessons. At the age of ten he became the organist of St. John's in Hull, where his grandfather was vicar. After receiving a classics degree from St. Catherine College, Cambridge, England, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1847. In 1849 he became the precentor and choir director at Durham Cathedral, where he introduced reforms in the choir by insisting on consistent attendance, increasing rehearsals, and initiating music festivals. He served the parish of St. Oswald in Durham from 1862 until the year of his death. To the chagrin of his bishop, Dykes favored the high church practices associated with the Oxford Movement (choir robes, incense, and the like). A number of his three hundred hymn tunes are still respected as durable examples of Victorian hymnody. Most of his tunes were first published in Chope's Congregational Hymn and Tune Book (1857) and in early editions of the famous British hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern.
Bert Polman
John Bacchus Dykes
