The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
ANONYMOUS HYMNS IN PRESBYTERIAN
HYMN-BO0K.


usefulness of the books as collections of sa
cred poetry for private and family reading
The knowledge of the authors name Otter
makes the spirit of the hymn better appre
ciated. The hymn is more easily learned b.
heart, and so public as we'll as private devo
ton is assisted.
1t is of course desirable that the record o
authors should be full and accurate. In th'
Presbyteria Psalms and Hymns, out of lesi
than seven hundred hymns, seventy four are
marked anonymous. This number could bt
greatly reduced. The authorship of the nine
following is given in the Book of Hymns and
Tunes published in 1874:
Almighty God, thy word is cast Cd,oood.
Daughter of Zion, awake from thy sadness
FttzgerdlhS COL
God of our life, thy various praise-Hegin,
bothd1l s
Great Lord of all thy churches, hear W.
Kingsbvy.
Happy the church, thou sacred place Watts.
Inquire, ye pilgrims, for the way-D0ddridge
Shepherd of Israel, thou dost keep Doddrtdge
While the prayers of saints ascend-Cdooood
Why should our tears in sorrow h)w-HdH S
COL
Another hymn, "Step by step, my Father,
lead me, is also attributed in the Hymns
and Tunes to Watts, bnt this probably by
mistake.
Reference to other authorities, chiefly
other books, shows that eighteen more
anonymous hymns may be assigned to known
authors. A lis, is given below; in it are
included twenty other hymns which are
attributed, not to authors, but to earlier col
lections. Even when the collection named is
not the one in which the hymn originally
the mention of it may be guide
to the future investigator. 1t is probable
that the authorship of some hymns will never
be known, but compiler should be able to
tell at least where he found every hymn that
is not original in his collection.
Ah wretched souls, who strive in vain-Anne
Steele
Almighty Father, gracious Lord-Anne Steele
Around the throne Of God in heaven-Ptymoah
Col, 1855.
Children, hear the melting story Thomas Hast
ings
Father of peace and God of love--Doddridge.
Great Jehovah, Father, Son. -. last verse OF
Heavenly Father, may thy love- Guest.
Here at thy cross, inca-nste God Watts.
Here in thy name, eternal God-Montgonaery
I'm DiloriDn and I'm q afr P/lT1ODfh
Indulgent Father, by whose care Village Hvmns,
1925.
In the Christians home of glory j. Y Har-
mar.
think when 1 read that sweet story Of old
Mrs. j. Luke, 1S4l.
Joytuly, joyfuly, onward we move VIM. Hun
ter.
Lord, believe, thy power | own Wreford.
Now the shades of night are gone WOrcester's s
Sei., 1923.
o Christ, with each returning morn Old Latin
Hmm, translated for Sabbath Hymn Book
o Sun of righteousness arise Village Hymns
Sun of righteousness divine Village Hymns
o Thou, the contrite sinners friend--Sd66ah
Hymn Book, 1858
Oat on an ocean all bOundless we ride Warren.
Peace, troubled soul, thy plaintive moan-King-
leys SOCIAL Choir, 1886.
See how the rising sun Scott,
See the eternal Judge descending Village
Hymns.
Sinners, behold the lamb of God-Hoskias.
The eterra gates lit up their heads Sabbath
Hymn Book
Thee we adore, eternal Lord-,SabbaM Hymn
Book
There is happy land-Andre,o Young.
There is heavenly mercy sea. :. . second verse
of. No, never shall my heart despond-- Sabbath
Hymn Book
There is an hour of hslowed peace-W. B.
Tdppan.
They who seek the throne of grace Connecticut
Col l845.
Though faint, yet pursuing Sabbath Hymn
Book.
Through all the downward tracks of time
HerUey
To day, if ye will hear his voice Village Hymns
To us child of hope is born Sabbath Hmm
Book.
When along life's thorny road Sabbath Hymn
Book
When waves of trouble sorrow round me swell
Plymouth COL
Ye that in his courts are found r. Hills Co..
By introducing the above nsGNs into the
Hymn Book, the number of anonymous
hymns is reduced to twenty-seven. There
are besides, forty-fOur hymns which are re-
ferred to previous cOmpilers: five of these
were composed as follows:
Come let us to the Lord our God--MorTisOn
Hearts of stone, relent, relent--C. Wesley
Lord, l hear of showers Of blesSing--MrS r.
COdaer.
Now from labor and from care--Thomas Hast
ingS.
Sing to the Lord in joyful StrainS--Logan.
When the list of authors names in the
Hymn Book is revised, there are some errors
which will require correction. The hymn
"Nearer, my God, to Thee" should be re
ferred, not to Miss Adams, but to Mrs
Adams. Her maiden name was Flowers.
The Appendix to the Book of Hymns ant
Tunes has it's list of authors quite complete
Of its one hundred and ffty.fVe hymns, on
hundred and thirty,one bear names, twenty
are referred to collections, and only four ar
anonymous. Three of these may be assigned
as follows:
Soon may the last glad song arisc--Sabbat
Hymn Book
There is no name SO sweet on earth--Golde
Cham
Ye Christian heralds, go, proclaim .... secon'
verse of, Go, much loved brethren, haste and rea
-EHage Hymns.
The authorship of the two following i
known:
Just as thou art without one trsce-R. S. Cook
The promise of my Fathers love- WatE.
Southern Presbyterian.
SOUTHERN LIBERALITY.--From Gillett'
history of the Presbyterian Church we max
the following extract:
In the Spring of 1902, the college edifc
! (PrincetoD) was destroyed by fire. The i