John Guthrie

Guthrie, John, D.D., son of John Guthrie, Milnathort, Kinross-shire, was born at Milnathort, May 30, 1814, and after studying at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated M.A. in 1835, was in 1840 ordained minister of the United Secession Church in Kendal. Sympathising with the views of Dr. James Morison, he was, in 1843, deposed, and joined with Dr. Morison in forming the Evangelical Union. He continued in Kendal till 1848, becoming then minister of Dundas St. Evangelical Union Church, Glasgow. In 1851 he went to Greenock; thence, in 1862, to Tolmer's Square, London, returning in 1860 to Glasgow as minister of Howard St. E. U. Church. He died in London, September 18, 1878, while on his way to New Zealand. From 1846 to 1861 he was Professor to the Evangelical Union, and was re-elected in 1875. He received the degree of D.D. from Coburg University, U.S.A., in 1875. He was Convener of the Committee which compiled the Evangelical Hymn Book of 1856, and a member of that which compiled the Evangelical Hymnal of 1878 (to which he contributed four hymns). His hymns appeared in The Daystar, The Evangelical Magazine, &c. In 1869 he published Sacred Lyrics; Hymns, original and translated from the German, with versions of Psalms, London, J. Nisbet & Co., 1869. This work consists of 28 hymns, 17 translations, and 37 Psalm versions. Some of the hymns have much beauty and sweetness. The translations from the German are accompanied by interesting notes, and, while not ranking with the best by Miss Winkworth, are yet very good. The Psalm versions are of average merit. His hymns in common use are:—

1. Blood of sprinkling, healing tide. [Blood of Sprinkling.] Appeared in The Evangelical Union Hymn Book, 1856, in 3 st. of 8 1., and again, unaltered, in The Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878. Composed in 1844.
2. How lovely are thy tents, [Public Worship]. First published in Hymns & Spiritual Songs, collected by James Morison, Kilmarnock, Pt. ii., 1844, in 7 st. of 6 1. It was repeated, unaltered, in The Evangelical Union Hymn Book, 1856; and The Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878.
3. ‘Tis evening: over Salem's towers, &c. [Christ weeping over Jerusalem.] Appeared in The Evangelical Union Hymn Book 1856, in 4 st. of 8 double lines, and again, unaltered, in The Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, No. 62, where it is dated 1846.
4. Ye ransomed of Jesus. [Praise to Jesus.] First published in Hymns & Spiritual Songs, &c. (see No. 2), Pt. ii., 1844, in 7 st. of 6 1.; and again, unaltered, in The Evangelical Union Hymn Book, 1856; and The Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, No. 98.

[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)