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Edmund H. Sears
1810 - 1876 Author of "It came upon the midnight clear" in Christian Chorals Edmund Hamilton Sears was born in Berkshire [County], Massachusetts, in 1810; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, in 1834, and at the Theological School of Harvard University, in 1837. He became pastor of the Unitarian Society in Wayland, Mass., in 1838; removed to Lancaster in 1840; but on account of ill health was obliged to retire from the active duties of the ministry in 1847; since then, residing in Wayland, he devoted himself to literature. He has published several works.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872
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Sears, Edmund Hamilton, D.D., son of Joseph Sears, was born at Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, April 6, 1810, and educated at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., where he graduated in 1834; and at the Theological School at Cambridge. In 1838 he became pastor of the First Church (Unitarian) at Wayland, Massachusetts; then at Lancaster in the same State, in 1840; again at Wayland, in 1847; and finally at Weston, Massachusetts, in 1865. He died at Weston, Jan. 14, 1876. He published:—
(1) Regeneration, 1854; (2) Pictures of the Olden Time, 1857; (3) Athanasia, or Foregleams of Immortality, 1858, enlarged ed., 1872; (4) The Fourth Gospel the Heart of Christ; (5) Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life, 1875, in which his hymns are collected. Also co-editor of the Monthly Religious Magazine.
Of his hymns the following are in common use:—
1. Calm on the listening ear of night. Christmas. This hymn was first published in its original form, in the Boston Observer, 1834; afterwards, in the Christian Register, in 1835; subsequently it was emended by the author, and, as thus emended, was reprinted entire in the Monthly Magazine, vol. xxxv. Its use is extensive.
2. It came upon the midnight clear. Christmas.
"Rev. Dr. Morison writes to us, Sears's second Christmas hymn was sent to me as editor of the Christian Register, I think, in December, 1849. I was very much delighted with it, and before it came out in the Register, read it at a Christmas celebration of Dr. Lunt's Sunday School in Quincy. I always feel that, however poor my Christmas sermon may be, the reading and singing of this hymn are enough to make up for all deficiences.'"
3. Ho, ye that rest beneath the rock. Charitable Meetings on behalf of Children. Appeared in Longfellow and Johnson's Hymns of the Spirit, Boston, 1864, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines.
Dr. Sears's two Christmas hymns rank with the best on that holy season in the English language. Although a member of the Unitarian body, his views were rather Swedenborgian than Unitarian. He held always to the absolute Divinity of Christ. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Edmund H. Sears
Fred Pratt Green
1903 - 2000 Author of "Salvation! there's no better word" in Global Praise 1 (Rev. ed.) The name of the Rev. F. Pratt Green is one of the best-known of the contemporary school of hymnwriters in the British Isles. His name and writings appear in practically every new hymnal and "hymn supplement" wherever English is spoken and sung. And now they are appearing in American hymnals, poetry magazines, and anthologies.
Mr. Green was born in Liverpool, England, in 1903. Ordained in the British Methodist ministry, he has been pastor and district superintendent in Brighton and York, and now served in Norwich. There he continued to write new hymns "that fill the gap between the hymns of the first part of this century and the 'far-out' compositions that have crowded into some churches in the last decade or more."
--Seven New Hymns of Hope , 1971. Used by permission.
Fred Pratt Green
Louis F. Benson
1855 - 1930 Author of "O Sing a Song of Bethlehem" in Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.) Benson, Louis FitzGerald, D.D., was born at Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1855, and educated at the University of Penn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and practised until 1884. After a course of theological studies he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 1888. His pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer, Germantown, Phila., extended from his ordination in 1888 to 1894, when he resigned and devoted himself to literary and Church work at Philadelphia. He edited the series of Hymnals authorised for use by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., as follows:—
(1) The Hymnal, Phila., 1895; (2) The Chapel Hymnal, 1898; and (3) The School Hymnal, 1899.
Dr. Benson's hymnological writings are somewhat extensive. They include:—
(1) Hymns and Verses (original and translations), 1897; (2) The Best Church Hymns, 1898; (3) The Best Hymns, 1898; (4) Studies of Familiar Hymns, 1903, &c.
Of his original hymns the following have come into American common use:—
I. In The Hymnal, 1895:—
1. O Christ, Who didst our tasks fulfil. For Schools and Colleges. Written in 1894.
2. O risen Christ, Who from Thy throne. For Installation of a Pastor. Written in 1894.
II. In The School Hymnal, 1899:—
3. A glory lit the wintry sky. Loneliness of Jesus. Written in 1897.
4. Happy town of Salem. Heaven.
5. Now the wintry days are o'er. Easter.
6. O sing a song of Bethlehem. Early Life of Jesus.
7. Open the door to the Saviour. Invitation.
8. Out of the skies, like angel eyes. Lullaby.
9. Who will teach me how to pray? Prayer. In Carey Bonner's Sunday School Hymnary, 1905:—
10. The sun is on the land and sea. Morning.
11. Our wilful hearts have gone astray. Penitence.
12. When I awake from slumber. Morning.
Of the above, Nos. 1-4, 10-12 are from Hymns and Verses, 1897. In the above collection by C. Bonner, Nos. 1, 4, and 6 are also found. Of Dr. Benson's translations from the Latin one only is in common use. See "Plaudite coeli, Rideat aether."
As a hymn writer Dr. Benson is not widely known, mainly through the recent publication of his verse. His hymns deserve attention, and will, no doubt, gain the public ear in due time; whilst his hymnological researches and publications are thorough and praiseworthy.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Louis F. Benson
Joseph Barnby
1838 - 1896 Person Name: Sir Joseph Barnby Composer of "BETHLEHEM (BARNBY)" in The New Baptist Praise Book Joseph Barnby (b. York, England, 1838; d. London, England, 1896) An accomplished and popular choral director in England, Barby showed his musical genius early: he was an organist and choirmaster at the age of twelve. He became organist at St. Andrews, Wells Street, London, where he developed an outstanding choral program (at times nicknamed "the Sunday Opera"). Barnby introduced annual performances of J. S. Bach's St. John Passion in St. Anne's, Soho, and directed the first performance in an English church of the St. Matthew Passion. He was also active in regional music festivals, conducted the Royal Choral Society, and composed and edited music (mainly for Novello and Company). In 1892 he was knighted by Queen Victoria. His compositions include many anthems and service music for the Anglican liturgy, as well as 246 hymn tunes (published posthumously in 1897). He edited four hymnals, including The Hymnary (1872) and The Congregational Sunday School Hymnal (1891), and coedited The Cathedral Psalter (1873).
Bert Polman
Joseph Barnby
Phillips Brooks
1835 - 1893 Person Name: Bp. Phillips Brooks Author of "O little town of Bethlehem" in The New Baptist Praise Book Brooks, Phillips, D.D., was born at Boston, Dec. 13, 1835, graduated at Harvard College 1855, and was ordained in 1859. Successively Rector of the Church of the Advent, Philadelphia, and Trinity Church, Boston, he became Bishop of Mass. in 1891, and died at Boston in Jan., 1893. His Carol, "O little town of Bethlehem," was written for his Sunday School in 1868, the author having spent Christmas, 1866, at Bethlehem. His hymn, "God hath sent His angels to the earth again," is dated 1877.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Phillips Brooks
Allen Eastman Cross
1864 - 1942 Author of "The hidden years at Nazareth!" in The Hymnal for Young People Born: December 30, 1864, Manchester, New Hampshire.
Died: April 23, 1942, Manchester, New Hampshire.
Cross attended Phillips Andover Academy, Amherst College and the Andover Theological Seminary. He pastored in Cliftondale, Massachusetts (1892-96); Springfield, Massachusetts (1896-1901); at the Old South Church, Boston, Massachusetts (1901-12); and Milford, Massachusetts (1916-25). His works include:
Pass on the Torch, 1929
Thunder Over Jerusalem/, 1936
--www.hymntime.com/tch/
Allen Eastman Cross
