140. Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Cecil Frances Alexander, 1823-95
A hymn of consecration which has had far-reaching influence especially over young people. It is based on Matt. 4:18, 19: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” There is also a reference to the incident by the lake recorded in John 21:15: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”
The hymn appeared first in Hymns, 1852, published by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. In the Episcopal Church in the United States and Canada, it has been adopted as the hymn of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
Mrs. Alexander is known principally as a writer of children’s hymns ([410] and [412]), but she also contributed excellent church songs for adults.
For comments on Mrs. Alexander see [Hymn 104].
MUSIC. GALILEE was written for this hymn by William H. Jude, 1852-1922, English organist, composer, and lecturer on musical subjects. The tune becomes waltz-like when sung in quick tempo. Recognizing this danger, some hymn books are using other tunes with this hymn.