211. Go forth to life
Samuel Longfellow, 1819-92
A challenge to live life bravely and true. The hymn is from Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, prepared by Samuel Longfellow and Samuel Johnson. It is one of the lyrics which helped establish Longfellow’s reputation as a hymn writer.
For comments on Samuel Longfellow see [Hymn 28].
MUSIC. MENDON is a variation of a “German Air” introduced into American hymn books by Samuel Dyer. The original had an additional note in each line and a different last line. The change to the present form and its name is attributed to Lowell Mason.
Samuel Dyer, 1785-1835, born in England, came to America when 26 years old and became a choir leader and teacher of sacred music in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. He published several collections of sacred music, one of which, Philadelphia Collection of Sacred Music, 1828, gives valuable sketches of composers, and information about Dyer himself.