290. Thy Word is like a garden, Lord
Edwin Hodder, 1837-1904
The metaphors used in this hymn to describe the Word of God are very suggestive: “a garden,” “a deep, deep mine,” “a starry host.”
Edwin Hodder was born in England but migrated at 19 years of age to New Zealand where he was one of a pioneer group of idealists who introduced progressive sociological ideas for which that country is noted. He returned to England where he was engaged in the civil service from 1861 until his retirement in 1897. Hodder wrote biographies and devotional works, and in 1863 issued The New Sunday School Hymn Book which contained twenty-seven of his own hymns, including this one.
MUSIC. FOREST GREEN is an arrangement of an English folk song called, “The Ploughboy’s Dream.” R. Vaughan Williams, 1872-, who arranged the tune is England’s leading living composer. He has collected and edited for publication many folksongs and carols, written several symphonies for the orchestra, and has composed numerous choral works.
Some good hymnals use this tune as the setting for Phillips Brooks’ popular Christmas carol, “O little town of Bethlehem.”