364. Motherhood, sublime, eternal
J. S. Cutler, 1856-1930
Suitable for Mother’s Day.
The hymn and tune are found in Hymns of the Spirit, published in Boston, 1937.
Julian Stearns Cutler, born at Thomaston, Maine, graduated from Tufts Theological School, Tufts College, Mass., in 1885, and served Universalist churches in Marblehead, Melrose, and Orange, Mass., 1896-1904; in Little Falls, N. Y., 1904-10; and in Pawtucket, R. I., 1910-26. He wrote a good deal of occasional verse published in newspapers, especially in the Boston Transcript, and his collected poems were privately printed under the title, Songs of Cheer, about a year after his death. His hymn, “Motherhood, sublime, eternal,” written about 1910, was adapted for use in Universalist hymn books and in slightly altered form in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937. It was taken from the latter for use in the Hymnary.
MUSIC. MOTHERHOOD. No information has been traced concerning the origin of this tune or its composer, Willis A. Moore, except that Moore was a member of the Universalists but left their fellowship some years ago. The Universalist Publishing House, Boston, from whom inquiry was made, has no further information at hand.