390. Almighty Lord, with one accord
Melancthon Woolsey Stryker, 1851-1929
“A College Hymn” was the title given this poem, first printed in The New York Evangelist, February 27, 1896. It was included in The College Hymnal, New York, the same year and in the Methodist Hymnal of 1905.
The author, Melancthon Woolsey Stryker, a prominent Presbyterian minister, was educated at Hamilton College, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary. After serving churches in Auburn and Ithaca, New York; Holyoke, Mass.; and Chicago, Ill., he became president of his Alma Mater, Hamilton College. A student of hymnology, he compiled several hymnals and books of sacred songs.
The hymn is appropriately used for commencement programs at Christian colleges. On such occasions it is often sung to the familiar tune “Azmon” ([397]).
MUSIC. PATTEN was written for this hymn for use in The Methodist Hymnal, 1905. The composer, Peter C. Lutkin, 1858-1931, the youngest of six children, was born of Danish parents, at Thompsonville, Wis., March 27, 1858. He was only a lad when both his parents died, shortly after the family had moved to Chicago. His ability at the organ and his success as boy soloist at the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago opened to him attractive opportunities for the study of music, and he advanced rapidly. After teaching piano at Northwestern University for several years, he left for Europe to study music in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna, returning after four years to Chicago where he held various positions as organist and choirmaster. In 1896, he organized the Northwestern University School of Music and was given the title of “Dean.” An authority in the field of church music and hymnology, Dean Lutkin did much through his teaching and writing to raise the standards of music throughout all the churches.