CONCLUSION
How old is Lutheran church song? Four hundred years—the historical age of the most vigorous production in the realm of sacred song. We must not forget that one thousand popular evangelical Lutheran church hymns are a selection from perhaps one hundred thousand church hymns. What a great vital power! Is there any reason to believe that this vitality is about to cease? Is Lutheran hymn writing a thing of the past? The power to create is not yet extinct. The hymnody of the Church is steadily conquering new ground. In the Episcopal Church the church hymn has taken on greater and greater significance. Wherever evangelical missionary work is gaining ground, the church hymns find favor. So long as the Lutheran Church lives, Lutheran church song will flourish.
Even from the literary point of view, this Lutheran hymnic vitality ought to be appreciated. Is it not strange that poets whose work will be forgotten after a few decades, are treated at length in our histories of literature, while this body of song, which has stood the test of centuries, scarcely receives mention? Yet our Lutheran church hymn has perhaps very few literary competitors. As a representation of life, does it not fitly take its place beside the many legends that have delighted the children of old India, or Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, or the metrical romances of the Middle Ages, or Dante’s Divine Comedy, or a great Shakespearean drama, or the songs of the Israelites?
But it is not because the Lutheran church hymn is great poetry that it lives. It is because of the life of the Church, the life of souls, the life of the Christian faith, that the church hymn lives. From this it draws its life and becomes an ever fresh source of spiritual life.
Looking at the church hymn from this point of view, looking at the content of the church hymn, the outlook widens and goes far beyond the time of four hundred years.
If the history of our evangelical church hymn has reference more particularly to the historical evolution of the content and the making of the form, then this history embraces several thousand years of the religious development of our race. This holds good also from the literary point of view. It is obvious that our popular Lutheran church hymns contain material from all classical ages revealed by history, from the first literary days of old Israel down to the present time, and this very often in the most intimate fusion.
Take for example one of F. M. Franzen’s greatest hymns, the first stanza of which follows:
Prepare the way, O Zion!
Ye awful deeps, rise high,
Sink low, ye towering mountains;
The Lord is drawing nigh:
The righteous King of glory,
Foretold in sacred story.
Oh, blest is He that came
In God the Father’s Name!
How much there is in that stanza! And it is only the first stanza of a truly great Lutheran church hymn. In all this, which may seem quite commonplace, there really is something truly wonderful; an old, old story about the life of faith and its expression in song and worship—an exceedingly beautiful testimony about the fulness of God’s work in the history of spiritual life on earth.
Our hymnological annotations must draw to a close. They may be regarded as observations and reflections during the study of a great subject: Our Lutheran church song. Perhaps they will be of some value to those who have much to do with Lutheran hymn singing as well as to those who teach and instruct our young people in this branch of our ecclesiastical inheritance.
Much must be done before we can really claim that the American Lutheran Church has fully taken over this rich legacy.
A church hymn sung by a Lutheran congregation as it should be sung—that may at first thought seem to be a very simple and insignificant matter. But taken in its historical and religious connections, the matter is far from simple or insignificant. And taken as a problem—it is not easily solved. Its relations to the facts and conditions of spiritual life extend far and wide. Hymnological study gives us an idea of these things. Our Lutheran hymnody is four hundred years old—many of our best Lutheran hymns are four hundred years old—four hundred years, think of it, full of ups and downs, ecclesiastically and politically—four hundred years of sacred song through all kinds of significant life experiences. Four hundred years—turn to mediaeval and modern history.
Looking at the history of the church hymn, we may lay down as a fundamental principle that the church hymn cannot live without connection with the life that has passed through the ages, from the prophets of old, Christ, the Reformation, and down to the present. Only in this connection does the church hymn possess a positive significance or the significance of a life-promoting factor.
The correctness of this principle may be confirmed from actual experience. In the history of languishing and dying church song, we can read about languishing and dying Christian nations—nations in deplorable condition both ecclesiastically and nationally—nations of emigration, non-patriotism, and of little or no sense of duty—nations of imported religious thinking and poorly translated songs.
The question has often been raised: Does the American Lutheran Church really sing? Yes and No—for the most part No. Most of our American Lutheran country congregations do not sing. How about the city churches? A sad affair! In most cases the situation is far from ideal. A church hymn, a Lutheran church hymn, cannot be sung properly by those who forget God, Bible, history, etc., in order to practise a little general culture and enjoy a little tasty personal aesthetics. If a noble Lutheran church hymn is sung, it is usually sung by the choir, perhaps as a concert number, disconnected from its vital connection. And detached from its connection, the noble Lutheran church hymn becomes, like everything else that has vital significance, nothing. That which does not really hang together, becomes patchwork, bandages, finery, rags—we may praise it enthusiastically. Very much like American culture—sorry to say. Uniting, cementing, productive LIFE is lacking.
Many American Lutheran churches do not sing Lutheran church hymns at all. How deplorable! We often attend Lutheran church services where not a single Lutheran church hymn or Lutheran chorale is sung. Here is a serious flaw in American Lutheran education and leadership. How about the hymn singing in our American Lutheran Sunday schools? Would it not be well to sing at least one Lutheran church hymn each Sunday? Or shall we permit Lutheran hymnody to die? Is great Lutheran hymnody a thing of the past?
But what is the most serious thing that our American Lutheran congregational hymn singing lacks? One thing—LIFE. That is our great problem—life in our church song—new life—LIFE. With this go all the difficulties of the problem of life.
Since it is the business of the Church to sing the church hymn, the question becomes very complicated. So many factors must co-operate in this matter, if we are to get anywhere—to sing a Lutheran church hymn as it should be sung. Our American Lutheran colleges and theological seminaries will have to undertake more serious educational work in the important field of hymnology and church music. A strong summer school of Lutheran church music, liturgics and hymnology would be very valuable.
Take the familiar situation: The great festival hymn of the Reformation is sung. We have before us altar, pulpit, pipe organ; we have before us minister, organist, choir, congregation. The ideal of the problem is a harmonious co-operation between all if we are to have VITAL worship and VITAL song.
The good pastor of a large Lutheran church in Connecticut thanked his organist and choirmaster in a very hearty way after a fine Sunday morning service. The good organist and choirmaster answered: “Well, who cannot play and sing when the pastor preaches such soul-stirring sermons and conducts the liturgy so beautifully?” And the good pastor replied: “Well, who cannot preach and conduct the liturgy when the organist and choirmaster does such excellent work?” That is real co-operation—they helped each other in a beautiful way. They co-operated in the selection of hymns and choir music—every Tuesday or Wednesday evening that pastor and organist were together in conference concerning the song of the church. That is work very much worth while for the Church service.
In our thousands of Lutheran churches throughout the United States of America, the American Lutheran Church is to be built up and built together into ONE great Church, into ONE people that really sings—a people of God.
But when here devoutly soareth
High the temple-anthem sweet,
Grief grows calm, no plaint outpoureth—
Hearts with holy rapture beat:
Free from earthly clouds the soul
Presses toward a higher goal,
Takes from hope the comfort given,
Speaks e’en now the tongue of heaven.
O my soul, thy wing ascending,
Yet on Salem’s mount shall rest;
There where cherub-harps are blending
With the singing of the blest;
Let thy note of praise and prayer
To thy God precede thee there,
While e’en yet a care-worn mortal,
Still without thy Father’s portal.
Let us, Christians, here that wander,
As our fathers in their day,
Piously together ponder,
Gladly sing and meekly pray;
Be the children’s voices raised
To the God their fathers praised.
Let Thy bounty failing never
Be on us and all forever.
(From J. O. Wallin)
ADDENDA
REFORMED CHURCH SONG
The founders of the so-called Reformed Church, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, sought to restore apostolic simplicity in the matter of public worship. All images and ornaments were removed from the Reformed churches. The altars were changed to plain tables. Musical instruments were not allowed in the churches. Zwingli made the sermon the chief part of the church service. The Latin chants and songs were abolished, and their places were seldom filled with congregational singing in the vernacular. With regard to church service, Calvin had on the whole the same views as Zwingli. He introduced, however, congregational singing, using translated and versified portions of the Psalms of David.
Thus the Reformed Church turned to Biblical Psalmody. Early versifiers of Davidic Psalms were Clement Marot (1495-1544), Theodore Beza (1519-1605), and Ambrosius Lobwasser (1515-1585). Joachim Neander (1650-1680), Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), and Lavater (died 1801) are important Reformed hymnists. The Genevan Psalter, by Marot and Beza, a successful and influential hymnological work, appeared about the middle of the sixteenth century. Ambrosius Lobwasser produced a German edition of the Genevan Psalter in 1573, which became very popular and exerted considerable influence. English Psalmody presents such important names as Miles Coverdale (1487-1569), George Buchanan (1506-1582), Thomas Sternhold (sixteenth century), John Hopkins, Nahum Tate, Nicholas Brady, and Isaac Watts. In Scotch Psalmody the Royal Psalter and the celebrated Rous’ Version are significant hymnological works. The Bay Psalmist or the New England Version was America’s first hymn book. For further study of Reformed church song we recommend “The Hymn as Literature,” by J. B. Reeves, also Benson’s “The English Hymn.”
A LIST OF HYMN WRITERS
(Mainly Lutheran)
Adam of St. Victor (died 1177), Latin hymnist.
Adlerbeth, G. G., state secretary, b. 1751, d. 1818, Swedish hymnist.
Afzelius, A. A., court chaplain, b. 1785, d. 1871, Swedish hymnist.
Agricola, Johann, court chaplain, b. 1492, d. 1566, German hymnist.
Ahnfelt, O., bishop in Swedish Church, b. 1854, d. 1910.
Ahnfelt, P. G., pastor in Swedish Church, b. 1803, d. 1863.
Albert, Heinrich, b. 1604, d. 1651, German Lutheran hymnist.
Albinus, Rev. Johann Georg, b. 1624, d. 1679, German Lutheran hymnist.
Albrecht (IV) Jr., d. 1557, German hymnist.
Alin, S., rural dean in Swedish Church, b. 1852.
Altenburg, Rev. Johann Michael, b. 1584, d. 1640, German Lutheran hymnist.
Ambrose, Aurelius, Bishop of Milan, b. 340, d. 397, Latin hymnist.
Amnelius, Rev. A. P., b. 1638, d. 1692, Swedish hymnist.
Anatolius, cir. VIII century, Greek hymnist.
Andrew of Crete, Archbishop, b. 660, d. 732, Greek hymnist.
Arndt, Ernst Moritz, professor, b. 1769, d. 1860, German hymnist.
Arrhenius, Rev. Jacob, Upsala University professor, b. 1642, d. 1725, great Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Augustine, Aurelius, great Bishop of Hippo, b. 354, d. 430.
Ausius, Hakan, d. 1653, Swedish hymnist.
Bahnmaier, Rev. Jonathan Friederich, b. 1774, d. 1841, German Lutheran hymnist.
Becker, Cornelius, pastor in Leipzig, b. 1561, d. 1604.
Bede, the Venerable, b. 673, d. 735, Latin hymnist.
Bellman, Carl Michael, Swedish poet, b. 1740, d. 1795.
Bengel, J. A., consistorial counselor in Stuttgart, Bible Theologian, b. 1687, d. 1752.
Bergstedt, C. F., Swedish author, b. 1817, d. 1903.
Bernard of Clairvaux, b. 1091, d. 1153, Latin hymnist.
Bernard of Cluny, b. cir. 1145, Latin hymnist.
Beza, Theodore, b. 1519, Burgundy, professor at Lausanne, preacher at Geneva, French Switzerland, d. 1605.
Blix, E., professor, Norwegian Church, b. 1836, d. 1902.
Boethius, Rev. Jacob, Swedish Church, b. 1647, d. 1718.
Boethius, S. J., professor, Swedish Church, b. 1850.
Begatsky, Karl Heinrich von, b. 1690, Silesia, Lutheran Pietist, d. 1774.
Borthwick, Miss Jane Laurie, b. 1813, d. 1897, important English translator of German hymns.
Brag, Karl J., pastor and dean at Gothenburg, Swedish Church, b. 1735, d. 1781.
Brask, Peter, b. 1641, d. 1691, Swedish hymnist.
Brorson, Hans Adolf, bishop in Danish Church, b. 1694, d. 1764, important Danish hymnist.
Buermeyer, Ferdinand Frederick, M. A., D. D., b. 1846, New York, Lutheran.
Canitz, Friedrich Rudolph Ludwig, Freiherr von, b. 1654, d. 1699, German Lutheran.
Carlberg, Birger, pastor in Swedish Church, b. 1641, d. 1683.
Cassel, Karl Gustaf, state official, b. 1783, d. 1866, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Cavallin, S., rural dean in Swedish Church, b. 1820, d. 1886.
Choraeus, Michael, professor, b. 1774, d. 1806, Swedish-Finnish hymnist.
Claudius, Matthias, b. 1740, d. 1815, German Lutheran hymnist.
Clausnitzer, Rev. Tobias, M. A., b. 1619, d. 1684, German Lutheran hymnist.
Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), b. cir. 170, d. cir. 220, Greek hymnist.
Columbus, Samuel, b. 1642, d. 1679, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Cornelius, C. A., bishop in Swedish Church, b. 1828, d. 1893.
Cox, Miss Frances Elizabeth, b. 1812, d. 1897, English translator of German hymns.
Cruciger, Elizabeth, died 1558, German hymnist.
Dach, Simon, professor, b. 1605, d. 1659, German Lutheran hymnist.
Dachstein, Wolfgang, organist at St. Thomas Church, Strassburg, left monastic life 1524, German Lutheran hymnist.
Dahl, Kristoffer, Upsala University professor, b. 1758, d. 1809.
v. Dalin, Olof, Swedish poet and historian, b. 1708, d. 1763.
Dalius, Sven, b. 1604, d. 1693, Swedish hymn writer.
Decius, Nikolaus, b. Bavaria, d. 1529, German Lutheran hymnist.
Denicke, David, b. 1603, d. 1680, German Lutheran hymnist.
Dilluer, J., dean in Swedish Church, b. 1785, d. 1862, important Swedish Lutheran hymnologist.
Diterich, J. S., pastor in Berlin, Germany, b. 1721, d. 1797.
Dueben, J. von, b. 1671, d. 1730, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Eber, Rev. Paul, b. 1511, d. 1569, German Lutheran hymnist.
Ekdahl, F. N., rural dean in Swedish Church, b. 1853.
Evers, Edvard, court chaplain, b. 1853, Swedish hymnologist.
Fant, Erik M., Upsala University professor, b. 1754, d. 1817.
Findlater, Mrs. Sarah (Borthwick), b. 1823, d. 1907, English translator of German hymns.
Fleming, Paul, physician, b. 1609, d. 1640, German hymnist.
Fortunatus, Venantius, bishop of Poitiers, b. 530, d. 609, Latin hymnist.
Franck, Johann, burgomaster, b. 1618, d. 1677, German Lutheran hymnist.
Franck, Salomo, b. 1659, d. 1725, German Lutheran hymnist.
Franzen, Frans Michael, bishop, b. 1772, d. 1847, great Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Freylinghausen, Johann, b. 1670, d. 1739, German hymnist.
Frimann, Claus, pastor, b. 1746, d. 1829, Norwegian hymnist.
Funcke, Rev. Friedrich, b. 1642, d. 1699, German Lutheran hymnist.
Gardie, Magnus Gabriel de la, chancellor, count, etc., b. 1622, d. 1688, Swedish hymnist.
Geijer, Erik Gustaf, Upsala University professor, great Swedish poet, historian, b. 1783, d. 1847, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Gellert, Rev. Christian F., professor, Leipzig, b. 1715, d. 1769.
Gerdes (Gerdessen), Johann, pastor of German Church, Stockholm, Sweden, b. 1624, d. 1673.
Gerhardt, Paul, b. 1607, d. 1676, great German Lutheran hymnist.
Gezelius, J., bishop in Swedish Church, b. 1647, d. 1718.
Gesenius, Rev. Dr. Justus, court chaplain, court preacher, b. 1601, d. 1673, German Lutheran hymnist.
Gotter, Ludwig Andreas, b. 1661, d. 1735, German Lutheran hymnist.
Gramann, Johann, pastor, b. 1487, d. 1541, early German Lutheran hymnist.
Gregory the Great, b. 540, d. 604, important early Latin hymnist.
Gripenhjelm, Edmund, Upsala University professor, senator, etc., b. 1622, d. 1675, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Grundtvig, Rev. N. F. S., b. 1783, d. 1872, great Danish Lutheran hymnist.
Günther, Cyriacus, b. 1649, d. 1704, German hymnist.
Gustavus Adolphus, one of Sweden’s greatest kings, great conquering hero of oppressed Protestantism, b. 1594, fell in the battle of Lützen, November 6, 1632.
Gyllenborg, Gustaf Fredrik, count, Secretary of State, great Swedish poet, b. 1731, d. 1808.
Hardenberg, Freiherr von, b. 1772, d. 1801, German Lutheran hymnist.
Harsdörffer, Georg Philipp, councillor, b. 1607, d. 1658, German hymnist.
Hauge, A., dean in Norwegian Church, b. 1815, d. 1892, important Norwegian hymnist and hymnologist.
Hedborn, Samuel J., court chaplain, pastor, great Swedish poet, b. 1783, d. 1849, great Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Heermann, Johann, pastor, b. 1585, d. 1647, great German Lutheran hymnist.
Held, Heinrich, d. 1655, lawyer, German Lutheran hymnist.
Helmbold, Ludwig, superintendent, b. 1532, d. 1598, German Lutheran hymnist.
Herberger, Valerius, pastor, b. 1562, d. 1627, German Lutheran hymnist.
Hermann, Nicolaus, schoolmaster, cantor and organist, d. 1561, important German-Bohemian hymnist.
Herzog, Joh. Friedrich, LL.D., Dresden, b. 1647, d. 1699, German hymnist.
Hey, Rev. Johann Wilhelm, b. 1789, d. 1854, German Lutheran Pietist.
Heyd, Sebaldus, rector at Nürnberg, b. 1498, d. 1561.
Hilarius (Hilary), famous Bishop of Poitiers, d. 368, first Latin hymnist.
Hiller, Philipp, pastor, b. 1699, d. 1769, German Lutheran hymnist.
Hjerten, J., pastor, b. 1781, d. 1835, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Homberg, Ernst Christoph, lawyer, b. 1605, d. 1681, German Lutheran hymnist.
Hoppe, Miss Anna, of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin, American Lutheran hymnist.
Hubert, Konrad, deacon, Strassburg, b. 1507, d. 1577, German hymnist.
Huss, Johann, b. 1369 at Hussinecz, Bohemia, precursor of the Reformation, follower of John Wycliffe, pastor in Prague, rector of University of Prague, excommunicated by the Pope as an arch-heretic, burned at the stake during the Catholic Church Council at Constance, July, 1415.
Ingemann, Bernhardt Severin, poet, professor, b. 1789, d. 1862, great Danish Lutheran hymnist.
Jacobs, Henry Eyster, D.D., LL.D., S.T.D., b. 1844, Pennsylvania, dean Philadelphia Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theologian and Author.
Jacoponus (Jacopone da Todi), Franciscan monk, d. 1306, Latin hymnist.
Johannis Gothus, Peter, pastor, b. 1536, d. 1616, Swedish hymnist.
John of Damascus, d. 780, great Greek hymnist.
Jonae Gestritius, Laurentius, pastor, d. 1597, Swedish hymnist.
Johansson, J., seminary rector, b. 1867, Swedish hymnologist.
Joseph the Hymnographer, d. 883, great Greek hymnist.
Kahl, Johan, b. 1660, d. 1742, Swedish hymnist.
Kingo, Thomas, bishop, b. 1634, d. 1703, great Danish hymnist.
Klopstock, Friedrich Gottlieb, author, b. 1724, d. 1803, German hymnist.
Knapp, Rev. Albert, b. 1798, d. 1864, German Lutheran hymnist.
Knoll, Christoph, deacon, b. 1563, d. 1621, German hymnist.
Knorr von Rosenroth, Christian, b. 1636, d. 1689, German Lutheran hymnist.
Kock, Karl Anton, lawyer and government official, b. 1788, d. 1843, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Kolmodin, Israel, professor of theology, Upsala University, b. 1643, d. 1709, great Swedish hymnist.
Kolmodin, Rev. Olof, b. 1690, d. 1753, important Swedish hymnist.
Lagerlöf, Peter, Upsala University professor, historian, scientist, poet, b. 1648, d. 1699, Swedish hymnist.
Landstad, Rev. M. B., b. 1802, d. 1881, great Norwegian hymnist.
Laurenti, Laurentius, b. 1660, Schleswig, d. 1722, Cantor, Director of Music, Roman Catholic Church, Bremen, Lutheran.
Laurinus, Laurentius Laurentii, rector, pastor, b. 1573, d. 1655, Swedish hymnist.
Lenngren, Anna Maria, great Swedish poet, b. 1755, d. 1817.
Leopold, Karl Gustaf, state secretary, Swedish poet, b. 1756, d. 1829.
Lindschöld, Erik, government official, b. 1634, d. 1690, important Swedish hymnist.
Lobwasser, Ambrosius, professor of law, b. 1515, d. 1585, German Reformed.
Lohman, Karl Johan, pastor, Doctor of Theology, b. 1694, d. 1759, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Loy, Rev. Dr. Mathias, President of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, b. 1828, Pennsylvania, d. 1915, American Lutheran hymnist.
Lucidor, L., poet, b. 1638, d. 1674, Swedish hymnist.
Lundwall, Rev. Karl Johan, Upsala University professor, b. 1775, d. 1858.
Luther, Dr. Martin, b. 1483, d. 1546, the father of the evangelical hymn.
Lybecker, G., d. 1716, Swedish Pietistic hymnist.
Marci, Rev. Georg, court chaplain, b. 1540, d. 1613, Swedish hymnist.
Marot, Clement, first Reformed versifier of Davidic Psalms, Geneva, French Switzerland, b. about 1495, d. about 1544.
Martini, Rev. Olaus, bishop, b. 1557, d. 1609, Swedish hymnist.
Massie, Richard, pastor, b. 1800, d. 1887, Anglican, important English translator of German hymns.
Mattes, Rev. John Casper, M. A., b. 1876, Pennsylvania, Lutheran.
Melanchthon, Philip, Wittenberg University professor, Praeceptor Germaniae, Luther’s important assistant, b. 1497, d. 1560.
Mentzer, Rev. Johann, b. 1658, d. 1734, German hymnist.
Meuslin, Rev. Wolfgang, theological professor, b. 1497, d. 1563, German hymnist.
Meyfart, Rev. Johann Matthaeus, Erfurt University professor, b. 1590, d. 1642, German Lutheran hymnist.
Mortensön Töndebinder, Claus, pastor, b. about 1500, d. about 1577, important early Danish Lutheran hymnist.
Muraeus, Rev. Stefan Larsson, court chaplain, b. about 1600, d. 1675, Swedish hymnist.
Münter, Rev. Balthasar, b. 1735, d. 1793, German Lutheran hymnist.
Neander, Rev. Christ. Friedrich, b. 1723, d. 1802, German Lutheran.
Neander, Joachim, b. 1650, d. 1680, important German Reformed pietistic hymnist.
Neale, Rev. Dr. John Mason, hymnologist and liturgiologist, b. 1818, d. 1866, important English translator of Greek and Latin hymns.
Nelson, Rev. Augustus, Augustana Synod, U. S. A., b. 1863.
Neumark, Georg, poet, b. 1621, d. 1681, German Lutheran hymnist.
Neumeister, Rev. Erdmann, court preacher, etc., b. 1671, d. 1756, German Lutheran hymnist.
Nicolai, Rev. Dr. Philipp, b. 1556, d. 1608, German Lutheran hymnist.
Nibelius, Rev. Simon, b. 1747, d. 1820, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Niemeyer, Aug. Herman, university chancellor, b. 1754, d. 1828, German hymnist.
Norenius, Rev. Ericus Laurentii, b. 1635, d. 1696, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Notker Balbulus, Benedictine monk, warden at St. Gall, d. 912, important writer of Sequences.
Nygren, Rev. Carl, b. 1726, d. 1789, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Nyström, Per Olof, government official, b. 1764, d. 1830, Swedish Lutheran Hymnist.
Nilsson, Rev. Paul, court preacher, b. 1866, important Swedish hymnologist.
Ohl, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Franklin, b. 1850, Pennsylvania, Lutheran.
Olai, Ericus, Upsala University professor, d. 1486, important Swedish hymnist.
Olearius, Rev. Dr. Johann, general superintendent Halle and Weissenfels, b. 1611, d. 1684, German Lutheran hymnist.
Ollon, Gustaf, b. 1646, d. 1703, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Opitz, Martin, historian, b. 1597, d. 1639, important German hymnist.
Pappus, Joh., professor of theology, Strassburg, b. 1549, d. 1610.
Petri, Laurentius, b. 1499, d. 1573, Upsala University professor and rector, first Lutheran archbishop of Sweden, pupil and follower of Dr. Martin Luther, editor of one of earliest Swedish Lutheran hymn books, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Petri, Olaus, b. 1493, d. 1552, pastor, great champion of Lutheranism in Sweden, pupil and follower of Dr. Martin Luther, editor of first Swedish Lutheran hymn book, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Poliander (Gramann or Graumann), Rev. Joh., b. 1487, d. 1541, German hymnist.
Prudentius, Aurelius Clemens, bishop, b. 348, d. 413, great early Latin hymnist.
Qwirsfeld, Joh., archdeacon, b. 1642, d. 1686, German hymnist.
Rambach, Rev. Dr. Johann Jakob, professor of theology, b. 1693, d. 1735, German Lutheran hymnist.
Ramsey, Rev. Dr. Alfred, b. 1860, Pennsylvania, professor, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Chicago.
Reed, Rev. Dr. Luther D., b. 1873, Pennsylvania, professor, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.
Richter, Christian Friedr., physician, b. 1676, d. 1711, German hymnist.
Ringwaldt, Rev. Bartholomew, b. 1530, d. 1598, German hymnist.
Rinkart, Martin, cantor, archdeacon, b. 1586, d. 1649, German Lutheran.
Rist, Rev. Johann, b. 1607, d. 1667, German Lutheran hymnist.
Rodigast, Rev. Samuel, M.A., rector, b. 1649, d. 1708, German Lutheran.
Rothe, Rev. Johann Andreas, M.A., b. 1688, d. 1758, German Lutheran.
Rudbeck, Olof, Upsala University professor, b. 1660, d. 1740, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Rudbeckius, Rev. Petrus Johannes, Upsala University professor, b. 1578, d. 1629, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Runeberg, C. L., professor, b. 1804, d. 1877, great Finnish hymnist.
Rutilius, Martin, archdeacon, b. 1550, d. 1618, German hymnist.
Sandzen, J. P., rural dean in Swedish Church, b. 1830, d. 1904.
Schaeffer, Rev. Dr. Charles William, b. 1813, d. 1898, professor Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.
Schalling, Rev. Martin, b. 1532, d. 1608, German Lutheran hymnist.
Schartau, Henric, rural dean in Swedish Church, b. 1757, d. 1825.
Scheffler (Angelus Silesius), Johann, physician, Lutheran, later Franciscan, b. 1624, d. 1677, German hymnist.
Schenk, Rev. Hartmann, b. 1634, d. 1699, German hymnist.
Schenk, Rev. Heinrich Theobald, b. 1656, d. 1727, German Lutheran.
Schenkendorf, Max von, government official, b. 1783, d. 1817, German hymnist.
Schirmer, Rev. Michael, M.A., b. 1606, d. 1676, German Lutheran.
Schlegel, Joh. Adolf, professor, b. 1721, d. 1793, German hymnist.
Schmedeman, Johan, government official, b. 1653, d. 1713, Swedish hymnist.
Schmolck, Rev. Benjamin, b. 1672, d. 1737, important German hymnist.
Schütz, Johann Jakob, lawyer, b. 1640, d. 1690, German hymnist.
Scriver, Christian, court chaplain, b. 1629, d. 1693, German hymnist.
Seiss, Rev. Dr. Joseph Augustus, b. 1823, d. 1904, American Lutheran hymnist.
Selnecker, Rev. Dr. Nikolaus, superintendent, b. 1530, d. 1592, early German Lutheran hymnist.
Skarstedt, C. W., professor, b. 1815, d. 1908, Swedish hymnist.
Sonden, Per Adolf, pastor, author, b. 1792, d. 1837, Swedish hymnist.
Spegel, Haquin, court chaplain, archbishop, poet, b. 1645, d. 1714, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Spengler, Lazarus, close friend of Luther, b. 1479, d. 1534, German Lutheran hymnist.
Speratus, Paul, bishop, b. 1484, d. 1551, early German Lutheran hymnist.
Spitta, Rev. Karl Johann Philipp, b. 1801, d. 1859, important German Lutheran hymnist.
Springer, Lars, 17th century, Swedish hymnist.
Stegmann, Rev. Dr. Josua, b. 1588, d. 1632, German Lutheran hymnist.
Stenbäck, Rev. L. J., b. 1811, d. 1870, important Finnish hymnist.
Stenhammar, Rev. Mathias, b. 1766, d. 1852, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Sthen, Hans Chr., pastor, b. 1540, d. 1610, Danish hymnist.
Stolpe, Rev. Georg, b. 1775, d. 1852, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Sturm, Rev. Christoph Christian, b. 1740, d. 1786, German hymnist.
Swedberg, Jesper, bishop, b. 1653, d. 1735, father of Emanuel Swedenborg, great Swedish hymnist.
Synesius of Cyrene, bishop of Ptolemais, b. cir. 395, d. 430, early Greek hymnist.
Tegner, E., bishop, great Swedish scholar, b. 1782, d. 1846.
Tersteegen, Gerhard, b. 1697, d. 1769, important German Reformed hymnist.
Thomander, Johan Henrik, bishop, b. 1798, d. 1865, important Swedish Lutheran hymnologist.
Thomas Aquinas, confessor and the Angelical Doctor, Dominican, b. cir. 1225, d. 1274, Latin hymnist.
Thomas of Celano, 13th century, Franciscan, important Latin hymnist.
Tollstadius, Erik, great preacher, b. 1693, d. 1759, Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Topelius, Z., great Finnish scholar, b. 1818, d. 1898, important Finnish Lutheran hymnist.
Vischer (Fischer), Rev. Christoph, d. 1600, German Lutheran.
Wallin, Rev. Dr. Johan Olof, archbishop, b. 1779, d. 1839, greatest Swedish Lutheran hymnist and hymnologist.
Walther, Johann, choirmaster and cantor, Torgau, Luther’s musical assistant, b. 1496, d. 1570, German Lutheran hymnist.
Weigel, Rev. Joh. Adam Valent., b. 1740, d. 1806, German hymnist.
Weisse, Rev. Michael, monk, later Bohemian Brethren’s Unity, b. cir. 1480, d. 1534.
Weissel, Rev. Georg, b. 1590, d. 1635, German Lutheran hymnist.
Wieselgren, Per, cathedral dean, Gothenburg, b. 1800, d. 1877, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist and hymnologist.
Wilhelm II, b. 1598, d. 1662, German Lutheran hymnist.
Winkworth, Miss Catherine, b. 1829, d. 1878, great English translator of German hymns.
Wirsen, C. D., b. 1842, d. 1912, important Swedish hymnist.
Wiwallius, Lars, b. 1605, d. 1669, Swedish hymnist.
Woltersdorf, Rev. Ernst Gottlieb, b. 1725, d. 1761, German hymnist.
Wultejus, Rev. Johan, court chaplain, b. 1639, d. 1700, Swedish hymnist.
Zinzendorf, Count, Moravian, b. 1700, d. 1760.
Aström, Rev. Johan, b. 1767, d. 1844, important Swedish Lutheran hymnist.
Ödmann, Samuel, pastor, professor of theology, author, b. 1750, d. 1829, great Swedish Lutheran hymnist.