Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.
Other noted hymns by Grundtvig include “Love, the fount of light from heaven,” “As the rose shall blossom here,” “The Lord to thee appealeth,” “Splendid are the heavens high,” “A Babe is born in Bethlehem,” “From the grave remove dark crosses,” “O let Thy Spirit with us tarry,” “Fair beyond telling,” “This is the day that our Father hath given,” “Hast to the plow thou put thy hand,” “The peace of God protects our hearts,” “O wondrous kingdom here on earth,” “With gladness we hail this blessed day,” “He who has helped me hitherto,” and “Peace to soothe our bitter woes.”
Because of his intensive efforts to bring about reforms in the educational methods of his day, Grundtvig became known as “the father of the public high school in Scandinavia.”
In 1861, when he celebrated his golden jubilee as pastor, Grundtvig was given the title of bishop. The good old man passed away peacefully on September 2, 1872, at the age of eighty-nine years. He preached his last sermon on the day before his death.
A distinguished contemporary of Grundtvig’s who also gained renown as a Danish hymn-writer was Bernhardt Severin Ingemann, author of the famous hymn, “Through the night of doubt and sorrow.” Ingemann was born in Falster, Denmark, in 1789, the son of a Lutheran pastor, Soren Ingemann.
The father died when Bernhardt was 11 years old, but the mother made it possible for the gifted lad to receive a liberal education. At the age of 22 years he published his first volume of poems, and three years later his famous epic, “The Black Knights,” appeared. A number of dramas followed, and in 1822 he was appointed lector of Danish language and literature at the Academy of Soro. Here he remained for forty years, writing novels, secular poetry and hymns. He was a warm friend of Grundtvig’s, who constantly encouraged him in his literary efforts.
Ingemann’s “Morning Hymns” appeared in 1822, and in 1825 his “Hymns of Worship” was published. In 1854 he was charged with the task of completing the “Psalm Book for Church and Private Devotion,” edited by the ministerial conference at Roskilde.