said to have been written while he was a student in the Divinity School. Part of the first and almost the whole of the second stanza were rewritten by [J. S. Dwight], q.v., and Putnam, in Songs of the Liberal Faith, states that it was first published in this form in one of Lowell Mason’s song books in 1844. It was included, with further alterations, in Hedge and Huntington’s Hymns of the Church of Christ, 1853, and with yet other changes in Longfellow and Johnson’s Hymns of the Spirit, 1864. In the 20th century collection also entitled Hymns of the Spirit, 1937, the hymn appears in 3 stas. of which the first is by Brooks, the second by Dwight, and a third, of which the first 3 lines are those introduced by Longfellow and Johnson, the remaining four lines from a later unknown source, and its authorship is attributed to “Composite: based on Charles Timothy Brooks and John Sullivan Dwight.” The complicated history of this hymn is traced in Julian, 184, 1566, 1685.

H.W.F.

Bryant, William Cullen, Cummington, Massachusetts, November 3, 1794—June 12, 1878, New York, New York. He was a student at Williams College for two years, then studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1815, where he practised until 1825 when he removed to New York. There he devoted himself to journalism as editor of The New York Review and of the New York Evening Post, reserving part of his time, especially in later years, to literary pursuits at his retreat at Roslyn, Long Island, where he wrote addresses, essays and reviews as well as poems. In point of time he was the first of the famous group of New England poets of the nineteenth century. He began writing verses when a child and composed his noblest poem, Thanatopsis, when only eighteen years of age. His first volume of poems, containing one entitled The Ages delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard, and some others, was published in 1821. In 1832 a volume entitled Poems, complete to that date, was published, for which Washington Irving secured republication in England, where it brought him wide recognition. Many successive editions of Poems, each with some additional items, were published in later years, and after his death a complete edition of the Poetical Works of William Cullen Bryant appeared in 1879. He also had privately printed a little volume of his Hymns, 1869.

The following pieces by him have been included in various collections of hymns, some of them having considerable use in Great Britain as well as in this country.

1. All praise to him of Nazareth (Communion)

Dated 1864. Included in Hatfield’s (British) Church Hymn Book, 1874, in 3 stanzas, and in Songs of the Sanctuary and in Putnam’s Singers and Songs, etc. in 5 stanzas.

2. All that in this wide world we see (Omnipresence)

Dated 1836, but Beard, in his Collection, (British) 1837, gives it as an original contribution, thus fixing the date of first publication. Putnam, Singers and Songs, etc., notes that it was “Written, probably, for some church in England,” information which sounds like the aged poet’s vague recollection many years after he had responded to Beard’s request. Included in Lunt’s Christian Psalter, 1841.

3. All things that are on earth,(Love of God)

Included in Beard’s Collection, 1837.

4. Almighty! hear thy children raise, (Praise)

One of five hymns written by Bryant at the request of Miss Sedgwick for inclusion (without the author’s name) in Sewall’s Collection, 1820, compiled for use in the First Congregational Society of New York (Unitarian), now All Souls Church. In Beard’s Collection, 1837, the first line is altered to read

Almighty, listen while we praise,

and in the Unitarian Hymn and Tune Book, Boston, 1868, it is altered to

Almighty, hear us while we praise,

5. As shadows cast by cloud and sun,

Written for the Semi-Centennial of the Church of the Messiah, Boston, March 19, 1875. Included in the Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, New York, 1878.

6. Close softly, fondly, while ye weep (Death)

Included in H. W. Beecher’s Plymouth Collection, 1855.

7. Dear ties of mutual succor bind (Charity)

Putnam, Singers and Songs, 1874, p. 130, says, “Mr. Bryant has kindly sent us, as an additional contribution to this volume, the following exquisite lines, which were written about forty years since, for some charitable occasion, and which he lately found among some old papers. They are not among his published poems.” Included in the Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, 1878.

8. Deem not that they are blest alone (Mourning)

Written for Sewall’s Collection, 1820, vide supra. Included in Beard’s Collection, 1837, and, the first line altered to read,

O deem not they are blest alone,

in Martineau’s Hymns of Prayer and Praise, 1873, and in Songs for the Sanctuary, New York, 1865-1872.

9. Father, to thy kind love we owe, (God’s Loving Kindness)

One of the five hymns, written by Bryant for inclusion in Sewall’s Collection, New York, 1820. Included in the Hymn and Tune Book, Boston, 1868, and in Martineau’s Hymns, 1873. In Putnam’s Singers and Songs, etc. the first line reads,

Our Father, to thy love we owe.

10. How shall I know thee in the sphere which keeps? (Future life)

A memorial poem in 9 stanzas rather than a hymn, but included in part in the supplement of devotional readings in Hedge and Huntington’s Hymns for the Church of Christ, 1853. Complete text in Putnam’s Singers and Songs, etc., pp. 125-126.

11. Look from Thy sphere of endless day (Home missions)

Dated 1840. Included in Songs for the Sanctuary, New York, 1865; in Horder’s (British) Congregational Hymns, 1884, and in the Pilgrim Hymnal, 1935.

12. Lord, who ordainest for mankind (Thanks for Mother Love)

Written at the request of Rev. Samuel Osgood of New York for inclusion in his Christian Worship, 1862, and included in Martineau’s Hymns, etc., 1873.

13. Mighty One, before whose face (Ordination)

Dated c. 1820. It was included in Hedge and Huntington’s Hymns, etc. 1853, H. W. Beecher’s Plymouth Collection, 1855, and elsewhere.

14. Not in the solitude, (God in the city)

Dated 1836. Included in Martineau’s Hymns, 1873.

15. O God, whose dread and dazzling brow (God’s compassion)

Included in Hedge and Huntington’s Hymns, etc. 1853, and in the Hymn and Tune Book, Boston, 1868.

16. O North, with all thy vales of green! (Reign of Christ)

Included in the author’s privately printed Hymns, 1869, undated. It passed into several British collections, e.g., the Scotch Church Hymnary, 1898; Worship Song, 1905; The English Hymnal, 1906; and is included in the American Episcopal Hymnal, 1940.

17. O Thou, whose love can ne’er forget (Ordination)

One of Bryant’s early hymns, perhaps written for the ordination of Rev. William Ware, December, 1821, as minister of the First Congregational Society of New York, (now All Souls Church). Included in Beard’s English Collection, 1837.

18. O Thou Whose own vast temple stands (Opening of a house of worship)

Written in 1835 for the dedication of a Chapel in Prince Street, New York. The building was soon afterwards destroyed by fire. This hymn is the most widely used of all those written by Bryant. It was included in Beard’s English Collection in 1837, and in Martineau’s Hymns, 1873. In Putnam’s Singers and Songs, etc., the opening line reads,

Thou, whose unmeasured temple stands,

and in this form it was included in Lunt’s Christian Psalter, 1861, and in the American Presbyterian Psalms and Hymns, Richmond, 1867; in Horder’s Congregational Hymns, London, 1884; and elsewhere.

19. Standing forth in life’s rough way (On behalf of children)

Included in Dr. Allon’s (British) Children’s Worship, 1878; in Horder’s Congregational Hymns, 1884; and elsewhere.

20. Thou unrelenting past (The Past)

Dated 1836. A poem of 14 stanzas, a few of which were included in Martineau’s Hymns, 1873.

21. When doomed to death the Apostle lay (On behalf of Drunkards)

Included in the Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, 1878.

22. When he who from the scourge of wrong (Hope of Resurrection)

Written for Sewall’s Collection, 1820. Included in Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868.

23. When this song of praise shall cease (Anticipation of Death)

Written for a collection of hymns printed at the end of a Sunday School Liturgy, prepared by James Lombard, of Utica, New York, in 1859. Included in Bryant’s privately printed Hymns, 1869, and in Stevenson’s (British) School Hymnal, 1889.

24. When the blind suppliant in the way (Opening the eyes of the blind)

Dated 1874. Included in the Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, New York, 1878.

25. Whither, midst falling dew, (Divine Guidance)

This is one of Bryant’s best known poems, entitled “To a Waterfowl,” and dated 1836, and is in no sense a hymn, although included in Martineau’s Hymns, 1873.

26. Wild was the day, the wintry sea, (The Pilgrim Fathers)

Included in Longfellow and Johnson’s Hymns of the Spirit, 1864.

Putnam, Singers and Songs, etc., p. 123 reports a hymn beginning

Ancient of Days! except Thou deign,

“written for the dedication of Rev. R. C. Waterston’s church in Boston,” and another hymn beginning

Lord, from whose glorious presence came,

written “at the request of a friend, Mr. Hiram Barney, for the opening of an Orthodox Congregational Church,” but does not print the text of either, and neither appears to have been included in any Collection.