1. Father, to Thee we look in all our sorrow (Trust in God)
Written in 1881 upon the death of a member of the author’s congregation, and published in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885.
2. From age to age how grandly rise (Unity)
Written for the annual festival of the Free Religious Association, Boston, June 2, 1899, and first published in Souvenir Festival Hys. 1899. Subsequently altered by the author to “From age to age the prophet’s vision.”
3. From age to age they gather, all the brave of heart and strong, (Victory of Truth)
Written in 1891 for the Dedication of Unity Church, Decorah, Iowa, and published in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894.
4. From many ways and wide apart, (College or School Reunion)
Dated in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, as having been written in 1890.
5. Go not, my soul, in search of Him, (God within)
Written in 1879, printed in the Boston Christian Register, May 31, 1879, and included in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, with the title “The Indwelling God.”
6. I cannot think of them as dead (Eternal Life)
Written in 1882 and first published in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, and entitled “My Dead.” In the English collections it is usually given as “We cannot think of them as dead.”
7. I little see, I little know, (Trust)
“A Psalm of Trust” written in 1883, first appeared in the Boston Christian Register, and again in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885.
8. Immortal, by their deed and word (The Spirit of Jesus)
Written in 1880, and first published in Unity Hys. and Carols, Chicago, Illinois, 1880, and then in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885.
9. Many things in life, there are (Mystery in All Things)
Written in 1885 and first published in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, with the title “Passing Understanding”, and the quotation “the Peace of God which passeth all understanding.”
10. Not always on the Mount may we (On the Mount)
This lesson from the Transfiguration was written in 1882, and published in the Chicago Unity, April 1, 1884. After revision by the author, it was included in the 1st Series of The Thought of God, 1885.
11. Not when, with self dissatisfied, (Lent)
Written in 1891, and given in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, p. 33. It is in The Public School Hymn Book, 1903, and others.
12. O beautiful, my country, (National Hymn)
As “Our Country,” written in 1884, and published in the Chicago Unity Festivals, 1884, and again in The Thought of God, 1885.
13. O Light, from age to age the same, (Dedication Anniversary)
Written in 1890 for the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Congregational Church (Unitarian), Quincy, Illinois. Included in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, and entitled “From Generation to Generation.”
14. O Lord of Life, where’er they be, (Life in God)
“Written in 1888 for Easter service in Author’s own church,” and first published in the Chicago Unity, and again in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894. The “Alleluia” refrain, which is added in some collections to each verse, is appended, in the original, to the last verse only.
15. O Name, all other names above, (Trust in God)
Under the title “Found. ‘They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee’,” this hymn, written in 1878, was given in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885.
16. O Prophet souls of all the years (Unity)
“Written in 1893 for, and sung at, the Unitarian gathering in connection with The World’s Parliament of Religions (World’s Fair) Chicago, Sep. 1893,” and included in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, and entitled “One Law, One Life, One Love.”
17. O Thou, in all Thy might so far, (God All in All)
This hymn, given in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, with the title “The Mystery of God,” was written in 1876, and first published in the New York Inquirer.
18. O thou in lonely vigil led,
This encouragement for lonely workers was written for the “Emerson Commemoration, W.U.C. 1888,” and included in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894.
19. O Thou, who art of all that is, (Divine Guidance)
Under the title “Through unknown paths,” this hymn was included in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885; it was written in 1877.
20. O Thou, whose Spirit witness bears, (Dedication of a Place of Worship)
Written for the Dedication of the First Unitarian Church, Omaha, February 6, 1891, and published in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, with the title “The Inward Witness”, and the subscription “For T.K. Omaha, 1891.”
21. On eyes that watch through sorrow’s night (Easter)
A Carol for Easter Morn, written in 1890 for the author’s congregation, and published in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894.
22. One thought I have, my ample creed, (The Thought of God)
This is the initial hymn to the collection The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, and supplies the title to the work. It was written in 1880, and first published in the Chicago Unity Hymns and Carols, 1880, and then in The Thought of God, 1885.
23. The rose is queen among the flowers, (Flower services)
Written in 1875, first published in The Sunnyside, a songbook for Sunday Schools, and again in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885, under the title “Flower Sunday.”
24. Thy kingdom come—on bended knee, (Missions)
“Written in 1891 for the Commencement of the Meadville Theological School (Meadville, Pa.) June 12, 1891, and pub. in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894.” under the title “The Day of God,” and the subscription “M.T.S., June 12, 1891.”
25. We pray no more, made lowly wise
For miracle and sign. (Greater Faith Desired)
“Written in 1879, and first pub. in The Christian Register (Boston) Mar. 22 of that year, under the title ‘The Larger Faith.’” Included under the same title in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885. Sometimes given as “Made lowly wise, we pray no more.”
26. When courage fails, and faith burns low, (Victory of Truth)
Under the title “Loyalty,” this hymn was given in The Thought of God, 1st Series, 1885. It was written in 1881.
27. Where men on mounts of vision,
Have passed the veil within. (Dedication of a Place of Worship)
“Written in 1891 for the Dedication of First Unitarian Church, Oakland, California.” Included in The Thought of God, 2nd Series, 1894, entitled “Holy Place”, and subscribed “For C.W.W., Oakland, Cal. 1891.”
This account of Hosmer’s hymns, copied verbatim from Julian’s Dictionary, may be accepted as authoritative as to the date and occasion for each hymn listed, but Canon Julian presumably added the descriptive notations in brackets, and fell into minor inaccuracies, as when he wrote Unity Hymns and Carols for Unity Hymns and Chorals (cf. nos. 3 and 22), and cited the periodical Unity, published in Chicago, as Chicago Unity. By way of further clarification it should be noted that the opening line of no. 12, O beautiful my country, was taken from J. R. Lowell’s great Commemoration Ode, and that Hosmer always wanted it printed ‘O Beautiful my Country’, in recognition of its source. No. 18 was written for the observance by the Western Unitarian Conference of the fiftieth anniversary of Emerson’s famous Divinity School Address. The person initialed as “T.K.” for whom no. 20 was written on February 6, 1891, probably was Thomas Kilpatrick, a layman who did much to make possible the erection of the church in Omaha, which was not dedicated until December 15 of that year. The person initialled “C.W.W.”, for whom no. 27 was written, was Rev. Charles W. Wendte, then minister of the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, California.
Julian’s account of Hosmer’s contribution to hymnody, though no doubt as satisfactory as could be expected at the time it was written, is incomplete in two respects. The latest hymn listed is dated 1899, yet at least three earlier hymns by Hosmer are unaccountably missing, (viz, nos. 32, 33, 41, noted below), presumably because he neglected to send Julian any information about them. More important than these are several later occasional hymns which he wrote in the last three decades of his life, too late for any inclusion in Julian’s Dictionary, and which form a notable addition to the earlier list. Some of them were included in the revised edition of Unity Hymns and Chorals, 1911, and all of them in The Thought of God, 3rd. Series, 1918, as follows:
28. Across a century’s border line,
Written for the centennial commemoration of W. E. Channing’s famous “Baltimore Sermon” at the General Unitarian Conference, September 26, 1917.
29. All hidden lie the future ways,
Written as a hymn at the christening of children. Not dated.
30. Forward through the ages, in unbroken line,
A hymn of the church universal, written in 1908 for an Installation Service, set to Sullivan’s tune St. Gertrude. In some collections it has replaced Baring Gould’s Onward, Christian Soldiers.
31. Hear, hear, O ye nations, and hearing obey, (Reign of Peace)
Written in 1909 and included in New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and, with one word altered in the last stanza, in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937.
32. I came not hither of my will, (Divine Providence)
Written in 1883.
33. Lo, the day of days is here, (Easter)
Written in 1890.
34. Lo, the Easter-tide is here, (Easter)
Written in 1914.
35. Now while the day in trailing splendor (Evening)
Written in 1902, published in Louisa Loring’s Hymns of the Ages, 1904.
36. O blest the souls that see and hear,
Written for the National Conference of Unitarian Churches, Chicago, September 27, 1909, in 5 stanzas, beginning “From many ways and far apart.” In The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and Hymns of the Spirit, 1937, this first stanza has been dropped, and the remaining four stanzas printed, beginning as above.
37. O day of light and gladness (Easter)
Written in 1903, published in Louisa Loring’s Hymns of the Ages, 1904, and, slightly revised, in Unity Hymns and Chorals, 1911.
38. The outward building stands complete,
Written for the Dedication of Unity Church, St. Louis, Missouri, October 7, 1917.
39. Through willing heart and helping hand,
Written in 1909 for the Dedication of the Parish House of the First Unitarian Church, Berkeley, California.
40. Thy kingdom come, O Lord.
Written in 1905.
41. Today be joy in every heart, (Christmas)
Written in 1877.
42. Uplift the song of praise,
The first two stanzas of this hymn were written in 1904 and were included in Miss Louisa Loring’s Hymns of the Ages, published in that year. At a later date Dr. Hosmer wrote two additional stanzas and the hymn was thus printed in The Thought of God, 3rd Series, 1918. In The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and Hymns of the Spirit, 1937, it is set to the tune Yigdal.
43. When shadows gather on our way,
Written in 1904 and published in Miss Louisa Loring’s Hymns of the Ages, 1904.
44. When the constant sun returning,
Reginald Heber in 1827 wrote a single stanza hymn beginning, “God that madest earth and heaven.” In 1912 Hosmer wrote for The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, a second stanza, the first line of which is quoted above, to complete the thought. This composite two stanza hymn has since been included in The Pilgrim Hymnal, 1935, and Hymns of the Spirit, 1937.
The period of Dr. Hosmer’s hymn writing covered more than 40 years (1875-1917) and during the latter half of that time he was widely recognized by hymn lovers as the most distinguished hymn writer of his time. Many of his hymns found their way into the collections of various denominations in both this country and Great Britain. Canon Dearmer included 8 in the British collection Songs of Praise, and in the accompanying handbook, Songs of Praise Discussed, calls the hymn O Thou, in all thy might so far, (no. 17) “this flawless poem, one of the completest expressions of religious faith,” and the hymn Thy kingdom come, on bended knee, (no. 24) “one of the noblest hymns in the language.”
All of Hosmer’s hymns in recent use will be found in both the Unitarian collections—The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and Hymns of the Spirit, 1937, except where initials indicate one or the other book, as follows:—Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 (N.H.T.B.), 8, 10 (N.H.T.B.), 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 (H.S.), 29 (H.S.), 30, 31, 32, 34 (H.S,), 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. Nos. 10, 17, 24, 30 and 40 are included in the Protestant Episcopal Hymnal, 1940.
J. 1650 H.W.F.
Howe, Mrs. Julia (Ward), New York, New York, May 27, 1819—October 17, 1910, Boston, Massachusetts. Married Samuel Gridley Howe on April 26, 1843. She was a woman with a distinguished personality and intellect; an Abolitionist and active in social reforms; author of several books in prose and verse. The latter include Passion Flower, 1854; Words of the Hour, 1856; Later Lyrics, 1866; and From a Sunset Ridge, 1896. She became famous as the author of the poem entitled “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” beginning,
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, which, in spite of its title, was written as a patriotic song and not as a hymn for use in public worship, but which has been included in many American hymn books. It was written on November 19, 1861, while she and her husband, accompanied by their pastor, [Rev. James Freeman Clarke], q.v., minister of the (Unitarian) Church of the Disciples, Boston, were visiting Washington soon after the outbreak of the Civil War. She had seen the troops gathered there and had heard them, singing “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave” to a popular tune called “Glory, Hallelujah” composed a few years earlier by William Steffe of Charleston, South Carolina, for Sunday School use. Dr. Clarke asked Mrs. Howe if she could not write more uplifting words for the tune and as she awoke early the next morning she found the verses forming in her mind as fast as she could write them down, so completely that later she re-wrote only a line or two in the last stanza and changed only four words in other stanzas. She sent the poem to The Atlantic Monthly, which paid her $4 and published it in its issue for February, 1862. It attracted little attention until it caught the eye of Chaplain C. C. McCabe (later a Methodist bishop) who had a fine singing voice and who taught it first to the 122d Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment to which he was attached, then to other troops, and to prisoners in Libby Prison after he was made prisoner of war. Thereafter it quickly came into use throughout the North as an expression of the patriotic emotion of the period.
J. 1652 H.W.F.