Before listing his hymns it should be noted that he wrote or edited several other literary works. In 1853 he and his classmate Thomas Wentworth Higginson published a beautiful collection of sea-poems entitled Thalatta. He wrote a memoir of his friend, Rev. Samuel Johnson, 1883; was the author of a Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1886; and edited Final Memorials of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1887. A volume of his own Essays and Sermons, edited by Joseph May, was published in 1894.
Alphabetical List of Hymns written or adapted by Samuel Longfellow
Abbreviations: Bk. Hys. = The Book of Hymns, 1846 or 1848. H. and V. = Hymns & Verses by Samuel Longfellow, 1894. Hys. Sp. = Hymns of the Spirit, 1864. J. (followed by page number) = Julian’s Dictionary of Hymnology. S. L. = Samuel Longfellow
1. A voice by Jordan’s shore. (Advent)
Printed in Hys. Sp. 1864, under title of “John and Jesus”; in H. & V., no date.
2. Again as evening’s shadow falls. (Evening)
Published in Vespers, New York, 1860, headed “Nox et tenebrae,” in 2 stas. of 8 l., and reprinted in Hys. Sp. 1864, with the title “Vesper Hymn,” in 4 stas. of 4 l.; also in H. & V. in which it is the fourth and concluding hymn of a group called “Vesper Hymns,” and dated 1859, the 3d and 4th of which were included in Hys. Sp., 1864.
3. Beneath the shadow of the cross. (Sacrifice)
Written in Fall River, 1848, and published in the Supplement to A Book of Hymns, Second Edition, Boston, 1848, with the title “The New Commandment,” in 3 stas. of 4 l.; in H. & V.
4. Eternal One, Thou living God. (Anniversary)
Written in 1875 for a church anniversary, possibly for the 25th anniversary of the Preble Chapel in Portland, Maine; 5 stas. of 4 l. In H. & V. the original reading of the last two lines,
“Afloat upon its boundless sea,
Who sails with God is safe indeed.”
are changed to the inferior reading,
“That truth alone can make us free;
Who goes with God is safe indeed.”
5. Every bird that upward springs.
Included in Supplement to Bk. Hys., 1848, attributed to Neale, and also in Hys. Sp., 1864. It is in fact S.L.’s adaptation of part of a hymn by Neale for St. Andrew’s Day, included in his “Hymns for Children”, 1842; see pp. 360-1 of the Collected Hymns, Sequences and Carols of J. M. Neale, 1914. S.L. used stas. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Neale’s hymn in 8 stas. Of the 16 lines in S.L.’s version 9 are taken unchanged from Neale, 6 contain part of Neale’s wording, and only 1 is wholly S.L.’s. S.L. writing in 1880 said, “I may say that hymn 585, [i.e. Every bird, etc.] is mine—I did not put my name because two lines were not mine—“. (see H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev. Oct., 1917.) This letter illustrates the fallibility of human memory. In the 32 years which had elapsed since he had adapted Neale’s verses for the Supplement to Bk. Hys. his own contribution to the final result had come to bulk much larger than it really was. S.L. was right in ascribing the hymn to Neale, as he did in 1848 and 1864, tho he might properly have marked it as “Neale, altered.”
6. Father, give thy benediction. (Dismissal)
One stanza, 8 lines, printed anonymously in Hys. Sp.; described by S.L. as “of no importance”, but included in his H. & V. Listed as “Anon.” in the first edition of the Pilgrim Hymnal. Included in the Isles of Shoals Hymn Book, 1908. (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev. October, 1917). See J. 1563.
7. Go forth to life, O child of earth. (Life’s mission)
Written in 1859, included in his Book of Hymns and Tunes for the Sunday School, and in Hys. Sp. 1864, under title “Life’s Mission.” 4 stas. of 4 l.
8. God of the earth, the sea, the sky. (Divine Immanence)
Printed anonymously in Hys. Sp. 1864, under title “God, through all and in you all”; included in H. & V. with l. 2 in sta. 1 altered; no date. (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev. October, 1917).
9. God of Truth! Thy sons should be,
No. 550 in Hys. Sp. 1864, where it is listed as “Anon,” because, as he later wrote, it was “founded on a H. of Wesley” though “nearly all mine.” (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev., October, 1917).
10. God’s trumpet wakes the slumbering world. (Courage)
Printed anonymously in Hys. Sp. 1864 under title “On the Lord’s Side”; in H. & V., no date. 5 stas. of 4 l.
11. He, who himself and God would know. (Silent worship)
Printed in Hys. Sp. 1864 as “From Martineau” under title of “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is S.L.’s versification of a passage from Martineau’s sermon, “Silence and Meditation”, no. 17 in “Endeavors after the Christian Life,” in which Martineau paraphrased a few sentences in Pascal’s “Thoughts”, no. 72. Not dated; not included in H. & V. (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev. October, 1917.)
12. Holy Spirit, Truth [Light] Divine.
Included in Hys. Sp. under title “Prayer for Inspiration”; also in H. & V., without date. In the introductory note to H. & V. it is stated that this hymn “bears some resemblance to one by Andrew Reed, but after careful investigation they appear to be quite distinct.” In spite of this disclaimer it is clear that the theme of the hymn as a whole, and several of its lines, are borrowed from the hymn, “Holy Ghost, with light divine” by Andrew Reed, 1817. Furthermore, S.L.’s arrangement of this hymn is found in two different versions, the one in H. & V. beginning, “Holy Spirit, Truth divine,” the other, and superior one, beginning, “Holy Spirit, Light divine.” It will be found in this latter form in The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937, in both of which it is attributed to both Reed and Longfellow.
13. Holy Spirit, source of gladness.
S.L.’s adaptation of Jacobi and Toplady’s version of Gerhardt’s “O du allersusste Freude”; included in Supplement to Bk. Hys. 1848, and in altered form in Hys. Sp. 1864; set down as “Anon.” in both; not included in H. & V.
14. I look to Thee in every need, (Trust)
In Hys. Sp., 1864, with title “Looking Unto God,” and listed as “Anon.”, but included in H. & V. as Longfellow’s. He had not claimed it because its opening stanza was strongly reminiscent of a love-song by Thomas Haynes Bayly, as indicated by S.L.’s pencilled notation in his copy of Hys. Sp. now in the library of Union Theological Seminary, New York, reading “V. 1, T. H. Bayley, alt.” Bayly (not Baylēy) (1797-1839) was an English composer of popular sentimental songs one of which began,
I turn to thee in time of need
And never turn in vain;
I see thy fond and fearless smile
And hope revives again.
It gives me strength to struggle on,
Whate’er the strife may be;
And if again my courage fail
Again I turn to thee.
This song, though one of Bayly’s best, is not included in his collected works, but a copy, with his name as its author, is in the Harvard University Library. It was published by C. Bradlee, 107 Washington St., Boston, n.d., the words set “to a favorite Neapolitan melody”, and must have still been well remembered when S.L. was inspired to transfigure the thought of its opening stanza by giving it a profoundly spiritual interpretation. He made no use of Bayly’s second and third stanzas, and changed the metre from 8.6.8.6. double to six line stanzas, 8.6.8.6.8.8., thus making sure that his words would be sung to another tune than the “Neapolitan melody.”
15. In the beginning was the word. (The Word of God)
This was printed in The Liberty Bell, Boston, 1851, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines, and dated “Fall River, Sept. 1850.” Two stanzas are included in Hys. Sp. 1864; also in H. & V., undated.
16. Life of all that lives below.
An adaptation from Charles Wesley; not in Bk. Hys. or Hys. Sp.
17. Life of God, within my soul. (God in the soul)
Only found in H. & V., undated, entitled “A Prayer.” 4 stas. of 4 l.
18. Light of ages and of nations. (Inspiration)
Dated 1860 in H. & V. in which it begins as above with title “In all ages entering holy souls.” It was first printed, however, in Hys. Sp. 1864 as “God of ages,” under title “The word of the Lord abideth forever.” 3 stas. of 8 l.
19. Lo! the earth is risen again. (Easter)
In H. & V. the first line reads “Lo the earth again is risen,” with no date, but Dr. Louis F. Benson owned a copy of the book in which a ms. note was appended to this hymn reading
“In memory of C.J.
July 6, 1864
May 12, 1886.
Written for the first anniversary of her death, May 12, 1887.”Several other lines besides the opening one have been re-written, presumably by S.L., to make the later and improved version of the hymn included in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937.
20. Love for all! and can it be? (The Prodigal Son)
Included in Hys. Sp. 1864 under title “Father, I have sinned”; also in H. & V. without date. 6 stas. of 4 l.
21. Now on land and sea descending. (Evening)
This is the 3d of the Vesper Hymns in H. & V. 2 stas. of 8 l. (See note under “Again as evening’s shadow falls.”)
22. Now while we sing our closing psalm. (Close of worship)
In H. & V., no date; not in Bk. Hys. or Hys. Sp.
23. Now with creation’s morning song. (Morning)
In Hys. Sp. 1864, ascribed to “Breviary”; it is S.L.’s adaptation of E. Caswall’s trans. of “Lux ecce surgit aurea”, beginning “Now with the rising golden dawn”; see Julian’s Dict. pp. 820-821.
24. O church of freedom and of faith. (Installation)
Written in 1891, presumably for the installation of Rev. John Carroll Perkins as minister of the First Parish in Portland in that year. Included in H. & V. Not found elsewhere.
25. O Father, fix this wavering will.
No. 368 in Hys. Sp. 1864, “Anon.” but later acknowledged by S.L. as his though “of no importance.” (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow, Harv. Theol. Rev., Oct., 1917.)
26. O God! a temple to thy name.
“Hymn for the dedication of the new chapel of the First Parish, Haverhill.” Dated 1848 in H. & V., but not found elsewhere. 5 stas. of 4 l.
27. O God! Thy children gathered here. (Ordination)
“Hymn for the ordination of Edward Everett Hale” at Worcester, Massachusetts in 1846. Bk. Hys. 1848; H. & V. 1894. 6 stas. of 4 l.
28. O God, thou giver of all good! (Gratitude)
Included in Hys. Sp. 1864, and in H. & V., without date, under title “Give us this day our daily bread.” 4 stas. of 4 l.
29. O God unseen, but ever near.
S.L.’s adaptation of hymn by E. Osler, printed in Hys. Sp. 1864, in 3 stas of 4 l., entitled “At the fountain”. Anon, in index. “It is, in fact E. Osler’s hymn rewritten, 7 of its 12 lines being Osler’s.” The expanded form in later books is attributed to S.L., but should be “E. Osler alt. by S.L.” See Julian’s Dict. pp. 1665, 1681, 833.
30. O holy, holy, holy,
Art Thou, our God and Lord. (Praise)
This hymn in two stanzas, 8 lines, is found only in C. W. Wendte’s book The Carol: for Sunday School and the Home (1886), where it is attributed to Samuel Longfellow and dated 1886.
31. O Life that maketh all things new.
Written under the title “The light that lighteth every man,” for the 2d Social Festival of the Free Religious Association 1874, in 2 stas. of 8 l.; afterwards published in A Book of Hymns and Tunes for the Congregation and the Home, Cambridge, 1876, with the title “Greeting”, in 4 stas. of 4 l.; included in H. & V. under title “Behold, I make all things new”, and there incorrectly dated 1878. For use of first line see note under “O Thou whose liberal sun and rain.”
32. O still in accents sweet and strong. (Ordination)
Printed in Hys. Sp. 1864 under title “Behold the fields are white.” H. & V., no date. 4 stas. of 4 l.
33. O Thou, in whom we live and move.
In Hys. Sp. 1864, this begins, “O God, in whom we live and move,” 5 stas. of 4 l. headed “God’s Law and Love.” In H. & V. it begins, “O Thou, in whom we live and move,” the form in which the hymn has passed into later use.
34. O Thou, whose liberal sun and rain. (Church anniversary)
Included in Hys. Sp. 1864, and in H. & V. no date. 3 stas. of 4 l. (Note the last line, “To Him who maketh all things new”, used later for first line of hymn “O Life that maketh all things new.”)
35. One holy church of God appears. (The church universal)
Dated 1860 in H. & V.; included in Hys. Sp. 1864. 5 stas. of 4 l.
36. Out of every clime and people. (Christmas)
This hymn in two stanzas, 8 lines, with chorus, is found only in C. W. Wendte’s The Carol: for Sunday School and the Home (1886) where it is attributed to S.L. (except chorus).
37. Out of the dark, the circling sphere. (Hope and courage)
Based on a hymn written in 1856 for the 25th anniversary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, with the title “What of the night?” and beginning, “A quarter of the circling sphere.” See H. & V. for the original version, which S.L. rewrote for Hys. Sp. 1864, in 5 stas. of 4 l. The misplaced comment by Putnam in Singers and Songs of the Liberal Faith, p. 429, that it was “founded on a passage in one of Mr. Martineau’s sermons,” refers not to this hymn but to “He who himself and God would know,” cited earlier in this listing.
38. Peace, peace on earth, the heart of man forever. (Peace on earth)
Included in Hys. Sp. 1864 and H. & V., no date. 2 stas. of 4 l.
39. Sing forth his high eternal name. (Praise)
Written by request for words to tune “Coronation.” In H. & V. under title “The Lord of all”, no date, 6 stas. of 4 l.
40. Spirit divine attend our prayer.
This hymn appeared in Hys. Sp. 1864, as “Anon.” It is S.L.’s adaptation of a hymn by Andrew Reed, 1829, about half the lines having been re-written. It should be credited to both writers as a joint production.
41. The loving Friend to all who bowed. (Jesus)
Included in Hys. Sp. under title “Jesus of Nazareth”; no date in H. & V. 5 stas. of 4 l.
42. The summer days are come again.
H. & V. includes a song in three 8-line stanzas headed “Summer Rural Gathering”, dated 1859, each stanza beginning, “The sweet June days are come again.” In Hys. Sp. 1864, the second and third stanzas of this song are taken to form a hymn for summer, each beginning, “The summer days are come again”, the concluding quatrain of the last stanza re-written.
43. ’Tis winter now; the fallen snow.
Dated 1859 in H. & V. In Hys. Sp., 4 stas. of 4 l.
44. Thou Lord of life, our saving health. (Dedication of hospital)
“Written for dedication of Cambridge Hospital.” In H. & V., 4 stas. of 4 l., dated 1886.
45. We sowed a seed in faith and hope.
“Written for the 25th anniversary of the first meeting of the Second Unitarian Society of Brooklyn”, included in H. & V. under title “The truth shall make you free.” No further use.
46. When from the Jordan’s gleaming wave. (Baptism)
Dated 1848 in H. & V., but it was included in Bk. Hys. 1846, 5 stas. of 4 l.
There are also five hymns, composite in origin and listed as “Anonymous” in Hys. Sp. 1864, which in style and sentiment so closely resemble S.L.’s writings as to suggest that he gave them the form in which they are there printed, viz:—
47. As darker, darker fall around
The shadows of the night.
This is printed in 6 stas., the first four of which are taken from “The Hymn of the Calabrian Shepherds,” printed in William Young’s Catholic Choralist, 1842, but there beginning, “Darker and darker fall around.” The 5th and 6th stas. may be by S.L. since he referred to this hymn as it appeared in Hys. Sp. as “founded upon the Hymn of the Calabrian Shepherds,” tho he did not state that he wrote them. (H. W. Foote, The Anonymous Hymns of Samuel Longfellow; and Julian, Dictionary, p. 1627.)
48. Come, thou Almighty Will
This hymn in three stanzas was included as Anon. in Longfellow and Johnson’s Hymns of the Spirit, 1864. Its theme was obviously suggested by Ray Palmer’s five stanza translation of the 12th century Latin hymn Veni Sancte Spiritus, beginning Come, Holy Ghost, in love, published in 1858, from which three lines are borrowed intact, with as many more which only slightly alter Palmer’s words. Since the religious outlook expressed is characteristic of Samuel Longfellow, and the hymn first appeared in Hymns of the Spirit, it seems certain that he was the author but listed it as Anon, because of its composite form. It was included in several later Unitarian hymn books, most recently in The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937. (J. 1623 H.W.F.)
49. Give forth thine earnest cry.
Printed in three 4-line stas. There is no evidence as to the authorship of this hymn, but its sentiment is completely in line with Longfellow’s. Included in Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, and in The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914.
50. God is in his holy temple.
Printed in four 4-line stas. One line is almost identical with one found in S.L.’s earlier hymn “Written for the dedication of the New Chapel of the First Parish, Haverhill, Mass.”, which had had no use beyond the occasion for which it was written, but which Miss Longfellow included in Hymns and Verses. The recurrence of this line in the hymn here listed suggests the probability that the whole hymn is by S.L. though he preferred to cite it as “Anon.”
51. Supreme disposer of the heart.
This appeared in the 1848 edition of the Book of Hymns, where it is cited as from “Breviary”, and was included by Miss Longfellow in Hymns and Verses with the same citation. She probably assumed that it was a translation by S.L. from a Latin hymn. It is, however, a largely rewritten version of John Chandler’s translation of the hymn Supreme motor cordium, in his Hymns of the Primitive Church, 1837, p. 31. Longfellow retained the general pattern of Chandler’s five stanzas, and kept a few of his lines unchanged, or altered by only a word or two, but rewrote the rest, the fourth and fifth stas. being wholly S.L.’s, differing from Chandler’s in both phrase and significance, and even further from the Latin original.
The Isles of Shoals Hymn Book, 1908, contains a hymn in two stanzas, 8.6.8.6.D., beginning
52. The heavens thy praise are telling,
Given as “Anon.” but [Mrs. Emma Marean], q.v., who was exceptionally well informed about that book, attributed it to “Spitta-Longfellow,” i.e., by S. Longfellow based on a German hymn by C. J. P. Spitta. It is possible that this is the case but the original by Spitta has not been traced and Longfellow did not claim this arrangement.
H.W.F.
Loring, Louisa Putnam (1854-1924) of Boston and Pride’s Crossing, Massachusetts, compiled Hymns of the Ages, published in 1904. Her literary and musical standards were high, and the book was handsomely printed, but its appeal was limited and it had to compete with several other excellent hymnbooks then on the market for use among Unitarians. It included Miss Loring’s own morning hymn beginning,