A hymn on pioneer service, written probably with the Pilgrim Fathers in mind, but equally applicable to other groups of immigrants who came “o’er the trackless ocean” to build “rude homes” in the “new land, wild and lonely.”
Information concerning the author has not been traced. The hymn is not listed in Julian’s Dictionary.
MUSIC. BEECHER. For comments on this tune and its composer see [Hymn 178].
166. For them whose ways are in the height
Richard Roberts, 1874—
This hymn for travellers by air was created to meet the new day of amazing development which has taken place in modern travel. It is a welcome addition to the hymnody of travel.
Richard Roberts, born in Wales, in 1874, is an eminent preacher. Before going to Canada where he became the first Moderator of the United Church of Canada, he occupied pulpits in Wales, London, and Brooklyn. He is one of the founders of the “Fellowship of Reconciliation.” His views on the relation of the church to war are well expressed in his own words:
The world order in which war is inherent, the church exists to transform. When it supports the method of war, an end-product of the unredeemed world order, the church is not only proclaiming its own failure, but is hauling down its own flag and hoisting instead the flag of the world.
MUSIC. MORWELLHAM was composed by Charles Steggall, 1826-1905, an English musician who was educated at the Royal Academy of Music in London and then for half a century was chief professor of the organ in the same institution. He is said to have trained more organists than any teacher in England. Steggall was an enthusiast for the music of Bach and served as honorary secretary of the Bach Society. He composed anthems and church music and had a lifelong interest in hymnology. He succeeded W. H. Monk as musical editor of Hymns Ancient and Modern.