A lovely song of the journey of life—the Christian’s pilgrimage to heaven, the heart’s true home. “The Pilgrims of the Night” was the title given this hymn by its author, F. W. Faber, the warm-hearted Roman Catholic hymn writer. The phrases of the poem are wrapped in mystery and loveliness. Their meaning is not always clear but the rhythm and musical ring of the hymn are effective and its popularity is genuine and wide-spread.
For comments on F. W. Faber see [Hymn 44].
MUSIC. PILGRIMS was written for this hymn for the appendix to the original edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern.
For comments on the composer, Henry Smart, see [Hymn 46].
261. Forever, with the Lord!
James Montgomery, 1771-1854
From Montgomery’s poem of twenty-two 4-line stanzas, in two parts, published in the Amethyst, 1835. It is based on I Thess. 4:17: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Canon Farrar once said, “I can scarcely ever join in singing ‘Forever with the Lord’ without tears.”
The hymn voices the aspirations of multitudes of Christians. In time of sorrow and death it points to the life beyond as the true goal of all our earthly striving.
For comments on James Montgomery see [Hymn 62].
MUSIC. NEARER HOME, also called “Montgomery,” was composed for this hymn and was published in The Choral Advocate, 1852. The composer, Isaac Baker Woodbury, 1819-58, was an American singer, teacher of music, composer of hymn tunes and sacred songs, and editor of Musical Review. His career was cut short by his death at the early age of thirty-nine.