For comments on Lowell Mason see [Hymn 12].
286. Again returns the day of holy rest
William Mason, 1725-97
The author of this Lord’s Day hymn was the Rev. William Mason, an English Episcopalian, born at Kingston-on-Hull. He graduated with honors from St. John’s College, Cambridge; received ordination, served as one of the chaplains of King George III, and at the time of death he had been for 32 years the Precentor and Canon of York. A man of high literary attainments, and a friend of Thomas Gray, he edited that poet’s works in 1775 and later wrote the memoirs of Gray. The latter was done in the gossiping style, imitated later by Boswell when he wrote the Life of Samuel Johnson. Mason wrote four volumes of poetry and won recognition from Johnson as one of the British poets.
The present hymn, by which the author is best remembered, is found at the end of Volume I of the Works of William Mason, M. A., Precentor of York and Rector of Aston, 1811.
Our author is not to be confused with his contemporary of the same name, 1719-91, who succeeded Toplady in the editorship of The Gospel Magazine and who was also a minister and hymn writer.
MUSIC. ELLERS. For comments on this tune and its composer, Edward J. Hopkins, see [Hymn 43].
287. This is the day of light
John Ellerton, 1826-93
A worshipful Sabbath day hymn, breathing the spirit of rest, light, and peace, written in 1867.