A poem of human brotherhood, carrying a fine missionary message much needed in our day. It is written in the spirit of St. Paul—“where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all,” Col. 3:11. It stands in striking contrast to Kipling’s more narrow nationalism in his “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”
This hymn which has now found its way into most modern hymn books was written for a missionary pageant, The Pageant of Darkness and Light, which the London Missionary Society asked the author to write, for use in connection with a great missionary exhibition in London, an affair which ran for a month and did much to stimulate interest in missions in all the churches. Oxenham wrote the libretto and planned the scenes for the pageant. The composer of the music, Hamish MacCunn, sent to him in a hurry one day for a few verses to fill in a gap. To this request Oxenham responded with the beautiful, simple lines, “No East or West.”
John Oxenham, English publisher, poet, and novelist, was born in Manchester. He wrote this poem in 1908; and in 1939 sent the hymn, “Peace in our time” ([357]) with a personal letter to the editors of the Hymnary. The name John Oxenham is a nom de plume for William Arthur Dunkerley. For some years Dunkerley was engaged in business, in the interest of which he travelled extensively in Europe and Canada, and lived in France and the United States. He once investigated the possibilities of cotton growing and sheep raising in the Southern States but decided against the venture. He began writing as a relief from business, and then, later, dropped business in favor of writing.
MUSIC. ST. PETER, also known as “St. Peter’s, Oxford,” was composed for Psalm 118, by Alexander R. Reinagle, 1799-1877, distinguished organist for thirty-one years in St. Peter’s-in-the-East Church, Oxford. The tune derives its name from the church which the composer served so long. It appeared in Psalm Tunes for the Voice and the Pianoforte, published by Reinagle in 1830. It is a majestic tune and should be sung in moderate time with strong rhythmic accent.
321. Jesus, Lord, we look to Thee
Charles Wesley, 1707-88
Four simple, lovely stanzas setting forth the unity of believers in Christ.
For comments on Charles Wesley see [Hymn 6].
MUSIC. MÜDE BIN ICH, GEH ZUR RUH. For comments on this tune see [Hymn 254].