Eustace R. Conder, 1820-92
A fine hymn, setting forth obedience to duty and love to God and man as the marks of Christ’s followers. It was contributed by the author to the Congregational Church Hymnal, London, 1887.
Eustace Rogers Conder studied for the Congregational ministry in Birmingham and later graduated with high honors in philosophy at London University. For 17 years, he was minister of a Congregational Church at Poole, where he trained students for missionary work, besides attending to his regular duties as pastor. In 1873, he was elected chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. He wrote several books, including Outlines of the Life of Christ and Sleepy Forest, a book of fairy tales for children.
MUSIC. STELLA is from an old English melody in 6-8 time which the children sang to “Sweet Mary, sweet Mary, my age is sixteen.” About 1850, it was arranged by Henri F. Hemy, 1818-88, English organist, for use in Catholic churches as an easy choir number. In 1875, the tune appeared (almost note for note as in the Hymnary) in the Appendix of St. Alban’s Tune Book, a book of pre-Reformation hymns set to plainsong melodies. The Appendix of the book is a treasure house of arrangements and adaptations of singable tunes from sacred and secular sources.
95. Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
Edward H. Plumptre, 1821-91
A hymn on the healing ministry of Christ, written in 1864 for use in the Chapel of King’s College Hospital, London. Suitable for Hospital Day and other occasions.
Edward Hayes Plumptre, an English scholar and church man, was educated at King’s College, London, and at Oxford. He was minister in various churches (Anglican) and became Professor of New Testament Exegesis at King’s College. He wrote many excellent books, including the standard Life of Bishop Ken, and several volumes of poems. He was appointed a member of the Old Testament Company of Revisers of the Bible. This hymn was included in the 2d edition of his Lazarus, and other Poems, from which it made its way into the hymnals.
MUSIC. ST. MATTHEW, a psalm tune, appeared in the 6th ed. (1708) of A Supplement to the New Version of Psalms, by Tate and Brady, where it was set, in two parts, treble and bass, to Psalm 33. In slightly altered form, it became one of the great hymn tunes but is more popular in England than in America.
For comments on William Croft, 1678-1727, an important name in English church music, see [Hymn 6].