Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Louis F. Benson

Louis F. Benson
Short Name: Louis F. Benson
Full Name: Benson, Louis F. (Louis FitzGerald), 1855-1930
Birth Year: 1855
Death Year: 1930

Benson, Louis FitzGerald, D.D., was born at Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1855, and educated at the University of Penn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and practised until 1884. After a course of theological studies he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 1888. His pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer, Germantown, Phila., extended from his ordination in 1888 to 1894, when he resigned and devoted himself to literary and Church work at Philadelphia. He edited the series of Hymnals authorised for use by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., as follows:—
(1) The Hymnal, Phila., 1895; (2) The Chapel Hymnal, 1898; and (3) The School Hymnal, 1899.
Dr. Benson's hymnological writings are somewhat extensive. They include:—
(1) Hymns and Verses (original and translations), 1897; (2) The Best Church Hymns, 1898; (3) The Best Hymns, 1898; (4) Studies of Familiar Hymns, 1903, &c.
Of his original hymns the following have come into American common use:—
I. In The Hymnal, 1895:—
1. O Christ, Who didst our tasks fulfil. For Schools and Colleges. Written in 1894.
2. O risen Christ, Who from Thy throne. For Installation of a Pastor. Written in 1894.
II. In The School Hymnal, 1899:—
3. A glory lit the wintry sky. Loneliness of Jesus. Written in 1897.
4. Happy town of Salem. Heaven.
5. Now the wintry days are o'er. Easter.
6. O sing a song of Bethlehem. Early Life of Jesus.
7. Open the door to the Saviour. Invitation.
8. Out of the skies, like angel eyes. Lullaby.
9. Who will teach me how to pray? Prayer. In Carey Bonner's Sunday School Hymnary, 1905:—
10. The sun is on the land and sea. Morning.
11. Our wilful hearts have gone astray. Penitence.
12. When I awake from slumber. Morning.
Of the above, Nos. 1-4, 10-12 are from Hymns and Verses, 1897. In the above collection by C. Bonner, Nos. 1, 4, and 6 are also found. Of Dr. Benson's translations from the Latin one only is in common use. See "Plaudite coeli, Rideat aether."
As a hymn writer Dr. Benson is not widely known, mainly through the recent publication of his verse. His hymns deserve attention, and will, no doubt, gain the public ear in due time; whilst his hymnological researches and publications are thorough and praiseworthy.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Featured Article:
Establishing a Canon of Common Hymn Texts: the contributions of Louis F. Benson by Paul R. Powell (from The Hymn)

Texts by Louis F. Benson (77)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
A glory lit the wintry skyLouis F. Benson (Author)English3
A King might miss the guiding starRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English10
Accept from us, O Love DivineLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Ate, maka kiŋ towaṡteLouis F. Benson (Author)Dakota2
Brighter glows the summer dayLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Brightly shine, ye heavensRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English3
By roads that wound uphill and downLouis F. Benson (Author)English7
Calm, unvexed when men defy itLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Cerca de la cruz llorandoLouis F. Benson (Translator (English))Spanish2
Christmas in the air! Hear the Angels singingLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Father, all-holy, merciful and tenderLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Father, once more within Thy Holy PlaceLouis F. Benson (Author)English3
Father, once more within thy houseLouis F. Benson (Author)English1
Father unbegotten, sole begotten SonLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
For the bread which you have brokenL. F. Benson (1855-1930) (Author)English43
For Thy kingdom far and wideRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English2
Forward, singing Glory to our Lord the KingRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English5
From hands that would our land deflowerLouis F. Benson (Author)English6
Good Shepherd! Theirs, who heard Thy callLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Hail, blessed Cross! Those arms of thineLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Hail His Name, ye mountainsLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Happy town of Salem, set on Zion's hillLouis F. Benson (Author)English11
Ho, kantu nun pri Betleĥem'Louis F. Benson (Author)Esperanto3
Holy Spirit, come awayLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Holy Spirit, come, confirm usLouis F. Benson (Author (C))English1
How patiently they trod with HimRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English3
I name Thy hallowed nameLouis F. Benson (Author)English10
I would not climb with earth-bound feetLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
It is finished: over the BrowLouis F. Benson (Author)English3
Let freemen's hearts grow bolderLouis F. Benson (Author)English5
Let happy hopes of heavenLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Like birds that in Thine altars nestRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English2
Lo! Thou art with us stillLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Men's Victim once, his Savior nowLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Mī-pau Chú Lí ūí goán lâi peh (For the bread which you have broken)Louis F. Benson (Author)English, Taiwanese2
Near the cross her vigil keepingLouis Fitzgerald Benson, 1855-1930 (Translator)English9
Not of this fold, Thine other sheep obey TheeLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Now the winter days are overRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English4
O Christ [Thou], who didst our tasks fulfilLouis F. Benson (Author)English18
O God Most High, by mortal eyeLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
O heavenly love that was so highLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
O holy One, our prayers are doneLouis F. Benson (Author)English3
O Love that lights the eastern skyLouis F. Benson (Author)English5
O Master Teacher, teach us nowLouis Fitzgerald Benson (1855-1930) (Author (stanza 5))English1
O risen Christ, who from Thy throneRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English10
O sing a song of Bethlehem Of shepherds watching thereLouis F. Benson, 1855-1930 (Author)English62
O splendor of God's glory bright, From light eternal bringing lightLouis F. Benson (Translator)English21
O Thou whose feet have climbed life's hillLouis FitzGerald Benson (Author)English45
O Thou whose gracious presence blessedLouis F. Benson (Author)English18
Open the door to the SaviorLouis FitzGerald Benson (Author)English4
Our Herald Christ at Heaven's gateLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Our King's own child, the morningLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Our Lord, our Life, Thy paths divineLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Our praises, Lord, Thou dost not needLouis F. Benson (Translator)English3
Our wilful hearts have gone astrayLouis F. Benson (Author)English9
Out of the skies, like angel eyesRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English3
Patient shepherds keeping watches of the nightLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Returned to Heaven and reigning thereLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Safely through another weekLouis FitzGerald Benson, 1855-1930- (Adapter)English3
Something every heart is lovingLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Spirit divine, Creator, comeLouis F. Benson (Translator)English3
Splendor of the Father's glory. Light eternal, bringing lightLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Still by constant love surroundedLouis F. Benson (Author)English5
Still the Mother, worn with weepingLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
The lamps of heaven are burning stillRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English4
The light of God is falling Upon life's common wayRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English43
The sun is on the land and seaLouis F. Benson, D.D. (Author)English23
The sun is up! now, brothers, comeLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
The winter night was dark and stillLouis F. Benson (Author)English7
There's a red burst of dawn, and a blue-vaulted noonLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Thou, Lord and Savior of the worldLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Thrice-holy God, of threefold mightLouis F. Benson (Translator)English2
Thy laws, O God, imperial shall standLouis F. Benson (Author)English2
Un canto de Belén cantad, De pastores fieles tambiénLouis F. Benson (Author)Spanish3
When I awake from slumberRev. Louis F. Benson (Author)English4
Who will teach me how to prayLouis FitzGerald Benson (Author)English2
Why linger yet upon the strand?Louis F. Benson (Author)English2

Data Sources

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.