Genevieve Mary Irons

Irons, Genevieve Mary, daughter of Dr. W. J. Irons, and granddaughter of J. Irons, was born at Brompton, Dec. 28, 1855. A few of her earliest pieces were contributed to the Sunday Magazine, 1876, and later. Her Manual for Holy Communion is entitled Corpus Christi, 1884. Her hymn, "Drawn to the Cross which Thou hast blessed" (Consecration of Self to Christ) was written in 1880, and printed the same year in the Sunday Magazine. It was afterwards included in her Corpus Christi, 1884. Alluding to this hymn (which was included in the Primitive Methodist Hymnal, 1881) Miss Irons has written "I always feel that hymn is part of me ... It contains expressions and allusions which to my mind are only capable of a Catholic meaning: but I am interested and gratified in knowing that the hymn speaks to the hearts of many who would probably differ from me on most points of doctrine." For these details we are indebted to Dorricott & Collins's Lyric Studies, 1889.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)