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Johann Heinrich Schröder

Short Name: Johann Heinrich Schröder
Full Name: Schröder, Johann Heinrich, 1667-1699
Birth Year: 1667
Death Year: 1699

Schröder, Johann Heinrich, was born Oct. 4,1667, at Springe (Hallerspringe) near Hannover. He studied at the University of Leipzig, where he experienced the awakening effects of A. H. Francke's lectures. In 1696 he was appointed pastor at Meseberg, near Neuhaldensleben; and in the registers there records of himself (writing in the third person), " 1696, on the 17th Sunday after Trinity, viz. on Oct. 4, on which day he was born, with the beginning of his 30th year, he entered on the pastorate of this parish." He died at Meseberg, June 30, 1699 (Koch, iv., 381; Blatter für Hymnologie, 1883, p. 192, &c).

Schröder is best known by the four hymns which he contributed to the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697; and which are repeated in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Darmstadt, 1698; and in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704. They are very good examples of the early hymns of the Pietists, being genuine and earnest outpourings of Love to Christ, not unmixed with Chiliastic hopes for the victory of Zion and the overthrow of Babylon. In the same books are two hymns by his wife (Tranquilla Sophia née Wolf), who died at Meseberg, April 29, 1697.

Two of Schröder's hymns have passed into English, viz.:—
i. Eins ist noth, aoh Herr, dies eine. Love to Christ. This is included in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1097, p. 505, in 10 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "One thing is needful. Luke x. 42. Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. i. 30."

Its popularity has been due, not only to its own beauty and power, but also to the taking character of the melody to which it is set. This is by J. Neander, in his Bundes Lieder, Bremen, 1680, as the melody of Grosser Prophete; and was altered in Freylinghausen to suit Schroder's hymn. The full form from Freylinghausen is in Mercer's The Church Psalter & Hymn Book, and there called Landsberg. The second part is given in the Bristol Tune Book as Ems. A greatly altered form, as Ratisbon, has passed through W. H. Havergal's Old Church Psalmody into the Irish Church Hymnal, the Scottish Presbyterian Hymnal and others.

The translation in common use from Schröder is:—
One thing's needful, then, Lord Jesus. This is a good and full tr., by Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 137. Other translations are:—
(1) "One thing is needful! Let me deem." By Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 183. (2) "One thing's needful:— this rich treasure." By Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 92.
ii. Jesu, hilf siegen, du Furste des Lebens. Christian Warfare…It is said to have been written, in 1696, as a companion to his wife's hymn, "Trautster Jesu, Ehrenkonig". It was accused of Chiliasm, by the Theological Faculty of Wittenberg, but still holds an honoured place in German collections. The translations are:—(1) "Jesus, help conquer ! Thou Prince everliving." By Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 126. (2) "Jesus, help conquer. Thou Prince of my being." By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 2.
The hymn beginning, "Jesus, help conquer! my spirit is sinking," by Miss Warner, in 6 stanzas, in her Hymns of the Church Militant, N. Y., 1858, p. 161, borrows little more than the first line from the German. It is repeated in Boardman's Selection, Philadelphia, 1861, No. 463. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by Johann Heinrich Schröder (21)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Ach, ein Wort von großer treueJ. H. Schröder, 1666-1728 (Author)German2
Aller Weisheit höchste FülleJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)German1
Auf, Seele, sei gerüftJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)German1
Der Glaub ist eine ZuversichtJ. N. Schroeder, geb. 1684 (Author)German1
Eins ist not; ach Herr, dies EineJohann Heinrich Schroeder (Author)German85
Et er nødigt, dette EneJohann Heinrich Schroeder (Author)Norwegian5
Jesu, hilf siegen, du Fürste des LebensJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)German60
Jesus giv seier, Livs-Fyrste og KildeJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)Norwegian3
Jesus, my Captain, to victory lead meJ. Schroeder (Author)English2
Jezu, zwycięstwo daj, Książę żywotaJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)Polish2
Mein Jesu, hier sind deine Brüder [Glieder]Johann Heinrich Schroeder (Author)German10
Neno moja bora sanaJ. H. Schröder, 1667-1699 (Author)Swahili2
O, potrzeba mi jednegoJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)Polish2
One thing is needful! Let me deemJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English3
One thing needful, greatest blessingJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English1
One thing needful, Lord, I pray theeJ. H. Schroeder (Author)English2
One thing needful, this one treasureJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English2
One thing only, Lord, is needfulJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English2
One thing's needful; Lord, this treasureJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English5
One thing's needful, then, Lord JesusJ. H. Schroeder (Author)English2
Wisdom's highest, noblest treasureJohann Heinrich Schröder (Author)English1
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