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James Boden

1757 - 1841 Hymnal Number: 349 Author of "Bright source of everlasting love" in Social Psalmist Boden, James, was born April 13, 1757, in the house at Chester long occupied by Matthew Henry, and educated for the Congregational Ministry at Homerton College. In 1784 he became the pastor of the Independent Chapel, Hanley; and, in 1796, of the Queen's Street Chapel, Sheffield. This last charge he held for nearly 43 years. He died at Chesterfield, June 4, 1841. In 1801 he assisted Dr. Williams, of the Masborough Theological College, near Sheffield, in compiling A Collection of above Six Hundred Hymns designed as a New Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms & Hymns, &c, Doncaster, 1801. This collection is known as Williams and Boden, and to it is traced the anonymous modern version of "Jerusalem, my happy home" (q.v.). To this collection Boden contributed, under the signature "Boden” the following hymns:— 1. Bright source of everlasting love. Charity Sermon. 2. Come, all ye saints of God. Passiontide. 3. Come death, released from dread. Death. 4. Our great High Priest we sing. Christ the H. Priest. 5. Shall sin, that cruel foe? Lent. 6. Triumphant sing ye favoured [ransom'd] saints. Jesus, all in all. 7. We come, dear Jesus, to Thy throne. Prayer Meeting. Of these hymns, No. 1 appeared in the Evangelical Magazine Aug., 1798. Most of them are still in common use, but chiefly in America. They are of no special merit. In the Gospel Magazine, 1777, there are a few hymns under the signature "J-----s B-----n, Chester." Of these, one only (8), "Ye dying sons of men" [Invitation), was given in the Williams and Boden Collection, and then, not with the full signature of "Boden," but as by “B___." On this evidence mainly the hymn has been ascribed to James Boden. It appeared in the Gospel Magazine twice in 1777, in Feb. and in Aug. It may be by our author; but seeing that it alone of the eight hymns above noted is signed "B-----," and was given in the Gospel Magazine in 1777, and that the rest are signed "Baden," and did not appear in the Gospel Magazinein 1777, or in any other year, we regard the evidence as somewhat inconclusive. It has been suggested that possibly the "J-----s B-----n, Chester," was his father. The signatures appended to the hymns in the 1st edition of Williams & Boden, 1801, were omitted from the 2nd edition, 1803, and portions of the Preface were rewritten. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Bulmer

1784 - 1857 Hymnal Number: 504 Author of "Lord of the vast creation" in Social Psalmist Bulmer, John, born in Yorkshire in 1784, educated for the Congregational Ministry at the Rotherham (Masborough) Independent College, and successively pastor at Haverford-west, Rugelcy, Bristol, Newbury, and Langrove, near Ross. He died in 1857. He composed a few hymns, and compiled:— (1) Hymns, Original and Select, 1834; (2) Hymns and Evangelical Songs for the use of Sunday Schools; (3) Original Hymns intended to be sung at the Public Meetings and other Services of Temperance Societies, 1836; and (4) Beauties of the Vicar of Llandovery: Light from the Welshman's Candle; being translated from the Welsh of Poems by Rees Prichard (died 1644), (2nd edition, 1830). . From his Collection of 1834 the following are still in common use:— 1. Lord of the vast creation. Lent. 2. To Thee in ages past. Public Worship. These hymns, are in the New Congregational Hymn Book and others. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Swertner

1746 - 1813 Hymnal Number: 231 Author of "Sing Hallelujah, praise [ye] the Lord" in Social Psalmist Swertner, John, b. Sept. 12, 1746, at Haarlem, in Holland, Moravian minister at various places in England and Ireland; d. at Bristol, March 11, 1813. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Hugh Bourne

1772 - 1852 Hymnal Number: 26 Author of "To thee, great Source of light" in Social Psalmist Bourne, Hugh, the principal founder of the Primitive Methodist Society, and the editor of their first hymn-books, was born at Fordhays, Stoke-on-Trent, April 3, 1772. His father, Joseph Bourne, a person in humble circumstances, was a member of the Church of England, whilst his mother belonged to the Wesleyan Society. His education, for his circumstances, was fairly good; and by earnest application to study he acquired some knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. His mind was of a strongly devotional cast, and the Methodist movement of those days had such attractions for him that he joined himself thereto in 1709. The following year he went to reside near the Mow Cop Colliery, near Burslem, where he had secured an engagement. There, with two or three men of kindred spirit, he carried on a system of Prayer Meetings which culminated in a great Camp Meeting, after the American fashion, upon the Mow Cop Mountain, on Sunday, May 31st, 1807. Other camp meetings followed, but were condemned by the Wesleyan Conference later in the same year. Hugh Bourne, however, continued his evangelistic work in connection with the Wesleyan Society until June 27, 1808, when he was excommunicated, without notice or trial, by the Quarterly Meeting held at Burslem on that day. Subsequent acts of coolness and indifference on the part of the Wesleyan authorities, together with continued success in his evangelistic work, led him gradually to organize the Primitive Methodist Connexion. The decisive break occurred in 1810. From that date to his death, on the 11th Oct., 1852, Bourne gave himself to the work of extending and building up the Society of which he was practically the founder. He was the first editor of its magazine, and the first to compile a hymnal for its use. Hugh Bourne's first effort in hymnology was the published of a very small General Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Camp Meetings, Revivals, &c. 1809. This was enlarged and improved in 1819, 1820, 1821,1822, and again in 1824. To these editions he contributed 10 hymns. In 1829 a second collection was added by him to the foregoing, to which he contributed another 20 hymns. This is the Large Hymn Book, for the Use of the Primitive Methodists. From the first collection one hymn only is still retained in common use:—"Camp-meetings with success are crown'd,” altered to “Camp-meetings God has richly own'd," also rewritten by J. Flesher as, "This meeting with Thy presence crown," in the authorised hymnal of the Connexion; and from the second collection two hymns as follows:— 1. O Righteous Father, Lord of all. Prayer for Children. 2. We have a great High Priest. H. P. of Christ. To the Large Hymn Book 146 hymns were also contributed which bore the signatures sometimes of "H. B. & W. S." and again "W. S. & H. B." In a note we are informed that the hymns with these ascriptions were by "Hugh Bourne and Wm. Sanders, jointly." Of these the following are at present in the authorized Primitive Methodist Hymn Book, 1853, and, in common with most of the hymns in that book, are greatly mutilated, and attributed now to Wm. Sanders and again to H. Bourne, without any apparent reason:— 1. A Pharisee unwisely stood. Lent. 2. Almighty God, of love divine. Praise. 3. Assist us, O Almighty Lord. Missions. 4. Come, let us lift our heart and voice. Christmas. 5. Come, with your sore diseases. Invitation. 6. Encouraged by Thy gracious word. Prayer. 7. Great Jehovah, Sovereign Lord. Prayer. 8. Hark, the Gospel news is sounding. Invitation. 9. Jesus, my Lord, was crucified. Passiontide. 10. Jesus, Who spilt His precious blood. The Advocate. 11. Led by the God of truth and grace. Seeking Heaven. 12. Light of the Gentile race. Missions. 13. My brethren in the Lord. Altered to— Ye foll'wers of the Lord. Faithfulness. 14. My soul is now united, &c. Altered to— By faith I am united. Union with Christ. 15. Now, Lord, I on Thy truth depend. Altered to— O Lord, I on Thy truth depend. Divine Aid. 16. Now, Lord, Thy blessing we implore. D. Blessing. 17. O, heavenly Zion, rise and shine. Altered to— Arise, O Zion, rise, &c. Missions. 18. See, in the mountain of the Lord. Missions. 19. Tho' in a world of sickness. Altered to— While in this world of sickness. Confidence. 20. To Thee, great Source of light. Confidence. 21. To Thee, O God of power divine. Goodness of God. 22. We now are journeying [going] to the place. Heavenward. 23. We read in Thy most holy word. Holy Baptism. 24. Ye sleeping souls, arise. Exhortation. In addition to these, all of which are given in the official Collection of the Primitive Methodist Society, there is also:— 25. Welcome, 0 Saviour, to my heart. Prayer— which is well known to the American hymnals. From a literary point of view these hymns are not worthy of the position which has been accorded to them for so many years. Their simplicity is their redeeming feature. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) =================== Bourne, Hugh, p. 165. ii., Nos. 14, "My soul is now united," and 19, "Tho' in a world of sickness," appeared in theSmall Hymn Book, 1821. Another hymn by Bourne and Sanders in the Primitive Methodist Hymnal, 1887, "Behold a sinner at Thy feet" (Penitence), is compiled from hymns 493 and 118 in the P. M. Large Hymn Book, 1824. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Aaron Crossley Hobart Seymour

1789 - 1870 Person Name: A. C. H. Seymour Hymnal Number: 550 Author of "Jesus, immortal King, arise" in Social Psalmist Seymour, Aaron Crossley Hobart, son of John Crossley Seymour, M.A., Vicar of Cahirelly, Diocese of Cashel (and elder brother of the Rev. Michael Hobart Seymour, author of several works on the Roman controversy), was born in the county of Limerick, Dec. 19, 1789. From an early age he gave much attention to literary pursuits, and at the age of 21 he published his Vital Christianity exhibited in a Series of Letters on the most Important Subjects of Religion, addressed to Young Persons, 1810. This work, written during an illness, contains several of his hymns and other poetical pieces. He also edited a new edition of Dr. Gillies's Life of Whitefield, and wrote a "Memoir," which was prefixed to the Reliques of Ancient Irish Poetry, by Miss Charlotte Brooke, 1816. His most important work was his Life and Times of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, 2 vols., 1839. He resided for some time in Naples (circa 1839-1847), and then at Bristol. He died Oct., 1870. A few of his hymns are still in common use, including "Jesus, Immortal King, arise," and others. --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Sir Walter Scott

1771 - 1832 Person Name: W. Scott Hymnal Number: 667 Author of "The [That] day of wrath, that dreadful day, When heaven" in Social Psalmist Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, August 15, 1771. In 1786, he commenced his apprenticeship as writer to the Signet. In 1796, he first appeared before the public in a translation of Burger's "William and Helen." Many poetical works followed, until in 1814, he began the series of "Waverly Novels." He died at Abbotsford, September 21, 1832. It is related that on his death-bed he distinctly repeated portions of the Latin original, upon which "That day of wrath, that dreadful day" is based. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 ====================== Scott, Sir Walter, Bart., was born in Edinburgh, Aug. 15, 1771, and died at Abbotsford, Sept. 21, 1832. Although so successful and widely known as a poet, he made no direct contributions to hymnody whatever. His condensed rendering of the “Dies Irae", and his hymn of Rebecca in Ivanhoe, "When Israel of the Lord beloved" (q.v.) were utilized as hymns for congregational use by others, but were never intended for such a purpose by himself. His work and rank as poet, novelist, and historian are fully set forth in his Life by J. G. Lockhart. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Thomas Hayward

Hymnal Number: 489 Author of "Welcome, delightful morn, Thou [Sweet] day of sacred rest" in Social Psalmist

Thomas Raffles

1788 - 1863 Hymnal Number: 283 Author of "Father of mercies, God of love, O hear a humble" in Social Psalmist Thomas Raffles was born in London in 1788. He studied at Homerton College, and in 1809 became pastor of a Congregational society at Hammersmith. In 1812, he removed to Liverpool, where he was minister in the Great George Street chapel. This position he held for forty-nine years. He died at Liverpool, in 1863. He published several sermons, letters of travel, poems, and hymns for the use of his congregation. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. ======================= Raffles, Thomas, D.D., LL.D., son of Mr. W. Raffles, solicitor, was born in Princes Street, Spitalfields, London, May 17, 1788. In 1803 he became a clerk in Doctors' Commons, but shortly after retired, and through the influence of Dr. Collyer, of whose church at Peckham he was for some time a member, he entered Homerton College in 1805. His stated ministry began at Hammersmith, where he was ordained as a Congregational minister on June 22, 1809. In 1812 he removed to Liverpool, where he succeeded the Rev. T. Spencer, and remained for 49 years the honoured pastor of the Great George Street Congregational Church. He died at Liverpool, Aug. 18, 1863. For upwards of fifty years Dr. Raffles was one of the most prominent ministers of the Congregational body. His labours outside of his own congregation were very great, his aid as a preacher on behalf of missions and other religious works, being eagerly sought after. The Lancashire Inde-pendent College owes its existence mainly to him; and to many religious works in Liverpool he gave great personal attention. His degree of LL.D. was conferred by the University of Aberdeen in Dec. 1820, and that of D.D. by Union College, Connecticut, in July 1880. His works include Memoirs of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Thomas Spencer, 1813; A Tour on the Continent, 1817; and several Sermons, &c. He also edited the 1815 edition of Brown's Self-Interpreting Bible; was joint author with J. B. Brown and J. H. Wiffen, of Poems by Three Friends; and joint editor with Dr. Collyer and Dr. J. B. Brown, of the Investigator, a London quarterly. As early as March 8, 1813, he says, in a letter to his friend, Mr. Brown, "I am about to put to press a collection of hymns for the use of my chapel:" but this intention was not carried out until 1853, when he published his Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms & Hymns. His son's history of this Supplement is:— "Early in January, 1853, he published his long-expected Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, which he had in hand for many years. He would never have published it at all, but, in common with other Independent Ministers, would have used the Congregational Hymn-book [J. Conder's 1836 and 1842] had that book contained a fair share of his own hymns. In its original form, however, it did not contain one [yes, one, but given as Anonymous]; and Dr. Raffles might, without vanity—seeing that numerous hymn-books of modern date contained one or more of his hymns—-have expected that they would not have been wholly omitted from the hymn-book emphatically of his own denomination. But so it was, and he never would introduce it, though, with the greatest readiness, when the improved edition was contemplated [theNew Congregational Hymn Book, 1859], under the editorship of the Rev. Dr. Gr. Smith, Dr. Raffles contributed some of his hymns to its pages. His own collection is very good, but limited in extent; the hymns are selected with considerable Judgment; and the true versions, as written by the respective authors, are given, wherever the original source could be reached."— Memoirs, 1864, p. 419. Dr. Raffles contributed, in 1812, eight hymns under the signature "T. B." to the Collection of his old friend and former pastor, Dr. Collyer. Gradually other hymns came into notice. These, with others to the number of 46, were included in his Supplement, 1853. His hymns at present in common use include:— 1. Blest hour, when mortal man retiresPrayer. In the "R. MS." this is headed "The Hour of Prayer," and at the foot is written by Dr. Raffles, “Printed in the Amulet for 1829, and thence copied into the Christian Observer." It is dated " Jany. 26,1823," and is in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. 2. Cause of all causes, and the Source. Hymn to the Deity. Contributed to Dr. Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 914, in 5 st. of 6 1. 3. Come, heavenly peace of mind. Peace of Mind. Pub..in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 915, in 3 st. of 10 1. In the "R. MS." this, in a revised and expanded form of 10 stanzas of 6 lines, is undated; but underneath Dr. Raffles has written "Printed in the American Xtian Keepsake for 1838." 4. Eternal Father, throned above. Doxology. In the "R.MS." this is in 1 st. of 8 1., and headed "Doxology." It is undated, and underneath is written by Dr. Raffles at a later date (the change in the ink proving this) "Published anonymously in the Congregational Hymn Book," i.e., J. Conder's 1836 and 1842. 5. Father of mercies, God of love, 0 hear a humble, &c. Lent. Appeared in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 909, in 6 st. of 6 1., and headed "The Penitent's Prayer." 6. Go, preach the Gospel to the poor Home Missions. In the "R.MS." in 7 st. of 4 1., headed "To the Agents of the Liverpool town mission," and dated "May 1849." At the foot is written "Printed at the Printing Office of the Liverpool Town Mission Bazaar, Lycaeum, Bold Street." 7. High in yonder realms of light. Heaven. Contributed to Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 911, in 6 st. of 8 1. It was sung at Dr. Raffles's funeral, Aug. 24, 1863. It is the most widely known of his hymns, but is usually given in an abbreviated form. 8. Lord, like a publican I stand. Lent. Dated in the "R.MS." "Seacombe, Oct. 4th, 1831," and headed, “The Publican, Luke xviii. 13." It is in 5 st. of 4 1., and is in several collections. 9. No night shall be in heaven! No gathering gloom. Heaven. In 8 st. of 4 double lines, headed “And there shall be no night there," Rev. xxii. 5, and dated " April 4, 1857." ("R.MS.") 10. 0 God of families, we own. Family Worship. In the "R.MS." in 5 st. of 4 1., entitled "The God of the families of Israel," and dated, "Jany. 15th, 1823." It appeared in the New Song, 1859. 11. Rapid flows the stream of tune. New Year. The last but one of his New Year's hymns, in 6 st. of 8 1., entitled "Hymn for New Year's Morning," and dated, "Jany. 1st, 1861." ("R.MS.") 12. Saviour, let Thy sanction rest. Holy Matrimony. In the “R. MS." in 6 st. of 6 1. entitled “The Marriage Feast," and dated "November 3rd, 1852. On occasion of the marriage of the Rev. J. F. and Mrs. Guenett." Included in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859, with the omission of st. v., vi. 13. Sovereign Ruler, Lord of all. Lent. No. 813 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 6 st. of 4 1. 14. The cup which my Father hath given. In Affliction. In the “R.MS." in 2 st. of 8 1., but without date. In theMemoirs. 1864, p. 272, the history of the hymn from Dr. Raffles's Diary is this :— "Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 16th [Oct., 1828.] I preached to an immense congregation last night at Nottingham, and slept at Mr. Gilbert's. Mr. Rawson [of Nottingham Castle], a fine young man, and but recently married, has broken a blood-vessel, and with his wife and mother, and father and sister, set out yesterday for Devonshire, to pass the winter. Mrs. Rawson sent me her album, and begged me to insert something appropriate. As I dressed in the morning I composed the following lines, which I sent her just before they set out: ‘The cup, &c.'" Mrs. Rawson, soon left a widow, resided at Wincobank Hall, near Sheffield, nearly 60 years, and died there in 1887. 15. Thou art my Hiding-place, 0 Lord. The Hiding-place. In the "R.MS." in 4 st. of 8 1., and dated “Burnley, June 23rd, 1833." 16. What is life? A rapid stream. Life. In the “R.MS." in 6 st. of 4 1., and dated in pencil 1838. At the foot is written by Dr. Raffles "Originally published in the Investigator, and, anonymously, in Affection's Gift, a poetical selection published by Simpkin and Marshall, Hamilton, &c, London." The "Raffles MS.," from which we have annotated these hymns, was kindly lent by Mr. T. S. Raffles, B.A., Stipendiary Magistrate of Liverpool. Mr. Raffles is the author of his father's Memoirs, 1864, and of hymn 25 in his father's Supplement. Dr. Raffles's original Hymns were published in 1868, with a Preface by J. Baldwin Brown. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Ottiwell Heginbotham

1744 - 1768 Hymnal Number: 38 Author of "Come shout aloud the Father's grace" in Social Psalmist Heginbothom, Ottiwell, born in 1744, and died in 1768, was for a short time the Minister of a Nonconformist congregation at Sudbury, Suffolk. The political and religious disputes which agitated the congregation, in the origin of which he had no part, and which resulted in a secession and the erection of another chapel, so preyed upon his mind, and affected his health, that his pastorate terminated with his death within three years of his appointment. His earliest hymn, "When sickness shakes the languid corse [frame]," was printed in the Christian Magazine, Feb. 1763. In 1791 the Rev. John Mead Ray communicated several of Heginbothom's hymns to the Protestant Magazine; and in the same year, these and others to the number of 25, were published as:— Hymns by the late Rev. Ottiwell Heginbothom of Sudbury, Suffolk. Sudbury, Printed by J. Burket, mdccxciv. These 25 hymns were repeated in J. M Ray's Collection of Hymns from various authors in¬tended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, 1799, and 12 in Collyer's Collection, 1812. In modern collections in Great Britain and America the following are in common use in addition to those annotated under their respective first lines:— 1. Blest Jesus, when my soaring thoughts. Jesus, most Precious. 2. Come, humble souls; ye mourners come. Good Hope through Grace. 3. Come saints and shout the Saviour's praise. The Second Advent. 4. Come, shout aloud the Father's grace. Praise to God the Father. 6. Father of mercies, God of love. God the Father. 6. God of our life! Thy various praise. New Year. 7. Great God, let all our [my] tuneful powers. New Year. 8. Hark, the loud trumpet of our God. National Fast. 9. Hark, 'tis your heavenly Father's call. A Prayer to be used by the Young. 10. I ask not [honour] wealth, nor pomp, nor power. Wisdom and Knowledge desired. 11. Now let my soul, eternal King. Praise of the Gospel. Sometimes given as "To Thee, my heart, eternal King." 12. See, mighty God, before Thy throne. Fifth of November; a National Hymn. 13. Sweet peace of Conscience, heavenly guest. A good Conscience. 14. To Thee, my Shepherd, and my Lord. The Good Shepherd. 15. Unhappy city, hadst thou known. Christ weeping over Jerusalem. From this the cento, "And can mine eyes without a tear?" is taken. 16. When sickness shakes the languid corse [frame]. Resignation. Printed in the Christian's Magazine, Feb. 1763, and again in Hymns, &c, 1794. 17. Yes, I will bless Thee, O my God. Praise of the Father. The text is often altered. The cento "My soul shall praise Thee, O my God," in the Unitarian Hymn land Tune] Book, &c, Boston, 1868, is from this hymn. Most of these hymns are in Collyer's Collection, 1812. There are also 8 in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, N.Y., 1872, and 7 in the Songs for the Sanctuary, N.Y., 1865. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

John Fellows

? - 1785 Hymnal Number: 461 Author of "Great God, now condescend" in Social Psalmist Fellows, John. Date of birth unknown; d. 1785. He was the author of the following:— (1) Grace Triumphant, a Sacred Poem in nine books, 1770; (2) Bromsgrove Elegy, in blank verse, on the Death of Rev. G. Whitefield, 1771; (3) An Elegy on the Death of Dr. Gill, 1771; (4) Hymns on Believers' Baptism, Birmingham, 1773; (5) The Apostle Paul's Defence before Felix, in verse, 1775; (6) Hymns in a great variety of Metres, on the Perfection of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 1776; (7) The History of the Holy Bible, attempted in easy verse, 4 vols., 1777; (8) Six Instructive Views of Believers' Baptism, a tract published both separately and as an Introduction to the 2nd edition of his “Hymns on Believers' Baptism" 1777; (9) A Fair and Impartial Enquiry into the Rise, &c., of the Church of Rome, 1779; and also (10) "A Protestant Catechism." Considering how numerous were the writings of J. Fellows, it is remarkable how little is known of him. It is stated by Dr. Joseph Belcher, in Historical Sketches of Hymns (Philadelphia, 1859), that he was a poor shoemaker, a member of the Baptist denomination, and that he lived in Birmingham. The evidence for this is tolerably clear. That Fellows was a Baptist and not a Methodist, as Watt & Allibone say, is clear from his baptismal hymns. That be lived in or near Birmingham is likely from the fact that most of his books date from Birmingham, and are said to be printed for the author, though sold by G. Keith, Gracecburch Street, London. Also, to the 2nd edition of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism (1777) is prefixed a note of commendation, signed by eight Baptist ministers, who say they are personally acquainted with the author; and the first three names are those of the Baptist ministers at Birmingham, Coventry and Bromsgrove. From the records of the Baptist church formerly in Cannon Street, Birmingham, it appears that a John Fellows joined it early in 1780, and continued a member till his death on July 30, 1785. But one of J. Fellows's earlier pieces is entitled a Bromsgrove Elegy. Combining these facts we infer that Fellows first lived at Bromsgrove, and then, removing to Birmingham, joined the church in Cannon Street. His hymns on Baptism are 55 in number. 6 are in Rippon's Selection, 1787. Some of his hymns are in all Baptist hymn-books, from Rippon to modern collections. These include the disputed "Humble souls who seek salvation", the hymn on behalf of children, "Great God, now condescend"; and others, all of which are annotated under their respective first lines. In addition the following are in limited use:— 1. Dear Lord, and will Thy pardoning love Embrace, &c. Adult Baptism. No. 28 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "The Believer constrained by the love of Christ to fol¬low Him in His Ordinance." In Rippon's Selection, 1787, it was reduced to 4 stanzas: and in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, to 6, stanza vi. being omitted. It is also sometimes given as "0 Lord, and will Thy pardoning love, &c." 2. Descend, Celestial Dove. Invocation of the Holy Spirit at Holy Baptism. No. 55 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines. In Rippon's Selection, 1787, these were rearranged in 4 stanzas, and again in the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, to 3 stanzas. 3. Go, teach the nations and baptize. Holy Baptism. No. 454, in Rippon's Selection, 1787, in 3 stanzas of 3 lines. It is given in a few American collections. 4. Great God, we in Thy courts appear. Holy Baptism. No. 43 in his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, and Rippon's Selection, 1787, No. 452, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It sometimes begins with stanza iii., "In Thy assembly here we stand." 5. Jesus, Mighty King of [in] Zion. Holy Baptism; Christ the Guide. No. 29 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines and headed, "Believers buried with Christ in Baptism." Rippon, 1787, reduced it to 3 stanzas, and these have been repeated in later collections as the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, &c. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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