1858 - 1901 Author of "Be Strong! We Are Not Here to Play" in The Hymnal for Boys and Girls Maltbie D. Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901) graduated from Syracuse University, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary (now associated with Union Theological Seminary in New York) and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. In Baltimore he was especially popular with students from Johns Hopkins University, but he ministered to people from all walks of life. Babcock wrote hymn texts and devotional, poems, some of which were published in The School Hymnal (1899).
Bert Polman
===================
Babcock, Maltbie Davenport, D.D., was born at Syracuse, N.Y., Aug. 3, 1858. Graduating from Syracuse University, he was ordained to the Presbyterian Ministry and was pastor of churches in Lockport, N.Y., Baltimore, and N.Y. City. He died at Naples, Italy, May 18th, 1901. He was richly gifted, and his short career was memorable for the extraordinary influence of his personality and his preaching. Extracts from his sermons and poems were published in 1901 as Thoughts for Every Day Living; and his Biography by Dr. C. E. Robinson in 1904. He contributed to the Presbyterian School Hymnal, 1899, the following hymns:—
1. Gaily the bells are ringing. Faster.
2. O blessed Saviour, Lord of love. Unto Me.
3. Shining Sun, shining sun. Child's Hymn.
The tunes to these hymns were of his own composing. In The Pilgrim Hymnal, 1904, there is:—
4. Rest in the Lord, my soul. Trust and Peace and in the American Methodist Hymnal, 1905:—
5. Be strong: we are not here to play. Activity in God's Service.
Nos. 4 and 5 are from Thoughts for Every Day Living, 1901; but undated. [Rev. L. F. Benson, D.D.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Maltbie D. Babcock
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
