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[There is a land immortal]

Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Frank L. Armstrong Incipit: 55323 21123 46543 Used With Text: There Is a Land Immortal

Author: Thomas MacKellar Appears in 73 hymnals Lyrics: 1 There is a land immortal, The beautiful of lands; Beside its ancient portal A silent sentry stands. He only can undo it, And open wide the door; And mortals who pass through it Are mortal nevermore. 2 That glorious land is Heaven, And Death the sentry grim; The Lord thereof has given The opening keys to him; And ransom’d spirits, sighing And sorrowful for sin, Pass through the gate in dying, And freely enter in. 3 Though dark and drear the passage That leadeth to the gate, Yet grace attends the message, To souls that watch and wait; And at the time appointed A messenger comes down, And guides the Lord's anointed From cross to glory's crown. 4 Their sighs are lost in singing; They're blessed in their tears; Their journey heavenward winging, They leave on earth their fears. Death like an angel seeming, "We welcome thee!" they cry; Their face with glory gleaming, 'Tis life for them to die. Used With Tune: [There is a land immortal]

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There Is a Land Immortal

Author: Thomas MacKellar Hymnal: The Helper in Sacred Song #6 (1889) Lyrics: 1 There is a land immortal, The beautiful of lands; Beside its ancient portal A silent sentry stands. He only can undo it, And open wide the door; And mortals who pass through it Are mortal nevermore. 2 That glorious land is Heaven, And Death the sentry grim; The Lord thereof has given The opening keys to him; And ransom’d spirits, sighing And sorrowful for sin, Pass through the gate in dying, And freely enter in. 3 Though dark and drear the passage That leadeth to the gate, Yet grace attends the message, To souls that watch and wait; And at the time appointed A messenger comes down, And guides the Lord's anointed From cross to glory's crown. 4 Their sighs are lost in singing; They're blessed in their tears; Their journey heavenward winging, They leave on earth their fears. Death like an angel seeming, "We welcome thee!" they cry; Their face with glory gleaming, 'Tis life for them to die. Tune Title: [There is a land immortal]

There Is a Land Immortal

Author: Thomas Mackellar Hymnal: Exalted Praise #51 (1882) Languages: English Tune Title: [There is a land immortal]

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Thomas MacKellar

1812 - 1899 Author of "There Is a Land Immortal" in The Helper in Sacred Song Mackellar, Thomas, was born in New York, Aug. 12, 1812. At the age of 14 he entered the printing establishment of Harper Brothers. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia and joined the type-foundry firm of Johnson & Smith, as proof reader. He subsequently became a foreman, and then a partner in that firm, which has been known from 1860 as Mackellar, Smiths, and Jordan, type-founders of Philadelphia. His publications include The American Printer, 1866, a prose work, and the following in verse:— (1) Droppings from the Heart, 1844; (2) Tam's Fortnight Ramble, 1847; (3) Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; (4) Rhymes Atween Times, 1872. The last contains some of his hymns. (5) Hymns and a few Metrical Psalms, Phila. 1883 (71 hymns, 3 psalms), 2nd edition, 1887 (84 hymns, 3 psalms). Those of his hymns in common use include :— 1. At the door of mercy sighing. Lent. Published in his Rhymes Atween Times, 1872, as, "Long of restful peace forsaken," and again in Dr. Hitchcock's Hymns & Songs of Praise, 1874, as "At the door of mercy sighing." 2. Bear the burden of the present. Resignation. Written in 1852, and published in his Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; and Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868. Part of this hymn, beginning "All unseen the Master walketh," was in common use in Great Britain. 3. Book of grace, and book of glory. Holy Scripture. Written in 1843. It was given in the Sunday School Union Collection, 1860, and his Hymns and a few M. Psalms, &c, 1883, and a few collections, including Allon's Children's Worship, 1878, &c. 4. Draw nigh to the Holy. Jesus, the soul’s Refuge. In Sumner's Songs of Zion, 1851, and the Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868, in 5 st. of 8 1ines. 5. Father, in my life's young morning. A Child's Prayer. Written in 1841. 6. In the vineyard of our Father. Work for God. Written in 1845. It was given in the Hymns for Church & Home, Philadelphia, I860, and other collections. 7. Jesus! when my soul is parting. Continued presence of Jesus desired. Written in 1848, and included in Lyra Sacra Americana, 1868, in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, and entitled "Jesus first and last." 8. There is a land immortal. Heaven. Mr. Mackellar says that this hymn was written "One evening as a fancy suddenly struck me of a religious nature, I laid aside the work in hand, and pursuing the new idea, I at once produced the hymn, ‘There is a land immortal,' and sent it to the editor [of Neale's Gazette], who referred to it as a religious poem from ‘Tam,' my assumed name, under which I had already acquired considerable notoriety. This was in 1845. It was widely copied, and afterwards inserted in a volume published by me." Duffield's English Hymns, &c, 1886, p. 551. Mr. Mackellar was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ====================== Mackellar, T., p. 708, ii. Additional hymns are:— (1) "I have no hiding-place" (Safety in Jesus), (2) “I will extol Thee every day" (Praise to God). These are dated 1880 and 1871 respectively in Stryker's Church Songs, N. Y., 1889. He died Dec. 29, 1899. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) ============ Mackellar, T., pp. 708, ii.; 1578, ii. He died Dec. 29, 1899. His hymn, “O the darkness, O the sorrow" (Redemption through Christ), was written in 1886, and added to the latest 1668 editions of his Hymns & Metrical Psalms. It is found in Summa Corda, 1898, and several other collections. His Hymns and Poems were collected and published in 1900. [Rev. L. F. Benson, D.D.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)