I'm kneeling at the threshold, aweary, faint, and sore. W. L. Alexander. [Death Anticipated.] "I wrote it," writes Dr. Alexander, "after an evening spent with my venerable father then near the end of his earthly pilgrimage, and when he spoke much of his longing to depart to and join those who had been the companions of his pilgrimage, but had preceded him into the better land." (E. MS.) In 1865 it was printed in the Sunday Magazine in 5 stanzas of 8 lines. From that magazine it first passed into a few American hymnals, and then into the 1874 Supplement to the New Congregational Hymn Book; the Hymnal Companion, 1876, and others. It is the most popular of Dr. Alexander's hymns.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Alexander, William Lindsay , DD. LL.D., of Pinkieburn, Musselburgh, son of William Alexander, Esq., Leith, born in the vicinity of Leith, August 24, 1808. After studying at the Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrew's, he became, in 1828, Classical Tutor in what is now The Lancashire College. After studying for some time at Halle, he, in 1835, became minister of North College St. Congregational Church, Edinburgh, removing with his congregation in 1861 to a new church in George IV. Bridge, called the Augustine Church, and retired from the pastoral charge of the same in 1877. He died at Pinkieburn, Dec. 20, 1884. He was, from 1854 to 1881, Professor in the Scottish Congregational Hall. In 1846 he received the degree of D.D. from the Univers… Go to person page >
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