Jesus, the Children are Calling

Author: Annie Matheson

Matheson, Annie, eldest daughter of Rev. James Matheson, Congregational Minister, of Nottingham, was born at Blackheath, March, 1853, and resided at Notting Hill, London. She died in 1924. At an early age she showed considerable literary ability, her first hymn, "Jesus, the children are calling," being composed when she was only 13 years old. This hymn, attracting the attention of Dr. George MacDonald, was introduced by him to the notice of the editor of Good Words, who inserted it in that magazine, as a "Hymn by a Child." In 1869 appeared "I am weak and weary, Lord," and from that time Miss Matheson was a frequent contributor to Good Words, Macmillan, The Spectator, St. Nicholas, and other magazines, both English and American. Her illust… Go to person page >

Jesus, the children are calling, p. 719, i. Miss Matheson's hymn was brought under the notice of the editor of The Sunday Magazine (not Good Words), and appeared therein, June, 1868, p. 564.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)