Author Archive

Above: Lawrence Tuttiett
Image in the Public Domain
Lawrence Tuttiett (1825-1897) was a priest in The Church of England then the Scottish Episcopal Church.
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Father, Let Me Dedicate
O Grant Us Light, That We May Know
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Above: Dawn
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church
Text (1864) by Lawrence Tuttiett (1825-1897)
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O grant us light, that we may know
The wisdom Thou alone canst give;
That truth may guide where’er we go,
And virtue bless where’er we live.
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O grant us light, that we may see
Where error lurks in human lore,
And turn our seeking minds to Thee,
And love Thy holy Word the more.
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O grant us light, that we may learn
How dead is life from Thee apart,
How sure is joy for all who turn
To Thee an undivided heart.
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O grant us light, when, soon or late,
All earthly scenes shall pass away,
In Thee to find the open gate
To deathless home and endless day.
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Above: Pentecost Dove
Image Scanned from a Bulletin
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Author (in German) = Michael Schirmer (1606-1673)
English Translator = Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)
Hymn Source = The Chorale Book for England (1863); this text is hymn #71
Although four hymnal companion volumes I have consulted insist that the translation of this hymn as “O Holy Spirit, Enter In” is of Winkworth, going to the primary source–her Chorale Book for England–proves otherwise.
The only change I have made to Winkworth’s translation is to replace some instances of “f” with “s.” Therefore, for example, “my fprit’s gueft” has become “my spirit’s guest.”
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O enter, Lord, Thy temple,
Be Thou my spirit’s guest!
Who at my birth did give me
A second birth more blest.
Thou in the Godhead, Lord,
Though here to dwell Thou deignest,
For ever equal reignest,
Art equally adored.
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O enter, let my know Thee,
And feel Thy power within,
The power that breaks our fetters,
And rescues us from sin;
So wash and cleanse Thou me,
That I may serve Thee truly,
And render honour duly
With perfect heart to Thee.
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‘Tis Thou, O Spirit, teachest
The foul to pray aright;
Thy songs have sweetest music,
Thy prayers have wondrous might;
Unheard they cannot fall,
They pierce the highest heaven,
Till He His help hath given
Who surely helpeth all.
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Joy is Thy gift, O Spirit!
Thou wouldst not have us pine;
In darkest hours Thy comfort
Doth aye most brightly shine;
Ah then how oft Thy voice
Hath fled its sweetness o’er me,
And open’d heaven before me,
And bid my heart rejoice!
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All love is Thine, O Spirit!
Thou hatest enmity;
Thou lovest peace and friendship,
All strife wouldst have us flee;
Where wrath and discord reign
Thy whisper inly pleadeth,
And to the heart that heedeth
Brings love and light again.
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The whole wide world, O Spirit!
Upon Thy hands doth rest,
Our wayward hearts Thou turnest
As it may seem Thee best;
Once more Thy power make known!
As Thou hast done so often,
Convert the wicked, soften
To tears the heart of stone.
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With holy zeal then fill us,
To keep the faith still pure;
And bless our lands and houses
With wealth that may endure;
And make that foe to flee
Who in us with Thee striveth,
From out our heart he driveth
Whate’er delighteth Thee.
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Order our path in all things
According to Thy mind,
And when this life is over,
And must be all resign’d,
Oh grant us then to die
With calm and fearless spirit,
And after death inherit
Eternal life on high.
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ADDENDUM
A Collection of Hymns and Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (The Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of the State of New-York, 1844) includes the following translation, as hymn #184. The Collection does not identify the translator.
Come, gracious Spirit, heav’nly Dove
With light and comfort from above.
Be Thou our guardian, thou our guide;
O’er ev’ry thought and step preside.
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Conduct us safe, conduct us far
From ev’ry sin and hurtful snare;
Lead to thy word that rules must give,
And teach us lessons how to live.
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The light of truth to us display,
That we may know and love thy way;
Plant holy fear in ev’ry heart,
That we from thee may ne’er depart.
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Lead us to righteousness, the road
That we must take, to dwell with God;
Lead us to heav’n, the seat of bliss,
Where pleasure in perfection is.
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Above: The Logo of the Evangelical Synod of North America
Image Source = Yearbook and Almanac of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1939 (1938)
Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931) was a minister in the Evangelical Synod of North America.
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As Fades the Daylight Splendor
In Thy Service, Lord of Mercy
Lord, I Would Praise Thee
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Above: Sunset
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)
Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America
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As fades the daylight splendor,
We crave Thy mercies tender,
Thou Lord of Life and Light,
Thy love for us abounding,
Thy strong arms, us surrounding,
Defend and shield us through the night.
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Thy grace is all prevailing,
Thy mercy never failing,
E’en though our need is great.
When trials come assaulting,
O give us grace unfalt’ring,
That we trustful Thy help await.
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Sometimes the way seems dreary,
And weakness makes us weary:
Do Thou then make us strong;
That, pain and grief controlling,
We look for Thy consoling;
For Thou wilt never tarry long.
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And when at last the evening
Of death shall come, revealing
The passing of this clay,
Wilt Thou then hear our pleading,
And, tho’ death’s night us leading,
Bring us to life’s eternal day.
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Above: Easter Cross, by Jakob Häne
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)
Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America
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Lord, I would praise Thee for Thy great salvation;
My soul is filled with happy exultation,
Its chief enjoyment, to proclaim the story
Of Thy great glory.
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Lord, I would serve Thee in complete surrender,
And to Thy great cause my best efforts tender;
Give me a spirit, Thy control possessing,
Serving and blessing.
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Lord, I would love Thee, Thou art love deserving,
For Thou dost keep me with a grace preserving;
Fill Thou my cold heart with devotion burning
And for Thee yearning.
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Lord, I would trust Thee in my dying hour;
Have Thee enfold me by Thy love and power;
I shall not fear then to go forward bravely,
For Thou wilt save me.
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Above: Celtic Cross
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)
Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America
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In Thy service, Lord of mercy,
We would find our chief delight;
Show us then some place to labor
In Thy kingdom, Lord of Light.
In hearts that are hopeless sin’s torrents are raging,
The forces of darkness their war still are waging;
The world lies in sorrow, a lost human race,
Which naught can restore but the pow’r of Thy grace.
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‘Tis not tho’ some special merit
That salvation we receive,
But because our sad condition
Caused Thee for mankind to grieve;
Constrained Thee Thy glory of heavenly splendor
For our redemption to freely surrender;
To serve the whole world in its terrible plight;
To drive out the darkness and give it Thy light.
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Lord, by all Thy loving efforts
Thou didst an example give
To be followed by Thy servants,
Showing how they are to live:
Then strengthen our purpose, that we resolutely
Perform Thy good will and fulfil ev’ry duty;
And serving Thee daily, whatever the task,
We find Thy approval, ’tis all that we ask.
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Above: Rudolph A. John
Source = Yearbook and Almanac of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1939 (1938), 42
Rudolph A. John (1859-1938) was a minister in the Evangelical Synod of North America then in the Evangelical and Reformed Church. He wrote and translated hymns.
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I Will Ever Sing Thy Praises, Mighty God and Gracious King
Take Thou My Hand and Lead Me
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Above: Icon of a Right Hand
Image in the Public Domain
German Text (1867) by Julie von Hausmann (1826-1901)
English Translation (1912) by Rudolph A. John (1859-1938)
Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church
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Take Thou my hand and lead me
Unto the end;
In life and death I need Thee,
O blessed Friend;
I cannot live without Thee
For one brief day;
Lord, be Thou ever near me,
And lead the way.
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Thou mighty God of ages,
O be Thou near;
When angry tempest rages
I need not fear;
Close by Thy side abiding
I fear no foe,
While Thy strong hand is guiding
Life hath no foe.
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When evening’s shadows lengthen,
The night is come,
My faint heart, Father, strengthen
And bring me home.
Take Thou my hand and lead me
Unto the end,
In life and death I need Thee,
O blessed Friend!
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Above: The Luther Rose
Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Ludwig Andreas Gotter (1661-1735) was a German Lutheran layman and hymn writer.
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Friend of the Weary, O Refresh Us
I Will Ever Sing Thy Praises, Mighty God and Gracious King
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