Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed
His tender last farewell,
A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed
With us to dwell.
She came in semblance of a dove,
With sheltering wings outspread,
The holy balm of peace and love
On earth to shed.
She came in tongues of living flame
To teach, convince, subdue,
All pow'rful as the wind she came
As viewless too.
And hers that gentle voice we hear,
Soft as the breath of ev'n,
That checks each fault, that calms each fear,
And speaks of heav’n.
Spirit of purity and grace,
Our love, we plead thee, see:
O make our hearts thy dwelling place
And worthier thee.
Harriet Auber, 1829; alt.
Tune: WREFORD (8.6.8.4.)
Edmund S. Carter, 1874
This text by Anglican hymnwriter Harriet Auber (somewhat amended here) is cited by John Julian in his Dictionary of Hymnology as one of her most well-known, and it did still appear in twentieth-century hymnals, though perhaps not as often in the present day.
The much less famous Edmund Sardinson Carter (1845-1923), another Victorian member of the clergy with musical tendencies, probably wrote more tunes than the few currently mentioned online.
Eight (Liturgical) Years Ago: Joy! because the circling year
Seven (Liturgical) Years Ago: O prophet souls of all the years
Seven (Calendar) Years Ago: Samuel Webbe
Six (Liturgical) Years Ago: Above the starry spheres
Six (Calendar) Years Ago: Austin C. Lovelace
Five (Liturgical) Years Ago: Hail thee, festival day
Four (Liturgical) Years Ago: Hail festal day! through every age
Three (Liturgical) Years Ago: O God, the Holy Ghost
Three (Calendar) Years Ago: Samuel Webbe
Two (Liturgical) Years Ago: Spirit of grace and health and pow'r
One (Liturgical) Year Ago: Come, O come, thou quick'ning Spirit
3 comments:
You wrote an article about my grandmother Ada Rose who composed the hymn Channels only. I have posted further information about her at:
https://issuu.com/bobgibbs/docs/channels_only_composer_ada_rose_cal
https://issuu.com/bobgibbs/docs/ada_rose_hymns
Do get in touch if I can help you further
Bob - bobgibbs1@gmail.com
Wow! Thanks, Bob. I felt sure that she had written more tunes than the handful I was able to find and here they are. I will be spending some time looking through all this material in the days to come. I really appreciate your sharing it.
Thrilled you were interested - I'll post this info to your original Ada Rose entry - doing some research on her at the moment. Bob
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