JAMES MONTGOMERY (Ayrshire, Scotland, Nov. 4, 1771 — Sheffield, England, April 30, 1854), editor, publisher, and poet, was the author of over four hundred hymns. He is the one layman, beside Cowper, who has attained fame as the writer of a hymn belonging in the front rank. As an editor be was an ardent reformer, and this cost him fines and imprisonment many times; but his fame as a poet led the government to grant him an annual pension in his later years. In Dr. Benson's list of the best church hymns this one is given the tenth place. Its popularity is great in every land, and it has not only become a standard church hymn, but, set to many bright tunes, it is a favorite in religious meetings of all kinds. JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME JERUSALEM, my happy home, Name ever dear to me! When shall my labors have an end, When shall these eyes thy heaven built walls Thy bulwarks with salvation strong, There happier bowers than Eden's bloom, Nor sin nor sorrow know. Blest seats! thro' rude and stormy scenes Why should I shrink at pain and woe, Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there My soul still pants for thee: JAMES MONTGOMERY THE Rev. John Ellerton (London, Dec. 16, 1826- White Roding, 1893) is the author of a number of the most stately of our familiar modern hymns. He was a clergyman of the English Episcopal church, educated at Trinity, Cambridge, spending his life in quiet country churches and writing these beautiful hymns. This Easter hymn he gave to the public in 1868 as a rendering of the "Salve, festa dies” of Fortunatus. The old Latin version is the one which Jerome of Prague is said to have sung on his way to death at the stake. English version, by Ellerton, will probably be sung on Easter Sunday morning in almost every church all over the world wherever that tongue is spoken. The EASTER HYMN WELCOME, happy morning! Age to age shall say Hell to-day is vanquished, heaven is won to-day! Maker and Redeemer, life and health of all, Thou, from heaven beholding human nature's fall, Of the Father's godhead true and only son, Manhood to deliver, manhood didst put on. Thou, of life the author, death did undergo, Tread the path of darkness, saving strength to show. Come, then, true and faithful, now fulfill thy word; 'Tis thine own third morning; rise, O buried Lord. Loose the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan's chain; All that now is fallen raise to life again; Show thy face in brightness, bid the nations see, Bring again our daylight; day returns with thee! JOHN ELLERTON THIS hymn of the Resurrection, by Charles Wesley, has taken its place with the foremost hymns of the church on this subject. It is found in practically all the hymnals, and has been ranked, both on popularity and on intrinsic merit, among the best twenty-five hymns of Christendom. It is sung in a great many churches all over the world on the morning of Easter day, and most frequently in the form given here, to the tune written by J. Worgan and entitled " Easter Hymn." |