Page:Our Hymns.djvu/169

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 149

he removed, in the year 1746, to become co-pastor with the Rev. John Beddome, at the chapel in the Pithay, Bristol. In 1752, being violently cast out of his position (a controversy having arisen on the subject of having two pastors), he removed with a part of the congregation to Callowhill, another part of Bristol, where he remained till 1787. In 1768, his " Hymns Devotional and Moral" were printed at Bristol. They are 263 in number. They are pleasing in character, and full of scriptural and spiritual thought, but the versification is slovenly. The first and third lines of the four-line verses do not rhyme.

"Fountain of mercy, God of love." No. 950.

This is erroneously attributed to Needham in the " New Congregational Hymn Book." The versification is superior to his. It is by Anne Flowerdew, rule under her name.

" To praise the ever-bounteous Lord," No. 951,

is No. 56 in the above-mentioned collection. It is a pleasing harvest hymn, but verse 3 may be said to be entirely devoid of rhyme. There is an additional verse in the original hymn.

JOSEPH GEIGG.

DIED 1768.

WE have but little on record concerning this hymn-writer, whose few but well-known hymns encircle his name with interest. He seems to have justified the Latin poet s saying, "yoeta nascitnr nonjit!" for he wrote one of his best hymns at the age of ten. He was at first in humble circumstances. Dr. Belcher speaks of him as "a labouring mechanic." Afterwards he entered the ministry. From 1743 to 1747 he was assistant minister to the Rev. Thomas Bures, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Silver Street, London. During this period Mr. Grigg wrote some of his hymns. Two of his hymns are dated March, 1744, and one February, 1745. In the year 1747 Mr. Bures died, after carrying on a successful ministry at Silver Street for twenty -five

�� �