Page:Our Hymns.djvu/314

 294 OUR HYMNS :

ance of praise, will find their wishes fully met in this most comprehensive and soul-moving hymn of praise: it is one of the eleven.

"Hail! morning known among the blest."—No. 756.

This excellent Sabbath hymn is also one of the eleven. It is given with the omission of one verse.

JOHN CAWOOD, M.A.

1775–1852.

was one of those useful hymn-writers whose works maintain their place, even when poems, once welcomed with applause, are forgotten. In this respect his hymns are a type of his life, which perseveringly emerged from obscurity till it filled a useful place in the world. Cawood's parents were small farmers at Matlock, Derbyshire, where he was born, March 18th, 1775. He enjoyed small educational advantages, and, at eighteen years of age, went to occupy a menial position in the establishment of a clergyman named Carsham, at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. While in this position, he received religious convictions, and felt that it was his duty to prepare to engage in the work of the ministry.

He had previously sought to improve himself, and he now studied under the Rev. Edward Spencer, rector of Wingfield, Wilts. In 1797 he entered St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, completing his course under the tutorship of the vice-principal, the Rev. Isaac Crouch. He was ordained in 1801, and the same year obtained his B.A. degree. He became M.A. in 1807. Under the Rev. W. Jesse, he held the adjacent curacies of Ribbesford and Dowles, and, in 1814, Mr. Jesse presented him to the perpetual curacy of St. Ann's Chapel of Ease, Bewdley, Worcestershire. At this place he spent the greater part of his life. He was twice married, and had five children. He died, at the age of seventy- seven, on November 7th, 1852.