Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/145

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 133

Hymn 146. Fierce raged the tempest o er the deep.

GODFREY TURING, D.D. (129).

Based on Mark iv. 39. Written in 1861 ; appeared in Rev. R. R. Chope s Hymnal^ 1862.

It is one of the most popular of Prebendary Thring s hymns. Dr. Dykes composed his fine tune St. Aclrcd for it. Preben dary Thring was sitting quietly alone when with half-closed eyes he seemed to see the raging sea, the terrified mariners, and the Saviour sleeping amicl the storm. He took pen and paper, and wrote his hymn straight away rapidly and spontaneously.

It was probably suggested by Anatolius Zo&amp;lt;pfpus Tpixv/j.ias, which Dr. Neale translated Fierce was the wild billow.

Hymn 147. Lord, we sit and cry to Thee. HENRY HART MILMAN, D.D. (1791-1868).

Based on the story of the Blind Man of Jericho, the Gospel for Quinquagesima Sunday.

Dean Milman was the youngest son of Sir F. Milman, an eminent Court physician. He had a brilliant course at Oxford. Dean Stanley called his Newdigate poem the most perfect of Oxford prize poems. He became Vicar of Reading, and in 1821 Professor of Poetry at Oxford. From poetry he passed to history. His History of tJic Jews raised a storm of criticism, but, as Dean Stanley said, it treated the characters and events of sacred history both critically and reverently. In 1835 Dr. Milman became Canon of Westminster, and Rector of St. Margaret s. He was appointed Dean of St. Paul s in 1849. His work on Latin Christianity is one of the masterpieces of English ecclesiastical history.

The Dean s thirteen hymns, including two for Lent, two for Advent, two funeral hymns, one for Passiontide, for Easter, and for those at sea, were composed before 1823, and published in his friend Heber s Hymns, 1827. On May u, 1821, Heber wrote to Milman, I have during the last month received some assistance

from, which would once have pleased me much ; but, alas !

your Advent, Good Friday, and Palm Sunday hymns have spoilt me for all other attempts of the sort. In the following December he wrote again, You have indeed sent me a most

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