Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/495

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 483

Hymn 961. O Father, all creating. JOHN ELLERTON (603).

Written January 29, 1876, when Mr. Ellerton was Rector of Hinstock, Staffs. It is a wedding hymn, composed at the request of the Duke of Westminster for the marriage of his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Harriet Grosvenor, to the Marquis of Ormonde, February 2, 1876.

Hymn 9G2. O perfect Love, all human thought trausceiidiiig.

DOROTHY F. GURNEY.

Mrs. Gurney, who was born in 1858 at 3, Finsbury Circus, London, is the eldest daughter of Rev. F. G. Blomfield, Rector of St. Andrew, Undershaft, London, and the granddaughter of Bishop Blomfield. This hymn was written for the marriage of her sister, Mrs. Hugh Redmayne, in 1883. Sir J. Barnby set it as an anthem for the marriage of Princess Louise with the Duke of Fife, on July 27, 1889. The same year it appeared in Supplemental Hymns to Hymns Ancient and Modern. The writer says, We were all singing hymns one Sunday evening, and had just finished &quot; O Strength and Stay,&quot; the tune to which was an especial favourite of my sister s, when some one remarked what a pity it was that the words should be unsuitable for a wedding. My sister, turning suddenly to me, said, &quot; What is the use of a sister who composes poetry if she cannot write me new words to this tune ? &quot; I picked up a hymn-book, and said, &quot; Well, if no one will disturb me, I will go into the library and see what I can do.&quot; After about fifteen minutes I came back with the hymn, &quot; O perfect Love,&quot; and there and then we all sang it to the tune of &quot; Strength and Stay.&quot; It went perfectly, and my sister was delighted, saying that it must be sung at her wedding. For two or three years it was sung privately at many London weddings, and then it found its way into the hymnals. The writing of it was no effort whatever after the initial idea had come to me of the two-fold aspect of perfect union, love and life, and I have always felt that God helped me to write it. Famous Hymns, p. 194.

O Strength and Stay is John Ellerton s hymn, for which Dr. Dykes wrote the tune.

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