Hymn Writers of the Church

Burleigh, William Henry, a social reformer and member of the Unitarian Church, was born at Woodstock, Conn., February 12, 1812. He was brought up on his father's farm, and attended the district school. He was a born reformer, and living in New England in his time and with his disposition, naturally identified himself with the radical abolitionists and prohibitionists. His business was that of editor and lecturer. In 1837 he began at Pittsburg, Pa., the publication of the Christian Witness and Temperance Banner. In 1843 he became editor of the Christian Freeman at Hartford, Conn. From 1849 to 1855 he was agent of the New York State Temperance Society, and was harbor master at New York from 1855 to 1870. He died at Brooklyn, N. Y., March 18, 1871. Poetry was his recreation. His poems were collected and published in 1841; second and enlarged edition, 1871. The poem titled "Blessed Are They That Mourn" was born of sorrow. Within the space of two years he buried his father, wife, eldest daughter, and eldest son. Let no one imagine that the strong, calm faith of this hymn was attained without difficulty. In a letter to a friend he said: "It is not without strong wrestlings that doubt and murmurings are put under my feet and I am enabled to struggle up into the purer atmosphere of faith." He is one of the few American hymn writers whose hymns are more extensively used in England than in America. Of fourteen hymns by him in common use, only two are here given:--