Ernest Edwin Ryden
Noted Lutheran author and hymnologist
Biography
Background Information on the author from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
"In addition to his congregational calls and editorship of the Lutheran Companion magazine, Ryden was a noted author and hymnologist. He published two books on hymns. He served as secretary of the Joint Commission on a Common Hymnal, which in conjunction with the Joint Commission on a Common Liturgy created the Service Book and Hymnal which represented the collaborative work of the eight Lutheran church bodies that comprised the National Lutheran Council. In the current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, three of his hymn texts are included.
"During his tenure at Gloria Dei in St. Paul, Ryden hosted, as well as wrote, a radio program, “The Story of Our Hymns,” on KSTP in Minneapolis/St. Paul from 1928-1934. He was president of Augustana’s Minnesota Conference’s Board of Christian Service. He was also a great proponent of Lutheran Unity and served on the Joint Commission on Lutheran Unity.
"Many honors were presented to Ryden during his career. In 1930 Augustana College honored him with a Doctor of Divinity. And in 1949 he was given the Royal Order of the North Star by the government of Sweden for his body of work, especially his work with Scandinavian hymnody.
"After retirement from active ministry, Ryden continued to participate in the activities which gave him great joy. He began to learn Portuguese when he was in his nineties so he could edit a hymnal for the Presbyterian Church of Brazil...."
