Scudder, Eliza, Boston, Massachusetts, November 14, 1821—September 28, 1896, Weston, Massachusetts. She was a niece of Rev. E. H. Sears, _q.v._ Early in life she joined a Congregational Church, throughout her middle years was a Unitarian, and late in life entered the Episcopal Church. She wrote a small number of poems which were published in Boston in 1880 under the title _Hymns and Sonnets, by E.S._, and again with her two latest poems and a brief biographical sketch by Horace E. Scudder, in 1897, but most of her hymns had appeared at earlier dates in other places. They are characterized by a profound mystical spirit expressed in terms of great literary beauty, and some of them passed into a considerable measure of common use. 1. _And wherefore should I seek above_, This hymn, included in _The Isles of Shoals Hymnbook_, 1908, consists of the last three stanzas of a much longer poem entitled “The New Heaven,” dated 1855. 2. _From past regret and present faithlessness_, (Repentance) written in August, 1871, and published in _Quiet Hours_, Boston, 1875. This was altered in some hymnbooks to, _From past regret and present feebleness_, In most cases the opening stanza has been omitted and the hymn has begun with the second stanza, _Thou Life within my life, than self more near_, see no. 9, below. 3. _I cannot find Thee, still on restless pinion_, (Seeking after God) This first appeared in Longfellow and Johnson’s _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1864. 4. _In Thee my powers and treasures live_, (Faith and Joy) This appeared in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1864. It is part of a hymn of 10 stanzas beginning _Let whosoever will inquire_, dated 1855. In _The New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, another arrangement of stanzas forms a hymn beginning _My God, I rather look to Thee_ 5. _Life of our life, and light of all our seeing_, (Prayer) Written in August, 1870, it was included in _Quiet Hours_, 1875. 6. _The day is done: the weary day of thought and toil is past_, (Evening) Included in _Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life_, E. H. Sears, Boston, 2^nd ed. 1878, p. 296, entitled “Vesper Hymn,” dated “October, 1874.” 7. _Thou Grace divine, encircling all_, (Divine Grace) This appeared in E. H. Sears’ _Pictures of the Olden Time, as shown in the Fortunes of a Family of Pilgrims_, 1857. Written in 1852, it was included in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1864. In the Universalist _Psalms and Hymns_, 1865, it was mistakenly called “An Ancient Catholic Hymn.” 8. _Thou hast gone up again_ (Ascension) In _Hymns and Sonnets_, 1880. 9. _Thou Life within my life, than self more near_, As noted above, this is part of No. 2, beginning with the second stanza of that hymn. In this form it is perhaps Miss Scudder’s most beautiful hymn.