The composer, William Lloyd, 1786-1852, a Welshman, was a self-educated man. Though a cattle-dealing farmer, he possessed an excellent voice and had a considerable knowledge of music. He held singing meetings and conducted music classes in Wales. 181. Dear Lord and Father of mankind _John Greenleaf Whittier_, 1807-92 A song of quietude and peace, reflecting the inner life of the “Quaker Poet.” The verses are from a poem called, “The Brewing of Soma,” in which Whittier tells of a certain sect of devotees in India who drank intoxicating liquor brewed from the Soma plant. The drinking of it brought them to a state of intoxicated excitement in which they imagined they were god-possessed. The poet then points out how among Christians emotional excitement is often mistaken for spiritual power. “In sensual transports, wild as vain, We brew in many a Christian fane, The heathen Soma still.” Then follow the beautiful verses of our hymn in praise of the higher life of restfulness in God. The poem was written in 1832, after a particularly noisy and distasteful revival in Whittier’s neighborhood. For comments on John Greenleaf Whittier see Hymn 173. _MUSIC._ WHITTIER, also called “Rest” and “Elton,” was written for this hymn. For comments on the composer, Frederick C. Maker, see Hymn 112. 182. Sweet hour of prayer _William W. Walford_ One of the most popular of all modern prayer meeting hymns, sometimes erroneously ascribed to Fanny Crosby. It was composed in 1842 by Rev. William W. Walford, a blind minister of England, of whom little is known except that he recited the words of this hymn to Rev. Thos. Salmon, Congregational minister at Coleshill, England, who wrote them down and later sent them to the New York _Observer_, in which publication they were printed September 13, 1845. The original has four stanzas, the last two being omitted here. _MUSIC._ CONSOLATION, a tune well suited to the words, was composed by Wm. B. Bradbury in 1859. It is also known as “Sweet Hour” and “Walford.” For comments on the composer, Wm. B. Bradbury, see Hymn 103. 183. Lord, what a change within us one short hour _Richard C. Trench_, 1807-86 _Arr. W. P. Merrill_, 1867— A hymn of the peace and power available through the practice of prayer. It is an arrangement of Trench’s sonnet on “Prayer.” Richard Chenevix Trench was born in Dublin, educated at Twyford School, Harrow, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was preacher, poet, professor of divinity and later the Archbishop of Dublin. Trench, a scholar of distinction, is the author of valuable books, including _Notes on the Parables_, _Notes on the Miracles_, and _Study of Words_.