Conrad Kocher, 1786-1872, was a German student of church music, a composer and teacher. He studied at St. Petersburg and in Rome. He founded the School of Sacred Song in Stuttgart, which did much to improve German church music and popularize four-part singing in Germany. 52. God of the earth, the sky, the sea _Samuel Longfellow_, 1819-92 A hymn which finds God in every aspect of nature. For comments on the author, Samuel Longfellow, see Hymn 28. _MUSIC._ SHELTERING WING, a long-meter melody admirably suited to these words, is by the English church musician, Joseph Barnby, 1838-96. For comments on him see Hymn 19. 53. Lord of all being, throned afar _Oliver W. Holmes_, 1809-94 A hymn difficult to praise too highly, probably the greatest penned on the omnipresence of God. Its first appearance was in the _Atlantic Monthly_ as the final installment of the series of articles later collected into book form and entitled _The Professor at the Breakfast Table_. The work closed with the following lines and the hymn: Peace to all such as may have been vexed in spirit by any utterances these pages may have repeated! They will, doubtless, forget for the moment the differences in the hues of truth we look at through our human prisms and join in singing (inwardly) this hymn to the Source of the light we all need to lead us, and the warmth which alone can make us brothers: Lord of all being! throned afar, Thy glory flames from sun and star; Centre and soul of every sphere, Yet to each loving heart how near. Oliver Wendell Holmes was the son of a Congregational minister in Cambridge, Massachusetts, although later when he became established as a physician in Boston, he united with the Unitarians. His writings are nevertheless permeated by an evangelical warmth which has made his hymns acceptable to all denominations. Holmes was a distinguished graduate of Harvard University in Arts and Medicine and spent most of his years teaching anatomy at Harvard. But he is best known to us as a man of letters. None of his writings is so widely known as the two hymns, “Lord of all being” and “O Love divine, that stooped to share” (172), both of them found in the author’s _The Professor at the Breakfast Table_. _MUSIC._ LOUVAN is by an American musician, Virgil C. Taylor, 1817-91, organist and editor of song books. This is the only one of his tunes now in common use. An alternative tune that fits the hymn very well is “St. Crispin” found at No. 149. HIS LOVE AND MERCY 54. Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side _Katharina von Schlegel, born c._ 1697 _Tr. Jane L. Borthwick_, 1813-97