About twenty-five years ago a group of literary men within the Norwegian
Lutheran Synods undertook the task of translating some of the gems of
Danish and Norwegian hymnody. Among these were C. Doving, now a city
missionary in Chicago; George T. Rygh, also residing at the present time
in Chicago; C. K. Solberg, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church,
Minneapolis, Minn.; O. T. Sanden, and O. H. Smedby, former Lutheran
pastor at Albert Lea, Minn., now deceased. Doving's masterpiece
undoubtedly is his translation of Grundtvig's "Built on the Rock, the
Church doth stand," although he will also be remembered for his rendering
of Holm's "How blessed is the little flock," and Landstad's "Before Thee,
God, who knowest all." Rygh's contribution consists of the translation of
such hymns as Grundtvig's "Peace to soothe our bitter woes," Kingo's "Our
table now with food is spread," Landstad's "Speak, O Lord, Thy servant
heareth," Boye's "O Light of God's most wondrous love," and Brun's
"Heavenly Spirit, all others transcending." Sanden has translated Brun's
"The sun has gone down," while Smedby has left us a fine version of
Boye's "Abide with us, the day is waning." While Solberg has translated
some hymns, he is known better as a writer of original lyrics. Among
these are "Lift up your eyes, ye Christians," "Fellow Christians, let us
gather," and "O blessed Light from heaven."
Foremost among recent translators of Danish hymns are J. C. Aaberg,
pastor of St. Peter's Danish Lutheran church, Minneapolis, Minn., and P.
C. Paulsen, pastor of Golgotha Danish Lutheran church, Chicago, Ill. In
the American Lutheran Hymnal there are nineteen translations by Aaberg,
while Paulsen is represented by a like number. Through the efforts of
these men, both of whom possess no mean poetic ability, many of the
finest hymns of Brorson, Kingo, Grundtvig, Ingemann, Vig, and Pawels have
been introduced to American Lutherans. Paulsen is the author of three
original hymns, "Blest is he who cries to heaven," "Take my heart, O
Jesus," and "Let us go to Galilee," while Aaberg has written "There is a
blessed power."
One of the most richly endowed hymn-writers in the Lutheran Church today
is A. F. Rohr, pastor at Fremont, O. From his pen we have received such
hymns as "Eternal God, omnipotent," "Lord of life and light and
blessing," "From afar, across the waters," and "Living Fountain, freely
flowing." For poetic expression and graceful rhythm his hymns are
unsurpassed by any contemporary writer. He also combines such depth of
feeling with the lyrical qualities of his hymns, they no doubt possess
enduring qualities. Witness the following hymn:
Living Fountain, freely flowing
In the sheen of heaven's day,
Grace and life on us bestowing,
Wash Thou all our sins away.
Fountain whence alone the living
Draw the life they boast as theirs,
By Thy grace, a gift whose giving
Life of life forever shares.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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