ON THIS DATE
Ray Palmer died 3/29/1887, Newark, NJ. He was born 11/12/1808, Little Compton, RI, son of Judge Thomas Palmer but grew up in Boston. He attended Phillips Academy (Oliver Wendell Holmes was a classmate) & graduated from Yale. After that he taught at woman’s schools & studied theology privately.
In 1834 he entered the ministry pastoring the Congregational Church, Bath, ME (1835-1850) & the First Congregational Church, Albany, NY (1850-1865). Finally he served as Corresponding Secretary of the American Congregational Union until retirement (1878).
He published 11 books among them are Closet Hours, Hymns & Sacred Pieces, Hymns of My Holy Hours & Other Pieces, Complete Poetical Works, & he penned 38 hymns. Dr. Duffield (wrote English Hymns) expressed his regard this way, “He has written more & better hymns than any other American.” Palmer met Lowell Mason on a Boston street who asked him to write something for a new hymnal. Palmer located what is below in his old notes. Mason composed the tune & days later told Palmer, “You may live many years & do many good things but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of “My Faith Looks Up to Thee.” Mason was right – this hymn has been translated into over 20 languages.
“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, O let me from this day be wholly Thine!”
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