John Ellerton. By Henry Housman, B.D. (S.P.C.K.)—Mr.
Ellerton certainly deserves to be put in the first rank of modern hymn-writers. His compositions of this kind numbered in all nearly a hundred, and some of them have met with a very general acceptance. Such are, "Saviour, again to Thy dear name we raise" and "Now the labourer's task is o'er." He was associated with the compilers of "Hymns, Ancient and Modern" when their collection appeared in the enlarged form. His last published hymn, though not equal to those mentioned, has, as Mr. Housman says, much spirit. It is entitled "Watchman, what of the night?" The last stanza runs :—
Bat, watchman, what of the night Of evil, and wrong, and woe ?
For dark is the time, and fierce is the fight, And unyielding is the foe.'
'Yes, the battle is sore and long Through the night of the troubled years, But the advent morn brings the Victor song, And joy when the Christ appears.'"
Other hymns from his pen are given, as are also various papers on hymnology, hymn-writers, and kindred subjects.
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