Thomas
Hastings
Born:
October 15, 1784, Washington, Connecticut.
Died:
May 15, 1872, New York City.
Buried:
Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.
Phoebe Knapp and Henry Beecher lie nearby.
Son of a doctor, Hastings grew up as a farm boy, walking six miles to school in
the winter. He began his career as a music teacher. In 1823, he became editor of
the Recorder in Utica, New York. From 1832 until his death, Hastings
trained choirs and developed religious music. He penned almost 1,000 hymn tunes
and 600 hymn texts. His son, who became president of Union Theological Seminary,
said of him:
He was a devout and
earnest Christian, a hard student, and resolute worker, not laying aside his
pen until three days before his death.
Hastings’ works
include:
- Musica Sacra,
1816
- The Musical
Taste, 1822
- Spiritual Songs
for Social Worship (Utica, New York: 1831-32), assisted by Lowell Mason
- The Mother’s
Hymn-Book, 1834, enlarged 1850
- The Christian
Psalmist (New York: 1836)
- Devotional Hymns
and Poms (New York: 1850)
- Church Melodies
(New York: 1858), assisted by his son
Hymns
- Be Tranquil, O My
Soul
- Before Thy Footstool
Kneeling
- Bleeding Hearts
Defiled by Sin
- Child of Sin and
Sorrow
- Child of Sorrow,
Child of Care
- Children, Hear the
Melting Story
- Come,
Ye Disconsolate
- Delay Not, O Sinner,
Draw Near
- Drooping Souls, No
Longer Mourn
- Dying Souls, Fast
Bound in Sin
- Father, We for Our
Children Plead
- For Those in Bonds
as Bound with Them
- Forbid Them Not, the
Savior Cried
- Forget Thyself,
Christ Bids Thee Come
- Forgive My Folly, O
Lord Most Holy
- Forgive Us, Lord, to
Thee We Cry
- Gently, Lord, O
Gently Lead Us
- Go Forth on Wings of
Fervent Prayer
- Go, Tune Thy Voice
to Sacred Song
- God of Mercy, Hear
Our Prayer
- God of the Morning
Ray
- God of the Nations,
Bow Thine Ear
- Hail to the
Brightness of Zion's Glad Morning!
- He That Goeth Forth
with Weeping
- Heirs of an Immortal
Crown
- How Calm and
Beautiful the Morn
- Hosanna to the King
- How Tender Is Thy
Hand
- I Look to Thee, O
Lord, Alone
- I Love the Lord,
Whose Gracious Ear
- In This Calm,
Impressive Hour
- In Time of Fear,
When Trouble’s Near
- Jesus, Full of Every
Grace
- Jesus, Merciful and
Mild
- Jesus, Save My Dying
Soul
- Jesus, While Our
Hearts are Bleeding
- Lord, I Would Come
to Thee
- Lord Jehovah Lives,
The
- Lord of the Harvest,
Bend Thine Ear
- Majestic Sweetness
Sits Enthroned
- Now Be the Gospel
Banner
- Now from Labor, and
from Care
- O God of Abraham,
Hear
- O Lord, Behold Us at
Thy Feet
- O Savior, Lend a
Listening Ear
- O Tell Me, Thou Life
and Delight of My Soul
- O Why Should Gloomy
Thoughts Arise?
- Peace, Peace, I
Leave with You
- Peace to Thee, O
Favored One
- Pilgrims in This
Vale of Sorrow
- Return, O Wanderer,
to Thy Home
- Rosy Light Is
Dawning, The
- Savior Bids Us Watch
and Pray, The
- Savior, Hear Us
Through Thy Merit
- Savior, I Look to
Thee
- Savior of Our Ruined
Race
- Savior, Thy Gentle
Voice
- Soft and Holy Is the
Place
- That Warning Voice,
O Sinner, Hear
- Thou God of
Sovereign Grace
- Today the Savior
Calls
- Wherever two or
Three May Meet
- Why That Look of
Sadness
- Why That Soul’s
Commotion?
- Within These Quiet
Walls, O Lord
- Zion, Dreary and in
Anguish
Music
- Franconia
- Invitation
- Luther
- Monson
- Ortonville
- Retreat
- Toplady
- Zion