161 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Edward Hopper, 1818-88
A beautiful hymn suggested by the seafaring life. It was published anonymously in Sailors’ Magazine, 1871, and again in the Baptist Praise Book, 1871, and in C. S. Robinson’s collection of Spiritual Songs, 1878. The author of the hymn, unknown for several years, was discovered at the anniversary of the Seamen’s Friend Society, held at the Broadway Tabernacle, New York City, May 10, 1880. Dr. Edward Hopper, popular pastor of the Church of the Sea and Land in New York, having been asked to write a special hymn for the occasion, brought instead, “Jesus Savior, pilot me,” not aware that the hymn had already been published in several church hymnals. The public learned then for the first time the real authorship of the hymn. The original has six stanzas, this being a selection of 1, 5, and 6.
Edward Hopper was born in New York City. He graduated from New York University and then prepared himself at Union Theological Seminary, New York, for the Presbyterian ministry. For many years he was pastor of the Church of the Sea and Land in New York, which sailors attended in large numbers.
MUSIC. PILOT, universally sung and beautifully adapted to these words, was written just before the composer sailed for Europe a short while before his death. He played the tune on the piano the night before he embarked on shipboard for his last earthly voyage.
For further comments on the composer, John E. Gould, see Hymn 141.