216 My Jesus, I Love Thee
William Rolf Featherstone, 1842-78
The authorship of this hymn was unknown until recently when Robert McCutchan, author of Our Hymnody, discovered that it was written by William Rolf Featherstone, a Canadian by birth, when he was only sixteen years of age. The author sent the hymn to an aunt, Mrs. E. Featherstone Wilson, living in Los Angeles, who suggested to her nephew that it be published. No further information concerning Featherstone is at hand.
MUSIC. GORDON. The tune was written for this hymn which the composer, Dr. Gordon, found in the London Hymn Book, 1864. This combination of hymn and tune became popular and is widely known in America.
Adoniram Judson Gordon, 1836-1895, was born at New Hampton, New Hampshire, educated at Brown University and Newton Theological Seminary, and became the distinguished pastor of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church, Boston. He at one time was editor of The Watchword, and is author of a series of books called Quiet Talks.