243 Come, Ye Disconsolate
Thomas Moore, 1779-1852
Thomas Hastings, v. 3
A hymn of consolation by an author whose life was far from exemplary. It may be the hymn should on this account have been omitted; but something in his heart enabled the author, through his lyrics, to touch the heart of humanity, and his songs have been widely used and admired in spite of the strange chapters and romantic incidents in his life.
Thomas Moore, Irish poet, was born in Dublin, studied at Trinity College, and then moved to London and began the study of law. He held a government position in Bermuda for some time and during his life published many volumes of prose and poetry. He will always be remembered by his songs, “Believe me if all those endearing young charms,” “The last rose of summer,” and “Oft in the stilly night.”
The third stanza is by Thomas Hastings, coeditor with Lowell Mason of Spiritual Songs for Social Worship, in which the hymn first appeared. Moore’s third stanza, omitted in all hymn books, reads:
Go ask the infidel what boon he brings us,
What charm for aching hearts he can reveal,
Sweet as that heavenly promise Hope sings us—
Earth has no sorrow that God cannot heal.
It is a good stanza, but, then, good hymns do not argue.
For comments on Thomas Hastings see Hymn 120.
MUSIC. CONSOLATOR, also known as “Consolation,” “Webbe,” “Alma” or “Alma Redemptor,” is an adaptation of a tune by Samuel Webbe.
For comments on Samuel Webbe see Hymn 22.