452 Low in the Grave He Lay
Robert Lowry, 1826-99
The words and music of this Easter song are by Rev. Robert Lowry, written while he was pastor of a Baptist church in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Lowry was a faithful and successful minister of the Gospel, but is more widely known as a composer of sacred music. “I felt a sort of meanness when I began to be known as a composer,” he said. His first love was preaching. Music was to him a “side issue,” and the making and delivery of a sermon ranked far above the writing of a hymn. He is the author of the popular song, “Where is my wandering boy tonight,” and wrote the tune to “I need Thee every hour,” and edited many successful Sunday school and evangelistic hymn books.
For further comments on Lowry see Hymn 187.