Born: March 27, 1842, Glasgow, Scotland
Died: August 28, 1906, Edinburgh, Scotland
George Matheson was called "The Blind Preacher." He used very powerful glasses in his youth but by the age of 20 he had completely lost his eyesight, and relied on his good sister who helped him study and prepare his sermons and who kept his house for him. He had a wonderful memory and delivered his sermons from memory. He was known for his optimism in life despite the loss of his sight and was a very famous preacher known throughout Scotland. He traveled to England to preach to Queen Victoria by her own invitation. She had his sermon on "The Patience of Job" published so more people would be able to receive it. He wrote many sermons, articles and books, but perhaps his most enduring and widely influential literary contribution was this simple hymn.
George Matheson said the following regarding the words of this hymn:
"My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high." (101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Kregel Publications, 1982, emphasis added)
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
I first encountered this hymn at the BYU Choral Academy Workshop. It is not in our LDS hymnbook, but is a common hymn in many Christian churches. The arrangement I heard at the Choral Academy (and therefore the one I am teaching the our ward choir) was composed by Joseph Martin. To be honest, I did not fall in love with it instantly. In fact, it wasn't until I heard a group of BYU students perform it for us, that I felt like I truly understood it, and was deeply moved by it. As I listened I felt like every line was full of personal meaning just for me. I believe the words of this hymn were truly inspired, and when one receives the message of this hymn through the spirit, the spirit will tailor the meaning of the words to each individual.
I have read and sung this text over and over, and it continues to speak to me. There is so much exquisite, meaningful imagery throughout the piece. I could go on and on about each line of text, but I'll just mention one. The first line, "O Love that will not let me go" brings to my mind the image of Christ's hands pierced for us, and ever outstretched to receive us home, as the prodigal son returned home to the outstretched arms of his father. No matter what our weaknesses, no matter how often we fail, His is a love that will not ever give up on us. We are engraven upon His hands, and He will not let us go. I cannot wait to share this hymn with our ward.
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