Walter Chalmers Smith

Walter Chalmers Smith (5 December 1824 – 19 September 1908) was a hymnist, author, poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland, chiefly remembered for his hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise". In 1893 he served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland. He attained considerable reputation as a poet. Some of these works were written under the names of Orwell (or Hermann) Kunst.

Quotes

• Yes! I could find some comfort in the thought
     Of being scourged,
  Were there but hope that this defiling sin
  Which mars my life, and taints my heart within
     Could so be purged,
  And I might live, in virtue of the rod,
     The life in God.
  • "Lost and Won". North Country Folk: Poems (Glasgow: James Maclehose & Sons, 1883) p. 79. Compare: Ezekiel, xx, 37: "And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant."

• O to be like my Lord! Yet must I be
     Mine own self too,
  And to the nature He bestowed on me
     Be frankly true.
  The olive fruits not as the clustering vine;
     Nor may we get
  Scent of the rose or lily from woodbine,
     Or violet.
  • Thoughts and Fancies for Sunday Evenings (Glasgow: James Maclehose & Sons, 1887) p. 18. Compare: 1 Corinthians, xii, 4: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." · xii, 6: "There are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all."

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Walter Chalmers Smith on Wikipedia