1880 RAY PALMER. Autograph Letter Related to Famous Hymn "Lead Thou Kindly Light."

Wonderful ALS by influential 19th century hymnist, Ray Palmer [1808-1887]. Often considered one of the best American hymnists of the 19th century, he was in some ways the predecessor of Ira Sankey. Like Sankey, his hymns were deeply evangelical, informed by the personal piety narrative of the Second Great Awakening, and eminently singable. 

After a potent personal experience during the Awakening, Palmer sensed a call to the ministry and enrolled at Yale. He was ordained in 1835 and became pastor in Congregational churches in Bath, Maine (1835-1850) and Albany, New York (1850-1865). He then served as secretary of the American Congregational Union (1865-1878).

In addition to his hymns, Palmer was a popular preacher and author. He published volumes of poetry and hymns, including Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865), and Hymns of My Holy Hours (1868). His complete poetical works were published in 1876.

The hymn referenced in the present letter is perhaps the example par excellence of the personal salvation hymn. Palmer wrote it during his time at Yale as a personal response to the work of Christ in his heart through the period of revival. It was deeply influential, faded from use for a few decades, but unsurprisingly, during the era of Moody & Sankey it became one of the most sung hymns in the English language. It was issued in pamphlets, illustrated editions, and fine decorative editions with elaborate full color lithographs. 

The hymn:

1 My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
be wholly Thine.

2 May Thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as Thou hast died for me,
O may my love to Thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire.

3 While life’s dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be Thou my Guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from Thee aside.

4 When ends life's transient dream,
when death’s cold, sullen stream
shall o'er me roll,
blest Savior, then in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul.

The letter is a single page ALS, neatly signed, at one time accompanied by a single stanza of the hymn. Long ago probably mounted in an album. Gratefully, the letter accompanying was not discarded.

The letter, In full, written when the author was 72 years old:

"Newark, N.J. Oct. 6th. 1880.

My dear Sir,

I have been so very frequently asked to write out the hymn to which you refer, that I have felt obliged to adopt the rule of contenting myself with a single stanza. Please accept this with my prayer that you may be a loving & faithful preacher of 'Christ Crucified.'

Very faithfully yours,
Ray Palmer"