e collection contained
seventy hymns, all written in the last year of the poet's life.

Brorson was a product of the Pietistic movement emanating from Halle, in
Germany. Born June 20, 1694, at Randrup, Denmark, he early came under the
influence of the great spiritual awakening which was then sweeping
through the Lutheran Church.

Brorson's father was a Lutheran pastor, and all of his three sons,
including the hymn-writer, entered the service of the Church. Brorson's
first pastorate was in his native city of Randrup, a place he dearly
loved and to which he often returned in later life when he found himself
oppressed by manifold cares.

It was during his ministry in Randrup that Brorson began to write his
first hymns. He speaks of the eight years spent at this place as the
happiest in his life. In 1729 he was called to become Danish preacher at
Tonder, where he labored side by side with Johan Herman Schrader, who was
also a hymnist of some note. Because of the mixed Danish and German
population of Tonder, a curious situation existed in the church worship.
Although Brorson preached in Danish, the congregation sang in German! To
remedy this, Brorson, in 1732, wrote a number of his famous Christmas
hymns, among them 'Den yndigste Rose er funden,' one of the most
exquisite gems in sacred poetry. A free rendering of four of its eleven
stanzas by August W. Kjellstrand follows:

The sweetest, the fairest of roses
I've found. Among thorns it reposes:
'Tis Jesus, my soul's dearest Treasure,
Of sinners a Friend above measure.

E'er since the sad day when frail mortals
Were thrust from fair Eden's bright portals,
The world has been dark, full of terror,
And man dead in sin, lost in error.

Then mindful of promises given,
God sent from the gardens of heaven
A Rose, 'mid the thorns brightly blowing,
And freely its fragrance bestowing.

Wherever this Rose Tree is grounded,
The kingdom of God there is founded;
And where its sweet fragrance is wafted,
There peace in the heart is engrafted.

As Kingo was known among the Danes as "the poet of Easter," so Brorson
from this time was hailed as "the poet of Christmas."

In 1747 Brorson was appointed by Christian VI to become bishop of the
diocese of Ribe. It is said that the Danish monarch upon meeting Brorson
at a certain occasion inquired of him if he was the author of the hymn,
"Awake, all things that God has mad