llent
translators appeared.

Through the efforts of these translators, an increasing number of
Lutheran hymns from the rich store of German and Scandinavian hymnody are
being introduced in the hymn-books of this country. Pioneers in this
endeavor about half a century ago were Charles Porterfield Krauth, noted
theologian and vice-provost of the University of Pennsylvania; Joseph A.
Seiss, of Philadelphia, pastor and author, to whom we are indebted for
the translation of "Beautiful Saviour" and "Winter reigns o'er many a
region"; and Charles William Schaeffer, Philadelphia theologian, who
translated Held's "Come, O come, Thou quickening Spirit" and Rambach's
beautiful baptism hymn, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Mrs. Harriet
Krauth Spaeth also belongs to this group, her most notable contribution
being the translation of the medieval Christian hymn, "Behold, a Branch
is growing."

Later translators of German hymns were Matthias Loy, for many years
president of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio; August Crull, professor
of German at Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Conrad H. L.
Schuette, professor of theology at Capital University and later president
of the Joint Synod of Ohio. Loy was not only a translator but also an
author of no mean ability. Among his original hymns that seem destined to
live are "Jesus took the babes and blessed them," "I thank Thee, Jesus,
for the grief," and "O great High Priest, forget not me." His splendid
translations include such hymns as Selnecker's "Let me be Thine forever,"
Schenck's "Now our worship sweet is o'er" and Hiller's "God in human
flesh appearing." From Schuette we have received in English dress Behm's
"O holy, blessed Trinity," while Crull's most successful translations are
Homburg's "Where wilt Thou go, since night draws near?" and Ludaemilia
Elizabeth of Schwartzburg-Rudolstadt's beautiful hymn, "Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus only."

Among the living translators of German hymns, H. Brueckner, professor at
Hebron College, Hebron, Nebraska, takes first rank. In the American
Lutheran Hymnal, published in 1930 by a Lutheran intersynodical
committee, he is represented by some seventy translations from the
German, three from the French, and four original hymns. Although
Brueckner's work is too recent to be properly evaluated, his hymns reveal
evidences of genuine lyrical quality and true devotional spirit.

Other successful translators of German hymns are John Caspar Mattes,
Luther