St. George, E. A.

George Matheson, born in Glasgow in 1842, was a Scottish minister and a highly productive author, renowned for his theological writings and hymns. Despite losing his sight at the age of 17, he pursued a career in the ministry and excelled in his studies at the University of Glasgow, graduating first in classics, logic, and philosophy. His theological works, such as "Aids to the Study of German Theology" and "The Growth of the Spirit of Christianity," established him as a liberal and spiritually inclined theologian. His influential hymn, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go," is widely recognized and was famously composed in a very short time. Matheson served as a minister in various churches throughout his career, including prominent roles in Edinburgh, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Aberdeen. He passed away in 1906.

Matheson's prolific output encompassed both theological treatises and devotional writings. Works like "Can the Old Faith Live with the New?" and "The Growth of the Spirit of Christianity" showcased his intellectual engagement with contemporary theological debates, positioning him as a liberal thinker. His approach to exegesis was characterized by a focus on subjective spiritual insight rather than extensive scholarly breadth. He explored themes of spiritual development, as seen in "Spiritual Development of St Paul," and the intersection of faith with scientific and philosophical ideas, evident in titles such as "The Psalmist & The Scientist" and "The Religious Bearings of the Doctrine of Evolution," a direct response to Darwin. His writings often delved into the inner life and the nature of Christian personality.

His most enduring legacy is arguably the hymn "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go," which he described as a spontaneous outpouring of inspiration, completed in mere minutes. This composition's origin is deeply tied to personal experience, written on the evening of his sister's wedding, a time likely evoking memories of his own broken engagement due to his blindness. Matheson's sole volume of verse, "Sacred Songs," reflects this personal and immediate approach to spiritual expression. His literary output also included broader subjects, exploring concepts of aspiration and moments of spiritual contemplation, as found in "My Aspirations" and "Moments on the Mount."

Matheson served as a minister in the Church of Scotland for many years, beginning his licensed preaching in 1866 and holding significant positions in Innellan and Edinburgh. His reputation as a theologian led to invitations to deliver lectures, including the Baird Lecture on "Natural Elements of Revealed Theology" and the St Giles Lecture on Confucianism. He was recognized for his academic achievements by being elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Aberdeen. Despite declining the prestigious Gifford Lectureship due to health reasons, his contributions were widely acknowledged within academic and religious circles.

“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.”

“I simply followed the impression of the moment”