Feed the Flock of God

No. 75. Ordinations.

1. Ye elders feed the flock
Committed to your care,
The solemn charge you now receive,
The voice of Jesus hear.

2. Let purest motives guide,
And sacred zeal enflame;
The oversight you freely take,
In your great Master’s name.

3. Dominion ne’er assume,
In lowly form appear;
The heritage alone is God’s,
And he’s the ruler there.

4. In doctrine and in word,
In purity and love,
Be ye examples to the flock,
While ye the truth approve.

5. The Shepherd soon will come,
To whom the sheep belong;
Oh may you then with joy appear,
Amidst the happy throng.

6. He, Lord of all below,
His heritage will claim;
Will bless the steward, faithful found,
His honours loud proclaim.

7. He on his head shall place
A bright unfading crown,
And then before assembled worlds,
Will he his servant own.

This hymn, written by Benjamin Beddome, appears in Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, or Family Devotion: now First Published, from the Manuscripts of the late Rev. B. Beddome (London: Burton & Briggs, 1818). It is identified as a hymn to use, or that can be used, in conjunction with ordination.

Benjamin Beddome was born at Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire in 1717, was the son of a Baptist minister. The younger Beddome also became a Baptist preacher, beginning his ministry around 1740. He authored several discourses (including A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism) in addition to his hymns – which number over 800. His hymns were written to be sung after his Lord’s Day morning sermons. Beddome died September 23, 1795 at Bourton-upon-the-Water, Cotswold District, Gloucestershire, England, and is buried there in the Baptist Churchyard.

Robert Hall, editor of the posthumous volume of hymns, writes of Benjamin Beddome:

“As a preacher, he was universally admitted for the piety and unction of his sentiments, the felicity of his arrangements, and the purity, force, and simplicity of his language; all which were recommended by a delivery perfectly natural and graceful.” (p. vi.)

The hymn by Beddome is No. 857 in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs by Melody Publications, where it is paired with the tune Blandner by John M. Evans. This hymnal suggests the following Bible verses to accompany and explain the resources for Beddome’s hymn: Acts 20:28; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 5:2-4; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 John 2:28; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Timothy 2:24.

John M. Evans, composer of the tune Blandner, was born in Pennsylvania, November 30, 1825. Evans was a Baptist, though he may have been an Independent earlier in life. At the least, his marriage to Sarah E. Banister is found in the records of the First Independent Church of Philadelphia, occurring August 24, 1847. John and Sarah had at least 2 children – daughters Ella, and Elizabeth. John M. Evans was a merchant – and the 1880 census identifies him specifically as a “Carpet Merchant.”

In 1854, Evans was appointed superintendent of the Sunday School at Tenth Baptist Church, on 8th Street in Philadelphia. He led in including music as a significant part of Sunday School activity. Evans was editor of the 1860 The Children’s Choir: A Choice Collection of Original and Selected Music and Hymns, Adapted for Sabbath Schools, Anniversary Occasions, and Juvenile Concerts (Boston, MA: N. P. Kemp). He served as President of the Baptist Sunday School Association of Philadelphia. An 1872 newspaper reported concerning a meeting, “The singing was under the supervision of Mr. John M. Evans, president of the association, and the children acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner” (“Baptist S. S. Association,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thursday, January 11, 1872, page 2). Evans was editor of The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship (Philadelphia, PA: The Bible and Publication Society, 1871), prepared as a companion to The Baptist Hymn Book. He wrote or arranged several tunes and chants in this book, and Blandner probably appeared for the first time here. It is most likely named in honor of C. F. Blandner, a fellow musician who is among the host of those thanked by Evans in the “Preface” on page 4. Some of his material also appears in The Devotional Hymn and Tune Book (William B. Bradbury, Philadelphia, PA: American Baptist Publication Society, 1864).

Evans served as president of the board of trustees of Temple Baptist Church at 22nd and Tioga (at least around 1886) and directed choir singing there (The Philadelphia Times, October 8, 1886; The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 1886). This appears to have been the church of which he was a member at the time of his death – considering his funeral services were held in their building, and that John and Sarah left a charitable bequest to Temple Baptist Church. John died January 1, 1892. He and Sarah are buried at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

At least four hymns written by John M. Evans are:

• “Amid the joyous scenes of earth”
• “Father, from thy throne on high”
• “How dark were life, with naught to cheer”
• “When gloomy clouds across the sky”