The he first publication of this hymn was in The School Hymnal, 1880. It I was included also in the quality hymnal Congregational Praise, the committee for which included Erik Routley. The hymn is here placed with Sentences and Responses. Stanza 1 is appropriate for an introit, stanza 2 could be sung as a prelude to prayer, and stanza 3 before the reading of scripture.

William Henry Parker was born March 4, 1845, at New Basford, Nottinghamshire, England. A member of the Baptist church and an active Sunday school worker, he wrote most of his hymns for use in Sunday school anniversaries. He was the manager of an insurance company. A book of his works, Princess Alice and Other Poems, was published in 1882. He died December 2, 1929, at Basford.

ERNSTEIN was composed to be used with “Summer Suns Are Glowing” in the Methodist Sunday School Tune Book, 1881. The tune was first matched with “Holy Spirit, Hear Us” in the Revised Church Hymnary, 1930.

James Fredrick Swift was born December 28, 1847, in Manchester, England, but he received his education in Liverpool. At the age of 16 his talent secured him the job of organist at Cranmer Wesleyan Church, Liverpool. Later he served also at St. Andrew’s and St. Bride’s churches. For several years he was the conductor of three choral societies in Liverpool. Some and ballads, many of which achieved wide success in his time, were 200 songs published under his pseudonym, “Godfrey Marks.” ERNSTEIN seems to be the only one of his hymn tunes still in use. He died at Liscard, Cheshire, January 9, 1931.

📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.