James Vila Blake (18421925) was an American
Unitarian minister, essayist, playwright and
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hy ...
writer and poet.
Blake was born in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York on January 21, 1842. He graduated from
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
in 1862, and from
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School (HDS) is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school's mission is to educate its students either in the academic study of religion or for leadership roles in religion, gov ...
in 1866. He served as pastor in several Unitarian churches in
Massachusetts
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and
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
. He died in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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on April 28, 1925.
Different sources give different, and inconsistent, dates for his pastorates:
* 18681871 - Twenty-Eighth Congregational Society, Boston
* 187784 -
Quincy, Illinois
* 187796 - Quincy, Illinois
* 188397 -
Third Unitarian Church
The Third Unitarian Church (TUC) is a Unitarian Universalist church in the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was founded in November 1868. Because of its pioneering architecture for its day, it has become much of a landmark in Ch ...
, Chicago
* 18921916 -
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, ...
It is certain, however, that he was in Chicago on October 25, 1896. According to a contemporary report, he exhibited cool presence of mind when a serious fire broke out during a service. He was the last to leave the building, which by that time was full of smoke. Seconds later, it burst into flames and was consumed.
He published many essays on religious and other subjects, sermons, poems, and plays.
Notably, he collaborated with
Frederick Lucian Hosmer and
William Channing Gannett in the compilation and editing of ''Unity Hymns and Chorals for the Congregation and the Home'' (1880), an influential hymnbook which was reprinted several times. It includes several of his own hymns. A revised edition was issued in 1911.
While pastor at Evanston, he penned a Covenant which has been adopted by many Unitarian Congregations:
''
Love is the spirit of this church,
and service is its law.
This is our great covenant:
To dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love,
and to help one another.''
Several of his poems were set to music by the English composer
John Ireland
John Benjamin Ireland (January 30, 1914 – March 21, 1992) was a Canadian actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in ''All the King's Men'' (1949), making him the first Vancouver-born actor to receive an Oscar nomin ...
(18791962).
Publications
Publications by Blake (arranged where possible by date) include:
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References
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Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, James Vila
1842 births
1925 deaths
Harvard College alumni
Harvard Divinity School alumni
19th-century American dramatists and playwrights
19th-century American poets
American male poets
Writers from Brooklyn
Protestant writers
American male dramatists and playwrights
American Unitarian clergy
19th-century American male writers