Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning. Reginald Heber* (1783-1826).
First published in The Christian Observer (November 1811), this was one of the first of Heber’s hymns to be printed. It appears to have aroused controversy in some quarters: some objected to its use on the grounds that it is addressed to a star, and so might be seen as worshipping it; while others were fearful that its metre was too suggestive of a solemn dance. In spite of these obtuse reservations, the hymn was included in the celebrated, and suppressed, 8th edition of Thomas Cotterill*’s Selection of Psalms and Hymns (Sheffield, 1819) and has remained popular ever since, though it was slow to come into A&M,...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
Cite this article
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 24 Jan. 2021.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/b/brightest-and-best-of-the-sons-of-the-morning>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed January 24, 2021,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/b/brightest-and-best-of-the-sons-of-the-morning.