H. Augustine Smith

SMITH, Henry Augustine. b. Naperville, Illinois, 17 October 1875; d. Newton, Massachusetts, 17 March 1952. He was an innovative Christian educator, editor, hymnist, producer/director of choir festivals and the music of national and international religious, patriotic, cultural and civic conventions. A theological conservative and political progressive, Smith was his generation’s most prominent leader of religious pageants, hymn festivals, editor of pace-setting non-denominational hymnals, and global advocate for congregational singing and choirs as a positive force for world peace. He was a widely publicized and quoted critic of hymns with war themes, such as, ‘The Son of God goes forth to...