Hymn #476: My Life Flows On in Endless Song | First Congregational Church

This text appeared in the songbook Bright Jewels for the Sunday School without identifying the writer of the words. It is known that Robert Lowry (1826-1899) was the editor of that 1869 hymnal. The third stanza is a twentieth-century addition by Doris Plenn.

Robert Lowry was a preacher for Baptist churches in Pennsylvania, New York City, Brooklyn, and Plainfield, New Jersey. In addition, he succeeded William B. Bradbury as music editor for songbooks published by Biglow and Main, New York. Lowry edited twelve Sunday-school collections. Lowry was a prolific composer of gospel hymns.

Robert Lowry is believed to have composed the tune ENDLESS SONG for these words, contrary to earlier sources that implied it was a Quaker melody. The tune’s name is taken from words in the opening line of the text.

Robert Lowry was a prolific composer of gospel hymns. He worked with William H. Doane on a dozen collections and was the music editor for New York publishers Biglow and Main, succeeding William B. Bradbury in that position. Lowry was also a Baptist preacher.