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George Matheson
George Matheson (March 27, 1842 – August 28, 1906) was a Scottish preacher, hymn writer, and theologian whose ministry overcame blindness to inspire congregations across Scotland for over three decades. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to George Matheson, a prosperous merchant, and Jane Matheson, his second cousin, he was the eldest of eight children. Educated at Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow—graduating with a B.A. in 1861 and an M.A. in 1862—he lost nearly all his sight by age 20 due to a degenerative condition, yet pursued divinity studies with his sisters’ aid, earning a Bachelor of Divinity by 1866. Matheson’s preaching career began as an assistant at Sandyford Parish Church in Glasgow in 1866, followed by his appointment as minister of Innellan Church on the Argyll coast in 1868, where he served for 18 years, earning fame as “Matheson of Innellan” for sermons memorized and delivered to crowds of up to 2,000. In 1886, he became pastor of St. Bernard’s Church in Edinburgh, ministering there until 1899 with a reputation for radiant faith despite his disability. His sermons, preserved on SermonIndex.net, and books like Unspoken Sermons and Studies in the Portrait of Christ blended theological depth with devotion, while his hymn “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go,” written in 1882, reflected personal sorrow after his sister’s wedding and a broken engagement due to his blindness. Never married, he died at age 64 in North Berwick, Scotland, from a stroke.
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George Matheson, despite his blindness and deep personal anguish on the day of his sister's wedding, experienced a profound moment of inspiration that led him to pen the immortal hymn 'O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.' In his solitude, he felt an inward voice guiding him, allowing the words of comfort to flow effortlessly from his heart. The hymn reflects themes of love, light, joy, and the cross, encapsulating his struggle and ultimate surrender to God's will. Matheson's experience illustrates how pain can lead to profound spiritual expression and connection with God. His hymn has since become a cherished part of Christian worship.
Blind Matheson Penned Immortal Hymn
George Matheson was hurting. It was not physical pain that cut him, or regret for the blindness that had robbed him of sight by the time he was eighteen. Rather, it was anguish of spirit. It was on this day, June 6, 1882, the day of his sister's marriage. His family was staying overnight in Glasgow, Scotland, leaving him alone in the Manse (a parsonage). Something happened to forty-year old George as he sat alone there in the darkness of his blindness, something known only to himself, something which caused him severe mental suffering. He never confided to anyone what the problem was, and yet his heart cried out to Christ. As his heart moaned, words welled up in his mind, words of comfort. "I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself," he said later. He jotted the lines down. O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine's blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I climb the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life's glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. In less than five minutes, the poem was complete. The only revision he made was in line three, where he changed "I climb" to "I trace." The ease with which the stanzas came surprised him, because he had never before written verses without great difficulty. These verses written in pain became one of the great hymns of the church.
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George Matheson (March 27, 1842 – August 28, 1906) was a Scottish preacher, hymn writer, and theologian whose ministry overcame blindness to inspire congregations across Scotland for over three decades. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to George Matheson, a prosperous merchant, and Jane Matheson, his second cousin, he was the eldest of eight children. Educated at Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow—graduating with a B.A. in 1861 and an M.A. in 1862—he lost nearly all his sight by age 20 due to a degenerative condition, yet pursued divinity studies with his sisters’ aid, earning a Bachelor of Divinity by 1866. Matheson’s preaching career began as an assistant at Sandyford Parish Church in Glasgow in 1866, followed by his appointment as minister of Innellan Church on the Argyll coast in 1868, where he served for 18 years, earning fame as “Matheson of Innellan” for sermons memorized and delivered to crowds of up to 2,000. In 1886, he became pastor of St. Bernard’s Church in Edinburgh, ministering there until 1899 with a reputation for radiant faith despite his disability. His sermons, preserved on SermonIndex.net, and books like Unspoken Sermons and Studies in the Portrait of Christ blended theological depth with devotion, while his hymn “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go,” written in 1882, reflected personal sorrow after his sister’s wedding and a broken engagement due to his blindness. Never married, he died at age 64 in North Berwick, Scotland, from a stroke.