Dessler, Wolfgang Christoph

Dessler, Wolfgang Christoph a German hymn writer, was born at Nuremberg, February 11, 1660, and died while head-master of the grammar-school of his native place, March 11, 1722. Of his many hymns we mention those which have been translated into English, as, Wie wohl ist nir, O Freund der Seele ("O Friend of souls, how well with me," in Lyra Germanica, 1:147): — Mein Jesu, den die Seraphinen ("My Jesus, if the Seraphim," ibid. 2:78): — Ich, lass dich nicht, Du musst mein Jesus bleiben ("I leave thee not, thou art my Jesus ever," in The Breanking Crucible, by J.W. Alexander): — Frisch, frisch

hundurch mein Geist ("Courage, my heart, press cheerly on," in Christian Siingers of Germany, page 277): — Oeffne mir die Perlenpforten ("How the pearly gates unfold," in Lyra Germanica, 2:234). See Koch, Geschichte des deutschen Kirchenliedes, 3:531 sq. (B.P.)