The Unseen World - John Mason Neale

John Mason Neale (1818-1866) was an English priest, scholar and hymn-writer. In 1854, he co-founded the Society of Saint Margaret, an order of women in the Anglican Church dedicated to nursing the sick. He was strongly high church in his sympathies, and had to endure opposition, including a fourteen years' inhibition by his bishop. Neale translated the Eastern liturgies into English, and wrote a mystical and devotional commentary on the Psalms. However, he is best known as a hymn writer and, especially, translator, having enriched English hymnody with many ancient and mediaeval hymns translated from Latin and Greek. More than anyone else, he made English-speaking congregations aware of the centuries-old tradition of Latin, Greek, Russian, and Syrian hymns. His works include: Herbert Tresham: A Tale of the Great Rebellion (1843), The Unseen World: Communications With it, Real or Imaginary (1847), Theodora Phranza; or, The Fall of Constantinople (1857), Voices From the East: Documents on the Present State and Working of the Oriental Church (1859) and Lucia's Marriage; or, The Lions of Wady-Araba (1871).