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Robert Cottrill

About Robert Cottrill

http://wordwisebiblestudies.com

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Today in 1697 – Katharina von Schlegel Born

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Graphic Jesus on the Sea

Little is known of this hymn writer with the impressive name, Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel. She was attached to a small ducal court at Cothen, Germany. (One source says she headed an evangelical Lutheran nunnery there.) Before she died in 1768, she apparently wrote 29 hymns, but only one of them has been translated (by Jane Borthwick) and remains in common use. That is the beautiful Be Still, My Soul, which likely draws its inspiration in part from Ps. 46:10-11.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah [Think of that!]

As the Lord came to the disciples walking on the stormy sea, so He has proven Himself abundantly able to meet the needs of so many in the storms of life. Be Still, My Soul was the favourite hymn of Eric Liddell, the gold medalist in the 1924 Olympics, who later went to China as a missionary, and ended his life in a Japanese prison camp during the Second World War. It also proved a personal blessing to me at the time of a long stay in the hospital for a double surgery. Have you found it a blessing too? Post a comment and let us know.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

The boys’ choir Libera, of St. Philip’s Church in South London, has produced a haunting video of this hymn. It juxtaposes the audio with images of British servicemen from the Second World War, making the point of the song in a powerful way. I encourage you to take a few moments to listen to this memorable performance on YouTube:

(2) More from Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) is justly called “the Father of English Hymnody.” His approximately 600 hymns and paraphrases of the Psalms paved the way for Charles Wesley and others, beginning the Golden Age of English Hymnody (1700-1900). Here are two more of the songs he gave us: Come, We That Love the Lord, and Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed.

Notice the second stanza of the first hymn. It is not usually included in our hymnals, but it fits the next stanza logically. Watts had to confront many who thought only the Psalms should be sung in church, not newly written hymns. Further, the reference here to “pleasures” would have stunned many a staid Puritan in his day!

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.

The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from this place!
Religion never was designed
To make our pleasures less.

Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad.

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high.

And now for something completely different. Are you familiar with Sacred Harp, shaped note singing? (The “sacred harp” is the human voice. The shaped notes involve a form of music notation in which each tone of the scale is given a unique shape.) The genre has been traced back to music in the country parishes of England, in the eighteenth century. If you’ve never heard it before, it may be a little startling! But I personally find it has a haunting quality that is memorable. Singing is unaccompanied, and singers sit around the leader, with many of them beating time themselves.

Robert Lowry added a refrain, and turned the above into a jubilant gospel song, but Watts’s version, using the traditional tune St. Thomas, should not be abandoned. And speaking of gospel song arrangements of great hymns, I have dealt elsewhere with Ralph Hudson’s mutilation of Isaac Watts’s Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed?

Briefly, Hudson’s jaunty tune, with refrain, completely ignores the somber, penitent mood of the original hymn. (Notice the second to last stanza, not usually included. It connects logically to the one that follows.) Watts originally called the hymn Godly Sorrow Arising from the Sufferings of Christ. The text should be sung with reverent awe, and the traditional tune Martyrdom suits that well.

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Today in 1808 – Samuel Smith Born

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Samuel Francis Smith is best known in the USA as the author of the patriotic hymn, My Country, ‘Tis of Thee. But he had other hymns and other accomplishments to his credit. Smith attended Harvard University (was a classmate of Oliver Wendell Holmes there), and graduated from Andover Theological Seminary. He became a Baptist clergyman in 1832, pastoring a church in Waterville, Maine, and he served as editor of the Baptist Missionary Magazine. Francis Smith was also Professor of Modern Languages at Waterville College, and contributed material to the Encyclopedia Americana.

His hymn, The Morning Light Is Breaking, is an enthusiastic paean to the great advances in the area of world missions that he witnessed in his day. The nineteenth century has been called, in fact, the Century of Christian Missions, the period of the most rapid development in world evangelism since apostolic times. It often coincided with the imperialist expansion of the British Empire, and the two were viewed by many as being intertwined. The notion developed that lands were to be conquered in order to Christianize them.

This misconception was frequently accompanied by another. As the good news of the gospel spread far and wide, some took the theological position that they were ushering in the kingdom of Christ, and soon all the earth would own Him as Lord, and peace would prevail everywhere. Not surprisingly, some of the hymnody of the time suited this view. For example, consider the refrain of Henry Ernest Nichol’s hymn, We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations:

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright,
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come to earth,
The kingdom of love and light.

Well, yes it will. But it will not be brought in by the efforts of Christian missionaries. That is not what the Bible teaches. Rather, evil will advance and seem to threaten the very existence of truth until Christ comes to put down His enemies and usher in the kingdom by His almighty power. That is why the messianic kingdom in Daniel’s prophecy is pictured as a stone cut out without hands–meaning apart from human agency (Dan. 2:44-45). As for today, “Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). And things will be so bad that the Lord Jesus asks the question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8).

With this background, we can consider Samuel Smith’s hymn as an encouraging picture of missionary successes. Yes, we praise the Lord for the fruits of the gospel. But that is not a guarantee of final triumph and the universal worship of Christ brought in by our efforts. The “darkness disappears” only when the Light of the World returns. The “morning light” of Christ’s kingdom will not dawn until the Dayspring from on High comes to reign.

The morning light is breaking, the darkness disappears;
The sons of earth are waking, to penitential tears;
Each breeze that sweeps the ocean brings tidings from afar
Of nations in commotion, prepared for Zion’s war.

Rich dews of grace come o’er us, in many a gentle shower,
And brighter scenes before us, are opening every hour;
Each cry to heaven going, abundant answers brings,
And heav’nly winds are blowing, with peace upon their wings.

Christmas Carol Book

Do you have some favourite carols or Christmas hymns? If so, I believe you’ll be blessed by this book. In Discovering the Songs of Christmas, I discuss the history and meaning of 63 songs, taking us on a journey that reveals the wonder of God’s love, and the reasons for Christ’s coming. (The book might make a great gift for someone too!) There are many fascinating stories.

(2) More from Fanny Crosby

Spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Frances Jane Crosby became the preeminent gospel song writer in America. Her nearly 9,000 songs also makes her the most prolific, by far. Here are a couple more of her songs: Jesus Is Calling, and What a Gathering!

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home
Calling today, calling today,
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam,
Farther and farther away?

Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling today.

Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now,
Waiting today, waiting today,
Come with thy sins, at His feet lowly bow;
Come, and no longer delay.

Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice,
Hear Him today, hear Him today,
They who believe on His name shall rejoice;
Quickly arise and away.

In addition to this fine invitation hymn, Fanny has given us the following joyful anticipation of the great reunion of the saints in heaven. To see the full song, and hear the tune, check the Cyber Hymnal.

On that bright and golden morning,
When the Son of Man shall come,
And the radiance of His glory we shall see;
When from ev’ry clime and nation
He shall call His people home,
What a gath’ring of the ransomed that will be!

What a gath’ring, what a gath’ring,
What a gath’ring of the ransomed
In the summer land of love!
What a gath’ring, what a gath’ring,
Of the ransomed in that happy home above.

When the blest, who sleep in Jesus,
At His bidding shall arise
From the silence of the grave, and from the sea,
And with bodies all celestial
They shall meet Him in the skies,
What a gath’ring and rejoicing there will be!

O the King is surely coming,
And the time is drawing nigh,
When the blessèd day of promise we shall see;
Then the changing “in a moment,”
“In the twinkling of an eye,”
And forever in His presence we shall be.

Today in 1892 – Harold Loes Born

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Mr. Loes adopted the middle name Dixon in honour of A. C. Dixon, the pastor of Moody Church, becoming Harry Dixon Loes. He studied music at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, the American Conservatory of Music, the Metropolitan School of Music, and the Chicago Musical College. After serving as a musician in various churches, he joined the music faculty of Moody.

Harry Dixon Loes sometimes wrote both words and music for songs, as he did for All things in Jesus. But he also supplied tunes for the lyrics of others (e.g. for Avis Christiansen’s Blessed Redeemer, and Love Found a Way).  And Loes wrote the tune for a simple 1924 gospel song by Alfred Barrett, Jesus Won My Heart. As the Bible says, “The love of Christ compels us” (II Cor. 5:14). It becomes a great motivating factor in our lives, prompting things such as a holy walk and faithful service.

I am walking in the narrow way,
I am living for Jesus every day;
I have peace that never will depart,
Since Jesus won my heart.

(2) Today in 1908 – Stuart Hamblen Born

Wonderfully saved from a life of drunkenness and profanity, Carl Stuart Hamblen made an impact with his many gospel songs. He was in­duct­ed in­to the Coun­try/West­ern Song­writers Hall of Fame in 1970, and the Tex­as Coun­try Mu­sic Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Hamblen died in 1989. It Is No Secret is his best-known song. Another of his songs, Until Then expresses the Christian’s hope of heaven with colourful imagery. Many years ago, I sang it with a staff choir in a concert given at our church camp in Ontario.

My heart can sing when I pause to remember,
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a trail that’s winding always upwards;
This troubled world is not my final home.

But until then my heart will go on singing;
Until then, with joy I’ll carry one–
Until the day my eyes behold the city,
Until the day God calls me home.

This weary world, with all its toil and trouble,
May take its toll of misery and strife;
The soul of man is like a waiting falcon:
When it’s released, it’s destined for the skies.

(3) Today in 1913 – Mary Lathbury Died

Mary Artemisia Lathbury was the daughter of a Methodist clergyman, and her two brothers were pastors also.  Mary herself is described as a glowing Christian with a gentle, loving manner.

Graphic Loaf of Bread

She was both a professional artist and a poet of note. She was also involved in the Chautauqua Movement, a religious and cultural institution that had a great impact on nineteenth century America. Its main conference grounds were in New York State, on beautiful Lake Chautauqua [Shuh-TAWK-wuh]. Thousands gathered in the summer months to listen to gifted musicians and hear stirring speeches. Bible study was a part of the program as well. Mary Lathbury became known as the Poet Laureate of Chautauqua. In that capacity Miss Lathbury has given us two beautiful songs.

During His years on earth, the Lord Jesus called Himself “the bread from heaven,” “the bread of God” and “the bread of life” (Jn. 6:32, 33, 35). That image of divine accessibility and abundance was on the mind of Mary Lathbury when she penned the words of her hymn, Break Thou the Bread of Life. At the request of Dr. John Vincent, the founder of Chautauqua, she wrote this hymn, simply calling it A Study Song. It now takes its title from the opening line.

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

Mary Lathbury also produced a majestic hymn celebrating the glories of setting sun, and the anticipation of an eternal dawn, in 1877, when she was asked to write a hymn that would provide a suitable closing for the day’s activities. She wrote the words, and the music director, William Fisk Sherwin, supplied the tune–which he called Evening Praise. The poetess drew her inspiration from the beauties of the setting sun across the lake. In fact the hymn was first sung by campers gathered in a cluster of boats out on water at sunset.

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets the evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee!
Heav’n and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

Today in 1902 – William Cushing Died

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William Orcutt Cushing was, for a couple of decades, a successful pastor. A kindly man, he once gave a thousand dollars (all he had, and a huge sum in those days) to a blind girl, so she could get an education. But after the death of his wife in 1870 (when he was 47 years old), his health began to fail and he retired from active pastoral ministry.

By the grace of God, a new kind of ministry opened up, leading to the blessing of countless lives Mr. Cushing could never have touched in person. He turned his attention to writing hymns, and during the latter part of the nineteenth century he wrote over 300 of them. Quite a number are still found in our hymnals. Among them:

Follow On (I Would Follow Jesus)
Hiding in Thee
Ring the Bells of Heaven
There’ll Be No Dark Valley
Under His Wings
When He Cometh (also called Jewels)

dark valley

There’ll Be No Dark Valley was written mostly, words and music, by Ira Sankey, from an idea supplied by Cushing. Of this song, someone wrote to Mr. Sankey:

I want to thank you in particular for this song, because it presents death to us in such a glorious way. The old Welsh people used to speak and sing of death as something very fearful–a dark river, great waves, and so on. And I remember my dear mother singing all the Welsh hymns referring to death, until I shuddered. But, praise the Lord, I know now that it is different. Your little song has confirmed this belief in me not only, but in many, many more souls.

There is a recording of Ira Sankey available, which he made in his old age, over a century ago. Click here if you would like to hear short clips from various hymns, including There’ll Be No Dark Valley, sung by the man himself. (This is a CD worth owning, at least for historical reasons!)

There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes,
There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes;
There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes,
There’ll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes;
But a glorious morrow when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes,
There’ll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes;
And a joyful meeting when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

(2) More from Charles Wesley

With his more than 6,000 hymns, Charles Wesley was the preeminent hymn-writer of the eighteenth century–and surely among the greatest of all time. His brother John said, in connection with Charles’s hymns (and this can surely be said of the finest of all our hymnody):

That which is of infinitely more moment than the spirit of poetry is the spirit of piety….[But] when poetry thus keeps its place as the handmaid of piety, it shall attain, not a perishable wreath, but a crown that fadeth not away.

Here are a couple of Charles Wesley’s lesser known songs: Lo, God Is Here, and Jesus, Thou Sovereign Lord of All.

Lo! God is here! Let us adore,
And own how dreadful is this place!
Let all within us feel His power,
And silent bow before His face;
Who know His power, His grace who prove,
Serve Him with awe, with reverence love.

Lo! God is here! Him day and night
The united choirs of angels sing;
To Him, enthroned above all height,
Heav’n’s host their noblest praises bring;
Disdain not, Lord, our meaner song,
Who praise Thee with a stammering tongue.

(Note: “Dreadful,” in the first stanza, is a word that is used differently today. Wesley meant it to describe that which fills us with dread, or holy awe.)

Jesus, Thou sovereign Lord of all,
The same through one eternal day,
Attend Thy feeblest followers’ call,
And O instruct us how to pray!
Pour out the supplicating grace,
And stir us up to seek Thy face.

We cannot think a gracious thought,
We cannot feel a good desire,
Till Thou, who call’dst the world from naught,
The power into our hearts inspire;
And then we in the Spirit groan,
And then we give Thee back Thine own.

Today in 1868 – Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling written

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On this date, Daniel March, a Congregational pastor, was scheduled to preach at a meeting of the Christian Association of Philadelphia. He had a great interest in the work of world missions, and his text that day was Isa. 6:8, “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”

When Rev. March couldn’t find a hymn to suit the theme of his message, he wrote one. Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling not only issues a summons to evangelize the lost in other lands. It emphasizes that there is something each of us can do, wherever we are. One stanza says,

Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do.”
While the souls of men are dying,
And the Master calls for you;
Gladly take the task He gives;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
“Here am I; send me, send me.”

(2) Today in 1918 – Charles Converse Died

American composer Charles Crozat Converse received his musical training at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he became friends with classical composer Franz Liszt. Returning to the United States, he studied law and set up a successful practice in Erie, Pennsylvania. He wrote many hymn tunes for William Bradbury and Ira Sankey, sometimes using the pen name Karl Reden.

Converse is known in our hymnody today as the composer of a tune he called Erie, for Joseph Scriven’s beloved What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

(3) More from Frances Havergal

There is no question Frances Ridley Havergal ranks among the best devotional hymn writers of the nineteenth century. Here are a couple more songs from her pen.

In 1858, when she was twenty-two, Frances went to visit relatives in Germany. One day, she came in from an excursion, weak and weary. She seated herself in the parlor to rest and, looking up, observed a large painting of Christ.

In the picture, Jesus is stripped to the waist, bound, and crowned with thorns. Pilate, is in the act gesturing toward him, calling to the boisterous crowd below, “Ecce homo!” (Behold, the Man!) Beneath the painting Miss Havergal read these words: “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” The penetrating question stirred her heart, moving her to tears. She found a scrap of paper and a pencil, and quickly created a poem on the theme.

On her return to England, Frances Havergal re-read the words she had written. Thinking they were not worth keeping, she threw them into the fire. However, a sudden downdraft blew the scorched paper out into the room again. It was later found by her father, who read the lines and urged her to have them published. In the providence of God, that gave us our hymn, I Gave My Life for Thee.

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and quickened up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?

Not as familiar as her Lord Speak to Me (published a few years later), Frances Havergal’s Master, Speak, Thy Servant Heareth is definitely worthy of our attention. She wrote it while staying at a seaside resort on the English Channel, one Sunday evening in 1867.

Master, speak! Thy servant heareth,
Waiting for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master! let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee:
What hast Thou to say to me?

Speak to me by name, O Master,
Let me know it is to me;
Speak, that I may follow faster,
With a step more firm and free,
Where the Shepherd leads the flock,
In the shadow of the rock.

Master, speak! Though least and lowest,
Let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak! For O, Thou knowest
All the yearning of my heart,
Knowest all its truest need:
Speak! and make me blest indeed.

Master, speak! and make me ready,
When Thy voice is truly heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee:
Master, speak! O, speak to me!

Today in 1792 – John Bowring Born

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Hymn historian Robert McCutchan describes Bowring as a “philanthropist, publicist, biographer, statesman, historian, financier, naturalist, poet, great linguist, and one of the most brilliant men of his time.” He could understand Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, and Dutch, before he was 16 years old, and eventually mastered a hundred languages! He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1854.

Sir John Bowring produced a couple of volumes of hymns, and we have two or three in common use from him: God Is Love, His Mercy Brightens, and In the Cross of Christ I Glory, as well as the carol, Watchman, Tell Us of the Night. His tombstone is inscribed with the words, “In the cross of Christ I glory.” In one of his books of hymns he wrote in the Preface:

path and trees

Should any fragment of this little book, remembered and dwelt upon in moments of gloom and anxiety, tend to restore peace, to awaken fortitude, to create, to renew, or to strengthen confidence in heaven, I shall have obtained the boon for which I pray–the end to which I aspire.

The Bible, a number of times, emphasizes what the theologians call the immutable nature of God. And in the hymn, God Is Love, His Mercy Brightens, John Bowring contrasts the uncertainties of life with the unchangeableness of God.

It’s not that the Lord hasn’t done different things down through history. The Son of God stepped into time at His incarnation, died on a cross and rose again. Those are historical events, not to be repeated. Romans tells us that “Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more” (Rom. 6:9). But that has to do with the Lord’s actions, not with His Being. As to Himself, His basic nature and character, the Almighty declares, “I am the Lord, I do not change” (Mal. 3:6).

God is love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.

Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never:
God is wisdom, God is love.

E’en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the mist His brightness streameth:
God is wisdom, God is love.

 

(2) More from Philip Bliss

Philip Bill produced some wonderful songs during his short life. (For more about him see Today in 1838.) Mr. Bliss wrote the rousing gospel song Dare to Be a Daniel for his Sunday School class at the First Congregational Church, in Chicago. Daniel is the kind of hero young people need. Taken from his home and family, when in his teens, he became a slave in a far away heathen land. But he stood by his spiritual principles, and was faithful to God in all things. Daniel and his like form a “band” of witnesses to the power of God.

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honour them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.

Dare to Be A Daniel (YouTube)

Hallelujah, ‘Tis Done is a reminder that God’s salvation is not based on a “do” (human effort), but on an already “done” (the work of Christ in the cross). Simple faith in Christ, apart from any human works, is all that’s required of us. The gospel song is repetitive, but it is certainly a truth that bears repeating. And there’s a touching story about the hymn on the Cyber Hymnal.

’Tis the promise of God, full salvation to give
Unto him who on Jesus, His Son, will believe.

Hallelujah, ’tis done! I believe on the Son;
I am saved by the blood of the crucified One;
Hallelujah, ’tis done! I believe on the Son;
I am saved by the blood of the crucified One.

Though the pathway be lonely, and dangerous, too,
Surely Jesus is able to carry me through.

There’s a part in that chorus for you and for me,
And the theme of our praises forever will be:

Today in 1888 – Horatio Spafford Died

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Graphic Chicago Water Works

Some years ago, I walked the streets of Chicago, looking for remnants of times gone by. Few remain. The reason is that a great fire swept through the city back in 1871, incinerating hundreds of wooden structures on street after street. Only the stone edifice of the city’s water works (seen here in a picture I took) still stands from before that time. Everything else had to be rebuilt.

For one man, that city-wide blaze proved to be just one in a painful series of tragedies. As a Christian layman, Horatio Gates Spafford was a strong supporter of the work of evangelist Dwight L. Moody. He was also a successful lawyer and, in addition to his legal practice, Spafford owned considerable real estate in the city of Chicago. With the fire, his property was taken from him. And that financial setback came on the heels of the death of his only son. But the man’s faith in God remained strong.

Graphic Spafford Telegram

Some time later, when Moody and Sankey announced their intention of holding evangelistic meetings in Britain, Mr. Spafford offered to go along to help. He proposed to take his wife and four daughters as well. It seemed a good opportunity to get them out of the devastated city for awhile. But as things turned out, the lawyer was detained on urgent business. So he sent his wife and daughters on ahead, saying he would join them later. It was not to be. Their ship collided with another in mid-Atlantic, sinking in only twelve minutes. Spafford’s daughters, Tanetta, Maggie, Annie, and Bessie were among the 226 who drowned. Only his wife was rescued. From Cardiff, Wales, she wired her husband, “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Setting out to join his grieving partner, Spafford stood hour after hour on the rolling deck of the ship, thinking of the precious family God had given them, and then taken again. Many would have spurned such a God. But like Job, long ago, the sorrowing father had learned that God Himself is enough. He is the believer’s present hope and future joy. With Job, Mr. Spafford could say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). And out of his weeping heart there arose a hymn that has blessed the people of God for well over a hundred years.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

This is Mr. Spafford’s only hymn. And before we leave it, I would like to record two stanzas that are rarely printed in today’s hymn books. In the original version, before the triumphant final stanza, come these two:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Here is a fine choral arrangement of the hymn, along with some interesting pictures of the whole Spafford family. (The choir belongs to a “smallish” Baptist church in Georgia.)

(2) More from Fanny Crosby

In 1882 Fanny Crosby published a fine gospel song called A Few More Marchings Weary, about the anticipation of heaven. The tune was composed by William H. Doane.

A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!
A few more storm clouds dreary, then we’ll gather home!
A few more days the cross to bear,
And then with Christ a crown to wear;
A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!

O’er time’s rapid river,
Soon we’ll rest forever;
No more marchings weary
When we gather home!

A few more nights of weeping, then we’ll gather home!
A few more watches keeping, then we’ll gather home!
A few more vict’ries over sin,
A few more sheaves to gather in,
A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!

A few more sweet links broken, then we’ll gather home!
A few more kind words spoken, then we’ll gather home!
A few more partings on the strand,
And then away to Canaan’s land:
A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!

Then there is her lovely hymn of worship, Blessed Redeemer (not to be confused with the song of the same name by Avis Christiansen). In this case, Ira Sankey provided the melody. It’s a song that deserves to be reprinted and used today. You can hear it on the Cyber Hymnal.

Blessèd Redeemer, full of compassion,
Great is Thy mercy, boundless and free;
Now in my weakness, seeking Thy favour,
Lord, I am coming closer to Thee.

Blessèd Redeemer, wonderful Saviour,
Fountain of wisdom, Ancient of Days,
Hope of the faithful, Light of all ages,
Jesus my Saviour, Thee will I praise.

Blessèd Redeemer, Thou art my Refuge,
Under Thy watch-care, safe I shall be;
Gladly adoring, joyfully trusting,
Still I am coming closer to Thee.

Blessèd Redeemer, gracious and tender,
Now and forever dwell Thou in me;
Thou, my Protector, Shield and Defender,
Draw me and keep me closer to Thee.

Today in 1838 – Gerard Cobb Born

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Gerard Francis Cobb, an English musician, was a spiritually minded man. At one point he considered entering pastoral ministry, but chose instead a musical career. He worked in the music program at Cambridge University, and wrote a number of hymns and anthems.

Mr. Cobb wrote a tune (called Cobb) for the hymn Zion to Thy Saviour Singing. This is a translation of Lauda Sion Salvatorem, written by Thomas Aquinas around 1260. It is one of the relatively few English hymns whose titles begin with the letter “Z.” However, it would be more accurate biblically to change the word “Zion” to “Christian,” as many have done with the hymn O Zion Haste.

Zion, to thy Saviour singing,
To thy Prince and Shepherd bringing,
Sweetest hymns of love and praise,
Thou wilt never reach the measure
Of His worth, by all the treasure
Of thy most ecstatic lays.

Fill thy lips to overflowing
With sweet praise, His mercy showing
Who this heav’nly table spread:
On this day so glad and holy,
To each longing spirit lowly
Giveth He the living Bread.

Here the King hath spread His table,
Whereon eyes of faith are able
Christ our Passover to trace:
Shadows of the law are going,
Light and life and truth inflowing,
Night to day is giving place.

O Good Shepherd, Bread life giving,
Us, Thy grace and life receiving,
Feed and shelter evermore;
Thou on earth our weakness guiding,
We in heav’n with Thee abiding,
With all saints will Thee adore.

(2) Today in 1864 – Onward Christian Soldiers published

Sabine Baring-Gould was an English clergyman and author in the nineteenth century. The many books he wrote cover an astonishing range of subjects–religion and theology, travel, folklore and mythology, history, fiction, and collected sermons. In addition, he edited a quarterly publication on ecclesiastical art and literature. He is also recognized in Grove’s Dictionary for his work in collecting English folk songs. Baring-Gould is described by contemporary James Moffatt as “a man of extraordinary range of interests, and of inexhaustible versatility and industry.” He lived to the age of 90.

Sabine Baring-Gould is known in hymnody mainly for two hymns still in common use: Now the Day Is Over, and Onward, Christian Soldiers. Concerning the latter, there is an interesting footnote. The author’s third stanza says:

We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

But Baring-Gould was well aware of the many divisions in the church. At the time, he was writing the song for the children in his own little congregation–a group which may well have enjoyed harmonious fellowship. But in the greater body of Christ that’s not always the case.

The author later revised the stanza to read: “Though divisions harass, all one body we.” His edited version never caught on, and perhaps it is just as well. His original words give us something to aim for. God’s Word says we are to “endeavour…to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). In that spirit, let us go onward for Christ.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

The following rendition is a little too fast for congregational singing (or for soldiers marching), but otherwise fine.

Today in 1814 – The Star-Spangled Banner written

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While assisting in negotiations for the release of a prisoner in the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key overheard the British plan to attack and capture the port at Baltimore. Out of fear that he would warn the Americans, Key was detained until the attack took place. Sixteen ships were sent to bombard Fort McHenry which guarded the port. For 25 hours, by day and on through the night, the shelling continued. Key watched it all apprehensively from the deck of a British vessel but, with the sunrise, came the dawn of hope. Through the mist and smoke of exploding shells, Francis Scott Key saw the huge 42-foot American flag flying over Fort McHenry and knew the attack had failed.

Still on board ship, Key wrote a poem entitled “Defence of Fort McHenry.” It is that poem that was later adapted to become a popular national song, The Star-Spangled Banner–though its official recognition as the National Anthem of the United States of America did not come until 1931. Less known is the last stanza, a strong spiritual aspiration which says:

Oh! thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Harry Ironside

(2) Today in 1876 – Harry Ironside Born

Renowned Bible teacher Henry Allan Ironside, born in Toronto, authored 60 books, and served as pastor of Moody Church for 18 years. Affectionately dubbed the Archbishop of Fundamentalism, he was the best-known Christian leader of his era, other than Billy Sunday (whose funeral sermon he preached). Harry Ironside’s commentaries on Bible books are still purchased and studied more than half a century after his death. Their simplicity and warmth of feeling make them a valuable addition to any library.

We do not normally think of Dr. Ironside as a hymn writer, but he did give us one. It is perhaps more of a solo number than a congregational hymn, but its message is strong and compelling, and the story of how it came to be is rather unusual.

Gospel musician George Schuler was sitting at the piano one day, playing nothing in particular, just a random series of notes and chords. His mind rambled over the varied experiences of his life, and how the Lord had protected and blessed him. After a while, a distinct melody seemed to take shape under his talented fingers. The notes seemed to say to him, “I’m overshadowed by His mighty love,” but he could make little more of them.

Finally, the thought came, “Why not call Dr. Ironside, and ask him to write some words to fit the tune?” His phone call found the Bible teacher at work in his study.  Ironside protested that he was not a poet, but said he would do his best. Schuler expected a result in a few days, but actually a whole year went by. Then, as Mr. Schuler was going over some of his unpublished compositions, he came across the melody once again. Certain that the song lyrics were completed long ago, and that Ironside had simply forgotten to tell him, he phoned again.

Harry Ironside was out, but his secretary took the message that George Schuler would drop by the next day to pick up the song. When Ironside heard that, he was stunned. He’d totally forgotten the commission! Digging in a pile of papers he found the manuscript, sat down at his desk, and in less than half an hour he completed the song Overshadowed.

How desolate my life would be,
How dark and drear my nights and days,
If Jesus’ face I did not see
To brighten all earth’s weary ways.

I’m overshadowed by His mighty love,
Love eternal, changeless, pure,
Overshadowed by His mighty love,
Rest is mine, serene, secure;
He died to ransom me from sin,
He lives to keep me day by day.
I’m overshadowed by His might love,
Love that brightens all my way.

Now judgment fears no more alarm,
I dread not death, nor Satan’s pow’r;
The world for me has lost its charm,
God’s grace sustains me ev’ry hour.

Today in 1834 – In the Hour of Trial written

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James Montgomery wrote this hymn with Luke 22:31-32 in mind, and the words of Jesus to Peter: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” the song begins:

In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial I depart from Thee.
When Thou seest me waver, with a look recall,
Nor for fear or favor suffer me to fall.

Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil, and woe;
Or should pain attend me on my path below;
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see;
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee.

We know that the Lord Jesus prayed much while on earth. The Gospels show us that. But does He pray for us now? Even James Montgomery seems to have been uncertain about that. A year later, he rewrote the opening line as: “In the hour of trial, / Jesus, stand by me.” The Holy Spirit prays for us (Rom. 8:26-27). But Christ’s advocacy with the Father on our behalf seems more related to the eternal effectiveness of His payment for our sins (I Jn. 2:1-2). And it is the Spirit of God who strengthens us in trials (Eph. 3:16). Even so, there is much to recommend at least the sentiment of this hymn.

The following piano rendition is interesting–and probably brilliant. But the sprightly jazz stylings seem completely at odds with the text of this sober hymn. As I have pointed out numerous times, the text of our hymns is their most important element. It should be both biblical and clear. Then, think of the words as a great painting, and the music as the frame. The frame should help to draw our attention to the painting, and enhance its meaning, not be distracting, or carrying a complete different message. Skilled as this performance is, it utterly fails in that regard.

(2) Today in 1877 – Who Is on the Lord’s Side? written

Written by Frances Ridley Havergal, the original title of this hymn was Home Missions. Miss Havergal took her inspiration from the declaration of loyalty by a member of David’s army. “Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: ‘We are yours, O David; We are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.’” (I Chron. 12:18). She thought of it as applying to Christians working and warring under their Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine!

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