Today in 1834 – Harriet Buell Born

Cazenovia, New York (pictured), is a town on Highway 20, southeast of Syracuse. But descriptions of its history and its notable citizens fail to mention Harriet Eugenia Peck (later Mrs. Harriet Buell), though that is where she was born in 1834. It should remind us that the Lord keeps far different records from what society often does. Things that receive acclaim and notoriety down here may not be lauded in heaven. But take heart, if you feel underappreciated for your faithfulness to God. The Bible says:

Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

Mal. 3:16

It is easy to see our hymn writers in this description. Many indeed feared God, meditated on His name, and spoke to one another, and speak to us today, about Him. And God has been listening, and He remembers. Among those who are obscure in terms of this world’s historical records is Harriet Buell, who gave us the song A Child of the King.

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

(2) Today in 1845 – Chretien d’Urhan Died

Mr. d’Urhan was a well-known French musician who played the violin in the orchestra of the Paris Opera House, and was the organist of St. Vincent’s Church in that city. He is known in hymnody as the composer of the tune Rutherford, used with the beautiful hymn The Sands of Time Are Sinking.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

(3) Today in 1874 – Phoebe Palmer Died

Phoebe Worrell Palmer wrote the gospel song The Cleansing Wave. Her daughter Phoebe (Phoebe Palmer Knapp) supplied the tune. The two Phoebes in one family, both involved in hymn writing, have given rise to some confusion.

Oh, now I see the cleansing wave!
The fountain deep and wide;
Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save,
Points to His wounded side.

The cleansing stream I see! I see!
I plunge, and oh, it cleanseth me!
Oh, praise the Lord! It cleanseth me!
It cleanseth me—yes, cleanseth me.