Today in 1831 – Mary Dodge Born

Mary Mapes Dodge was born in New York City. She went on to become a well-known author in nineteenth-century America. She wrote the children’s novel, Hans Brinker; or The Silver Skates in 1865, and it has remained in print ever since. (That novel is credited with introducing the sport of speed skating to America.) Mrs. Dodge also co-edited the publication Hearth and Home with Harriet Beecher Stowe, and edited St. Nicholas Magazine for children.

Mary Dodge has given us one hymn only, and appropriately it is a children’s hymn. But Can a Little Child Like Me? contains a lesson for all–that our gratitude to God can be expressed from day to day by living in a way that pleases Him.

Can a little child like me
Thank the Father fittingly?
Yes, oh yes! be good and true,
Faithful, kind, in all you do;
Love the Lord, and do your part;
Learn to say with all your heart,

Father, we thank Thee,
Father, we thank Thee,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For our comrades and our plays,
And our happy holidays,
For the joyful work and true
That a little child might do,
For our lives but just begun,
For the great gift of Thy Son,

(2) Today in 1850 – Jeremiah Ohl Born

Jeremiah Franklin Ohl was an Evangelical Lutheran pastor serving in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. He supplied the fine tune St. Chrysostom for Frances Havergal’s hymn of dedication, Jesus, Master, Whose I Am. The song is based on Paul’s reference to God as the One “to whom I belong and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23).

Jesus, Master, whose I am,
Purchased Thine alone to be,
By Thy blood, O spotless Lamb,
Shed so willingly for me,
Let my heart be all Thine own,
Let me live for Thee alone.

Other lords have long held sway;
Now Thy name alone to bear,
Thy dear voice alone obey,
Is my daily, hourly prayer;
Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
Nothing else my joy can be.

Jesus, Master, whom I serve,
Though so feebly and so ill,
Strengthen hand and heart and nerve
All Thy bidding to fulfil;
Open Thou mine eyes to see
All the work Thou hast for me.

(3) Data Missing – Some Golden Daybreak

Here is another song on which I wanted to offer a brief comment, but for which I could find no precise dates.

Sometime in 1934, pioneer radio pastor Reverend C. A. Blackmore preached a series of messages on the prospect of the second coming of Christ. In one he proclaimed, “Dear friend, all your suffering and pain will be over. You’ll have a new body. Arms and legs that are missing will be replaced. Friend, we’ll be like Jesus! You’ll have a glorified body some day, some golden daybreak when Jesus comes back.” A few days later, he received a letter from a woman who’d been bed-ridden for more than two decades. She thanked him for his sermon, and for the hope of that “golden daybreak” of Christ’s return.

Another who listened carefully to Pastor Blackmore’s encouraging message was his son Carl, the pianist and soloist for the broadcast. Carl Blackmore (1904-1964) was a gifted servant of the Lord in his own right. Pondering what the Bible calls “the blessed hope” of Christ’s return (Tit. 2:13), he wrote the words and music of a little chorus he called Some Golden Daybreak. But thinking the song incomplete, he asked his father to supply verses to go with it. The elder Blackmore replied, “I’m not much of a poet, but with the Lord’s help I’ll give it a try.”

Some time later, he awoke in the early morning hours, unable to sleep. As he meditated on the soon coming of Christ, lines of poetry began to form in his mind. They were added to complete the gospel song, with his son supplying the melody.

Some glorious morning sorrow will cease,
Some glorious morning all will be peace;
Heartaches all ended, school days all done,
Heaven will open–Jesus will come.

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come;
Some golden daybreak, battles all won,
He’ll shout the vict’ry, break through the blue,
Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.