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Hymn Almanac April

Today in 1817 – Caroline Noel Born

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The Bible says of the Lord Jesus Christ:

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

Phil. 2:8-10

That passage became the basis for a fine hymn called At the Name of Jesus, written by Caroline Maria Noel. Miss Noel, the daughter of a pastor in England, tried her hand at writing poetry during her teens, but abandoned the practice for years afterward. Finally, in the last 25 years of her life, she was struck down and bedridden by a painful and crippling illness.

As has sometimes happened, limitations in one aspect of her life caused her to pursue another. Caroline Noel once again began to exercise her poetic gifts, publishing a collection of verse in 1870 called The Name of Jesus, and other Verses for the Sick and Lonely. Her hymn is from the book.

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

In your hearts enthrone Him; there let Him subdue
All that is not holy, all that is not true;
Crown Him as your Captain in temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you in its light and power.

In the video clip below, this hymn is sung to the tune Camberwell. To my mind, James Mountain’s tune Wye Valley fits it better, and it’s more singable. (This is the tune used for LIke a River Glorious.) To hear it played, check the Cyber Hymnal.

(2) Today in 1829 – William Booth Born

One day in early May of 1912 a horse drawn carriage drew up at the entrance of the Royal Albert Hall in London. Out stepped an elderly man with flowing white hair and beard. He was wrapped well against the damp spring weather, but even at 83 years of age he walked with an upright military bearing. The man was the guest speaker that day, and when summoned to the podium he proceeded to address his audience for a full hour. Though there was no electronic amplification, it is said the 7,000 assembled heard it all clearly.

He concluded his speech with these passionate words:

While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight–I’ll fight to the very end!

Though no one knew it, that was to be the last time he would speak in public before the Lord called him home. The man was none other than General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. To honour him, those gathered sang a hymn written by Booth himself–one composed years before for an evangelistic campaign. It became the unofficial anthem of the Salvation Army and came to be known as The Founder’s Song. Its title as first published in 1893 was Boundless Salvation, sometimes called O Boundless Salvation.

My sins they are many, their stains are so deep,
And bitter the tears of remorse that I weep;
But useless is weeping; thou great crimson sea,
Thy waters can cleanse me, thy waters can cleanse me,
Thy waters can cleanse me, come, roll over me!

The tide is now flowing, I’m touching the wave,
I hear the loud call of the Mighty to Save;
My faith’s growing bolder, delivered I’ll be;
I plunge ’neath the waters, I plunge ’neath the waters,
I plunge ’neath the waters they roll over me.

And now, hallelujah! the rest of my days
Shall gladly be spent in promoting His praise
Who opened His bosom to pour out this sea
Of boundless salvation, of boundless salvation,
Of boundless salvation for you and for me.

(3) Today in 1899 – John Sweney Died

John Robson Sweney was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1837. During the American Civil War he led the military band of the Third Delaware Regiment. After the war he was appointed Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy. He held that position for almost 30 years, subsequently earning the degree of Doctor of Music.

Before 1871, Sweney wrote secular music for various purposes. But from that date he devoted his talent to the production of sacred music, composing the tunes for nearly 1,000 gospel songs. Here are a few of them. For the ones marked with an asterisk, Mr. Sweney collaborated with Fanny Crosby, who contributed the lyrics.

Beulah Land
Fill Me Now
More About Jesus
*My Saviour First of All
Sunshine in My Soul
*Take the World, But Give Me Jesus
*Tell Me the Story of Jesus
*Unsearchable Riches
*Victory Through Grace
Will There Be Any Stars?

Crosby and Sweney’s Victory Through Grace says:

Conquering now and still to conquer, rideth a King in His might;
Leading the host of all the faithful
Into the midst of the fight;
See them with courage advancing, clad in their brilliant array,
Shouting the name of their Leader, hear them exultingly say:

Not to the strong is the battle,
Not to the swift is the race,
Yet to the true and the faithful
Vict’ry is promised through grace.

Conquering now and still to conquer, Jesus, Thou Ruler of all,
Thrones and their sceptres all shall perish,
Crowns and their splendour shall fall,
Yet shall the armies Thou leadest, faithful and true to the last,
Find in Thy mansions eternal rest, when their warfare is past.

Today in 1598 – Johann Cruger Born

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Johann Cruger was born near Guben, Prussia. He settled in Berlin in 1615, where he became organist and cantor of St. Nicholas Cathedral. He is considered one of the foremost musicians of his day, and his work in editing Praxis Pietatis Melica (The Practice of Piety Through Melody) has been called the most important work on the subject of hymnody produced in the seventeenth century. In the third edition of this book, the hymn tune Nun Danket appeared. It is used with Martin Rinkart’s hymn Now Thank We All Our God.

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

(2) Today in 1813 – Jane Borthwick Born

A member of the Free Church of Scotland, Jane Laurie Borthwick was a gifted translator. She and her sister Sarah produced a book of translations of German hymns entitled Hymns from the Land of Luther. Their work has given us My Jesus, As Thou Wilt, and Be Still, My Soul. The former hymn, in German Mein Jesu, Wie du Willt, was written by Benjamin Schmolk around 1704.

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Oh, may Thy will be mine!
Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign;
Through sorrow, or through joy, conduct me as Thine own,
And help me still to say, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope grow dim or disappear;
Since Thou on earth hast wept, and sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with Thee, my Lord, Thy will be done!

Here is a nicely done guitar solo of the tune for the above hymn.

In my opinion, Be Still, My Soul ranks as one of the finest hymns in the English language.

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.

Key

(3) Today in 1830 – Joseph Parker Born

English clergyman Joseph Parker was one of the foremost evangelical preachers of his day. A contemporary of Spurgeon’s, he became the champion of the poor, uneducated and underprivileged.

He wrote a number of books, and his sermons of many years fill 25 large volumes. Parker was not a hymn writer, but he has given us one perceptive song entitled God Holds the Key.

God holds the key of all unknown,
And I am glad;
If other hands should hold the key,
Or if He trusted it to me,
I might be sad, I might be sad.

The very dimness of my sight
Makes me secure;
For, groping in my misty way,
I feel His hand; I hear Him say,
“My help is sure, My help is sure.”

Today in 1886 – Charles Marsh Born

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The father of Charles Howard Marsh was a Congregational pastor in Iowa. Charles became a gifted musician, playing both piano and organ, directing choirs, and composing many songs, anthems and instrumental works. He was also known for his poetry and painting. In 1932, he became professor of organ at the University of Florida.

In 1910, Marsh provided the tune for Henry Ostrom’s gospel song, Is It the Crowning Day?

Jesus may come today
Glad day, glad day!
And I would see my Friend;
Dangers and troubles would end
If Jesus should come today.

Glad day, glad day!
Is it the crowning day?
I’ll live for today, nor anxious be;
Jesus, my Lord I soon shall see.
Glad day, glad day!
Is it the crowning day?

(2) Today in 1962 – Esther Rusthoi Died

Graphic Esther Kerr Rusthoi

Samuel Kerr emigrated from Scotland to America, where he married Diana Rose Crater, and began to raise a family. A son, Philip, was born in 1906, and Esther came along three years later.

As they grew up, both she and her brother demonstrated a gift for making music. They went on to play instruments, and compose and arrange songs in praise of God. Philip also wrote a book on the history of hymns called Music in Evangelism. As a young woman Esther married Howard Rusthoi, and the couple served the Lord diligently for a number of years. However, ill health cast a shadow over her life. One who knew writes of “dear suffering Esther.” She died in 1962, at the age of 53.

But Esther Rusthoi has given to the church a testimony of her faith in the form of a beautiful gospel song. In 1941 she published When We See Christ. Whether her own suffering had commenced by then, or she wrote of what she knew of others, it provides a heart-warming message for us all.

Oft-times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

(3) Today in 1968 – Softly and Tenderly sung

Martin Luther King killed at motel

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) was an American clergyman, social activist, and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Prize in 1964 for his efforts to end racial discrimination. He was slain by a sniper’s bullet on April 4th, 1968. The motel in Memphis (pictured here), where Rev. King was assassinated while standing on the second floor balcony, is now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum. At a memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Will Thompson’s gospel song Softly and Tenderly was sung. Though the author meant it as an invitation to faith in Christ, it is sometimes used at funeral services in the sense of God calling home the loved one who has died.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Today in 1786 – William Shirley Died

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William Walter Shirley was a friend of George Whitefield and the Wesleys, often preaching in their chapels. He was also a cousin and a friend of the Countess of Huntingdon, and assisted her in the revision of a collection of hymns used in her chapels.

We need to take a moment to add a note about this remarkable woman. Selena Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, was a deeply spiritual believer and active in the early Methodist movement. She was, however, a Calvinist, and did not agree with the Arminian doctrines of the Wesleys. When a split came about between the John and Charles and George Whitefield, she identified herself with the latter. Through the years, the Countess used her wealth to build or acquire 60 chapels, and support chaplains for them. She also established a seminary in South Wales for training the chaplains.

It was the Countess’s Select Collection of Hymns that Shirley edited, contributing the lovely little hymn Sweet the Moments Rich in Blessing, editing and adding to previous work by James Allen. (For a touching story about William Shirley’s family difficulties, see the Cyber Hymnal.)

Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross we spend,
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinner’s dying Friend.

Here I stay, forever viewing
Mercy streaming in His blood;
Precious drops, my soul bedewing,
Plead and claim my peace with God.

Here we find our hope of heaven,
While upon the Lamb we gaze;
Loving much, and much forgiven,
Let our hearts o’erflow with praise.

(2) Today in 1870 – Jay Stocking Born

Jay Thomas Stocking was an American Congregational clergyman. From 1903 to 1936 he pastored at least seven churches, for whatever reason rarely staying at each for more than a couple of years. Stocking also served as a trustee of Oberlin College, and was involved with the Congregational Conference of Missouri, and the Congregational Annuity Fund. From 1934 -1935 he was moderator of the Congregational Christian Churches.

Pastor Stocking went on a fishing trip in 1912, and witnessed some carpenters rebuilding a cabin near the fishing spot he had chosen. It got him thinking of the Lord Jesus, as a boy, growing up in the home of Joseph the carpenter, and perhaps learning the trade (cf. Matt. 13:55). Out of his meditation he created the hymn Master Workman of the Race.

O Master Workman of the race, Thou Man of Galilee,
Who with the eyes of early youth eternal things did see,
We thank Thee for Thy boyhood faith that shone Thy whole life through;
“Did ye not know it is My work, My Father’s work to do?”

O Thou Who dost the vision send and givest each his task,
And with the task sufficient strength, show us Thy will, we ask;
Give us a conscience bold and good, give us a purpose true,
That it may be our highest joy our Father’s work to do.

Today in 1810 – Edmund Sears Born

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Edmund Hamilton Sears

Edmund Hamilton Sears attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, and Harvard Divinity School. He pastored several Unitarian churches in Massachusetts, and also helped to edit the Monthly Religious Magazine.

It is common for Unitarians, as their name suggests, to believe in the singularity of the Person of God, denying the doctrine of the Trinity. To them, Christ is a great man and a prophet, but they reject His deity (or divinity). However, Edmund Sears, though he associated himself with the Unitarians, had a much higher view of Christ. He wrote on one occasion to Anglican bishop Edward Bickersteth and said, “Though I was educated in the Unitarian denomination, I believe and preach the divinity of Christ.”

Sears has given us two Christmas hymns: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, and Calm on the Listening Ear of Night. Though the former is better known, in my view the latter is superior. (Both songs may be sung to the same tune.)

Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven’s melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches forth
Her silver mantled plains.
Celestial choirs from courts above
Shed sacred glories there,
And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

“Glory to God!” the lofty strain
The realm of ether fills;
How sweeps the song of solemn joy
O’er Judah’s sacred hills!
“Glory to God!” the sounding skies
Loud with their anthems ring,
“Peace to the earth; good will to men,
From heaven’s eternal King!”

This day shall Christian tongues be mute,
And Christian hearts be cold?
Oh, catch the anthem that from heaven
O’er Judah’s mountains rolled.
When burst upon that listening night
The high and solemn lay:
“Glory to God, on earth be peace,”
Salvation comes today!

(2) Today in 1828 Jeremiah Ingalls Died

During his lifetime, Jeremiah Ingalls was a farmer, a cooper (barrel maker) a tavern keeper, and a singing teacher. In Newbury, Vermont, he became a deacon and choir director of the Congregational church, and he compiled The Christian Harmony (also called The Songster’s Companion), a significant collection of folk hymns. Ingalls moved to Rochester, Vermont, after a falling out with the church in Newbury. He has given us both words and music of a simple hymn called I Love Thee.

I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, my Lord;
I love Thee, my Saviour, I love Thee, my God;
I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know;
But how much I love Thee my actions will show.

O Jesus, my Saviour, with Thee I am blessed.
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest.
Thy name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.

Oh, who’s like my Saviour? He’s Salem’s bright King;
He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing:
I’ll praise him, I’ll praise Him with notes loud and clear,
While rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.

Today in 1830 Alexander Muir Born

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Canadian Flag

Alexander Muir was born in Scotland, but in later years he became a well known Canadian educator. The family moved to Canada when he was a child, and he earned his B.A. at Queens University, in Kingston. He then taught school, mainly in the Toronto area. Several schools in Ontario have been named in his honour. He was a prominent Orangeman. (The Orange Order is a Protestant fraternal organization.)

In 1867, Muir composed the song The Maple Leaf Forever, in honour of Confederation, which officially formed the Dominion of Canada. Though there is a vague prayer being offered in the refrain, it can hardly be classed as a hymn in the recognized sense.  It is more of a jingoistic bellow, in defense of British imperialism, that sounds strange to our “politically correct” ears today. But in its time, when many Canadians felt strong ties to Britain, it was thought of as a fervent national hymn.

In days of yore, from Britain’s shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero, came
And planted firm Britannia’s flag
On Canada’s fair domain!
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And join in love together,
The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine,
The Maple Leaf forever.

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save the King and heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!

Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot
And plenteous store abound;
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o’er freedom’s home
The Maple Leaf forever.

 

(2) Today in 1850 – Daniel Towner Born

Born in Rome, Pennsylvania, Daniel Brink Towner studied music first under his father, then under several prominent musicians of the day. Towner had an excellent baritone voice, and was a fine song leader. He served as director of music in several Methodist churches in America, and became director of music at Moody Bible Institute. He was awarded a Doctor of Music degree in 1900. George Stebbins said of him:

Through his teaching [at Moody] and personal contact, he impressed himself upon thousands of young men and women, who have gone out from that institution more or less imbued with the spirit of consecration he ever manifested, and with increased knowledge of the importance of music in all kinds of Christian activities.

Mr. Towner wrote over 2,000 gospel song tunes, including those for:

Anywhere with Jesus
At Calvary
He’s a Friend of Mine
Jesus Only, Let Me See
My Anchor Holds
Nor Silver Nor Gold
Only a Sinner
Saved by the Blood
Trust and Obey

Years ago, I worked in a commercial advertising firm. On one occasion we were called upon to build a booth for a trade fair. I went to the location, along with Art Rogers, an older man on our staff. Art was a former pro ball player who’d lived a pretty crude, rough life. But God had done a transforming work of grace in his life and he’d become a godly Christian gentleman.

On this particular day, a couple of electricians were called in to hook up the electrical connections for the booth, and I cringed at the foul language that regularly punctuated their conversation. Finally, Art said, with a smile, “I see you know a friend of mine.” Needless to say, they were puzzled. What friend of his could the two strangers possibly know? But of course Art was speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he proceeded to give his testimony of what the Lord had done for him, graciously requesting that they respect Christ’s name, because “He’s a friend of mine.”

I thought of the incident in connection with the following hymn. John Henry Sammis wrote it on that subject, and Daniel Towner set it to music.

Why should I charge my soul with care?
The wealth of every mine
Belongs to Christ, God’s Son and Heir,
And He’s a Friend of mine.

Yes, He’s a Friend of mine,
And He with me doth all things share;
Since all is Christ’s, and Christ is mine,
Why should I have a care?
For Jesus is a Friend of mine.

And when he comes in bright array,
And leads the conqu’ring line,
It will be glory then to say,
That He’s a Friend of mine.

And here’s another song for which Daniel Towner supplied the tune. A spirited gospel song written by S. J. Henderson–a man about whom nothing is known but his name. But his song is rich in Christian doctrine.

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,
Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The angels rejoicing because it is done;
A child of the Father, joint heir with the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The Father He spake, and His will it was done;
Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Today in 397 – Ambrose of Milan Died

Ambrose was a Roman citizen, born to an official in Gaul. In Rome, he studied literature, law and rhetoric. He served as a governor in northern Italy, before being appointed as bishop of Milan in 374. Ambrose was bishop in Milan at the time of Augustine’s conversion, and he is referred to in Augustine’s Confessions. He became a noted theologian and battled Arian heresy. He wrote many books, as well as several hymns. One of these is O Splendour of God’s Glory Bright.

O splendour of God’s glory bright,
O Thou that bringest light from light;
O Light of light, light’s living spring,
O day, all days illumining.

O Thou true Sun, on us Thy glance
Let fall in royal radiance;
The Spirit’s sanctifying beam
Upon our earthly senses stream.

All laud to God the Father be;
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the holy Paraclete.

The hymn Keep Us, O Lord, This Day (in Latin, known originally as Iam Lucis Orto Sidere) is also attributed by many to Ambrose. Though we can’t be certain he wrote it, it does date from his era. The words have since been translated into English a number of times. It’s a beautiful morning song, a commitment to start the day with prayer, such as David describes: “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Ps. 5:3).

Now that the sun is beaming bright,
Once more to God we pray,
That He, the uncreated Light,
May guide our souls this day.

No sinful word, nor deed of wrong,
Nor thoughts that idly rove;
But simple truth be on our tongue,
And in our hearts be love.

And while the hours in order flow,
O Christ, securely fence
Our gates beleaguered by the foe,
The gave of every sense.

And grant that to Thine honour, Lord,
Our daily toil may tend;
That we begin it at Thy Word,
And in Thy favour end.

(2) Today in 1862 – Ernest Shurtleff Born

Young people today are searching for heroes, looking for those who can give their lives direction and purpose. It was no different in 1887, when a group of eager young men were looking forward to graduating from seminary. They had already committed themselves to following the Lord, and had spent several years in preparation for ministry. Now, as Graduation Day approached, they asked a class member if he would compose a hymn expressing their desire to follow Christ. Ernest Warburton Shurtleff did just that, and the result is the stirring hymn, Lead On, O King Eternal. Though written for the students, it has a wide application to every child of God.

Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted over us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.

Today in 1593 – George Herbert Born

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World Map

George Herbert attended Trinity College, at Cambridge, England. He married Jane Danvers after a remarkably short courtship of three days! (This abbreviation perhaps suited his short life. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 40.) At Cambridge, when he was appointed the school’s Public Orator, it was his duty to give speeches (in Latin) to visiting dignitaries, and to express thanks for books donated to the school library. Herbert served briefly in Parliament, and King James I was impressed with the man, and considered making him an ambassador, but the king died before this could be done. Instead, George Herbert became an Anglican clergyman.

He maintained a lively interest in music, and devoted his spare time to practicing on the lute and the viol. He wrote a number of hymns, which were published posthumously in a little book called The Temple. Susannah Wesley introduced Herbert’s poetry to her children, and we have John Wesley to thank for promoting its use in our hymnody. I can recall years ago, singing in a college choral, George Herbert’s call to praise, Let All the World in Every Corner Sing.

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The heavens are not too high, His praise may thither fly,
The earth is not too low, His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out;
But, above all, the heart must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

I’m most familiar with hearing this brief hymn sung to the tune All the World, written by Robert Guy McCutchan (under the pen name John Porter), but it has been arranged by a number of composers as a choral anthem. The following choral version is not too bad (to put it mildly!).

(2) Today in 1769 – Gerhard Tersteegen Died

Gerhard Tersteegen was the great poet of the mystical Pietist movement in eighteenth century Germany. He wrote 111 hymns, of which a few are still in use. Because of the poverty of his family, he was unable to receive the university education he had hoped for. After an apprenticeship, he was employed in weaving silk ribbons. He lived alone, eating one meagre meal a day, and giving all he could to help others living in impoverished conditions.

Tersteegen went through a period of deep depression. When he recovered, he wrote, in his own blood, a solemn covenant committing himself to God. He spent 10 hours a day working at his loom, and then 2 hours in prayer, and 2 hours in writing and study. He lived an ascetic and somewhat eccentric life, but is recognized as an outstanding self-taught theologian and preacher. One of his hymns that has survived is God Calling Yet.

God calling yet; shall I not hear?
Earth’s pleasures shall I still hold dear?
Shall life’s swift passing years all fly,
And still my soul in slumber lie?

God calling yet, and shall He knock,
And I my heart the closer lock?
He still is waiting to receive,
And shall I dare His Spirit grieve?

God calling yet; I cannot stay;
My heart I yield without delay;
Vain world, farewell! from thee I part;
The voice of God hath reached my heart.

(3) Today in 1885 – Pass It On written

Henry Burton was born in England. His family were staunch Methodists, and he was converted at the age of 15 in a meeting conducted by his father. A year later, the family emigrated to America, where Burton served as a Methodist Episcopal clergyman for a short time, after which he returned to England and continued ministry there for many years, writing several books and a number of hymns. One of them has an interesting story behind it.

A young man named Mark Pearse booked passage on a ship that would take him from Bristol, England, back home to America. He had limited funds, just enough for his ticket. All began well, but on the way across the stormy Atlantic, he got terribly seasick and remained in his bunk for several days. During this time, there came a knock at the door. It was the steward, with a bill for the meals he had eaten before taking sick. Pearse had assumed that the ticket included the cost of his meals, but it did not.

Sick as he was, he tried to plead his case to the steward, but to no avail. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but I shall have to keep your luggage as security. What is your name and address.” When the sick passenger told him his name was Mark Pearse, the astonished steward took off his cap and reached out a hand. He said that many years before, when he was a boy, his father had died, leaving his mother to care for the family. But Mark’s father had heard about their need, and helped them out. “I never thought the chance would come for me to repay even a little,” the steward said. “But I’m glad I have the opportunity.” And he paid the outstanding amount.

When he arrived at his destination, Pearse told his father what had happened. The father replied, “See how a bit of kindness lives?” and he encouraged his son to pass the kindness shown on to others. Years later, it was Mark Pearse’s son-in-law, Henry Burton, who wrote the gospel song Pass It On, after hearing the story (a song not to be confused with Kurt Kaiser’s with the same name, which begins, “It only takes a spark…”).

Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on!
‘Twas not giv’n for thee alone. Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another’s tears,
Till in heav’n the deed appears–Pass it on.

Have you found the heav’nly light? Pass it on!
Souls are groping in the night, daylight gone;
Hold thy lighted lamp on high,
Be a star in someone’s sky,
He may live who else would die–Pass it on!

Today in 1894 – William Longstaff Died

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William Dunn Longstaff heard Dr. Griffith John, a missionary to China, use the interesting phrase, “Take time to be holy,” while the latter was speaking at a conference in England. The same evening, Longstaff wrote a poem on the theme.

William Longstaff was a rich man who used his wealth to benefit others. He was a friend of Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey, and of William Booth. He attended the Bethesda Free Chapel, providing funds for the renovation of the church building, and acting as treasurer of the congregation.

The poem mentioned was handed to gospel musician George Stebbins, and he composed a tune to suit it, giving us the hymn Take Time to Be Holy. It presents an important truth. God does not simply “zapp” us, and make us spiritually mature and Christlike. It requires a consistency of time with the Lord and in His Word, and the daily application of the truths we learn.

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

This hymn usually appears in hymnals with the tune Longstaff, written for it. But, with some slight adjustments, it also works well with the tune Slane.

(2) Today in 1920 – William Reynolds Born

William Jensen Reynolds wrote a number of hymn tunes, but he is also known as a capable hymn historian. During the time when he received a college education, Reynolds served as a part-time director of music, later becoming Minister of Music at two successive Baptist churches in Oklahoma. In 1955, he joined the Church Music Department of the Baptist Sunday School Board, in Nashville, eventually becoming the department head. He served as music director for various conventions and conferences, and composed and arranged sacred music.

His Companion to Baptist Hymnal (Broadman Press, 1976) is an excellent resource. As to a contribution in the area of music, he has given us an arrangement of an early American song (from around 1811), What Wondrous Love Is This.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

 

Today in 1872 – The Brewing of Soma published

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It is not unique for one of our hymns to be taken from a longer poem. But the poem that gave us one by John Greenleaf Whittier is somewhat unusual. In the April edition of the Atlantic Monthly his poem The Brewing of Soma first appeared. It describes how some heathen priests brewed and drank a powerful drug called Soma, in an attempt to have a religious experience and connect with their god.

“Drink, mortals, what the gods have sent,
Forget you long annoy.”
So sang the priests, From tent to tent
The Soma’s sacred madness went,
A storm of drunken joy.

But then, lest his readers begin to look down their noses at such folly, Whittier makes an application to the religious extremists of his day. His words have relevance still, for those who would try to manipulate and stir up emotion in the name of worshiping God! (A “fane” is a temple or house of worship.)

And yet the past comes round again,
And new doth old fulfil;
In sensual transports wild as vain
We brew in many a Christian fane
The heathen Soma still!

Then come the words that have become our hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. It is a call to sanity and spiritual maturity in worship.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
Thy beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the hearts of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be numb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!

(2) Today in 1893 – Of All in Earth or Heaven published

Nathan Atkinson Aldersley was a Methodist preacher for a time, joining the Salvation Army in his early fifties. Aldersley also sold earthenware to help pay the bills. He moved to New Zealand in 1884, living in Christchurch and Wellington. Though he became largely housebound due to severe arthritis, he continued to be a blessing to others through songs he wrote that appeared in the Army’s War Cry magazine. An example is Of All in Earth or Heaven, a simple little song appearing in the April 1st, 1893 issue. It is sung to the tune of the old Scottish ballad Annie Laurie.

Of all in earth or heaven,
The dearest name to me,
Is the matchless name of Jesus,
The Christ of Calvary.

The Christ of Calvary,
The dearest name to me,
Is the matchless name of Jesus,
The Christ of Calvary.

I cannot help but love Him,
And tell His love to me;
For He became my ransom,
The Christ of Calvary.

(3) O Say But I’m Glad (Data Missing)

The words for this joyful gospel song were written around 1930, by an American clergyman named James P. Sullivan.  He was born in Nebraska, around 1878, and his daughter Mildred Ellen Sullivan, born about 1916, composed the tune for the song. There is little more data available concerning either of them.

As the psalmist says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation” (Ps. 95:1). And “Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises” (Ps. 98:4). If anyone has cause to sing joyful songs, it’s the saints of God–especially on this side of the cross. “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Rom. 5:11).

There is a song in my heart today,
Something I never had;
Jesus has taken my sins away,
O! say, but I’m glad.

O! say, but I’m glad, I’m glad,
O! say, but I’m glad,
Jesus has come and my cup’s overrun;
O! say, but I’m glad.

Wonderful, marvelous love He brings,
Into a heart that’s sad;
Through darkest tunnels the soul just sings,
O! say, but I’m glad.

Won’t you come to Him with all your care,
Weary and worn and sad?
You, too, will sing as His love you share,
O! say, but I’m glad.