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Hymn Almanac June

Today in 1818 – Edward Hopkins Born

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Hopkins was an English church organist (for 55 years in one church alone!). He was given an honorary doctorate by the Archbishop of Canterbury. A recognized authority in his field, Edward John Hopkins wrote a book called The Organ: Its History and Construction. Hopkins wrote a variety of church music and was respected as an editor of hymnals. He produced many hymn tunes, but only one remains in common use in America–his tune Ellers, for the hymn Saviour Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise.

The text for this lovely closing hymn was written by John Ellerton in 1866. The last line of the third stanza quoted below is taken from Psalm 139:12, “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Or, as the New American Standard Bible has it, “Even the darkness is not dark to You.” None of the circumstances we face, day by day, is hidden from God. He sees and knows all about what may seem obscure and threatening to us.

Two of our biggest problems with the darkness are: we’re not sure where we are going, or which way to go; and we’re not sure what’s “out there,” causing us to be anxious about unknown dangers. But our assurance is that the darkness is no different than the light to the Lord. He will continue to lead His children, holding us in the hollow of His hand, whether the way be dark or light.

Saviour, again to Thy dear name we raise
With one accord our parting hymn of praise;
We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease;
Then, lowly kneeling, wait Thy word of peace.

Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way;
With Thee began, with Thee shall end the day.
Guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
That in this house have called upon Thy name.

Grant us Thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
Turn Thou for us its darkness into light;
From harm and danger keep Thy children free,
For dark and light are both alike to Thee.

Edward Hopkins also wrote the tune for the children’s hymn The Wise May Bring Their Learning. (The hymn tune is called Christmas Morn.) There are some good things in the text, and it would be well for it to be given a wider use than it has at present.

The wise may bring their learning, the rich may bring their wealth,
And some may bring their greatness, and some bring strength and health;
We, too, would bring our treasures to offer to the King;
We have no wealth or learning; what shall we children bring?

We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; we’ll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving to walk in holy ways;
And these shall be the treasures we offer to the King,
And these are gifts that even the poorest child may bring.

We’ll bring the little duties we have to do each day;
We’ll try our best to please Him, at home, at school, at play;
And better are these treasures to offer to our King;
Than richest gifts without them—yet these a child may bring.

In spite of the recent turn to overhead projectors and video projectors, I believe there is still a place for hymnals in the pews. If you are contemplating the purchase, check out Choosing a Hymn Book for Your Church.

Today in 1875 – John Wilcox Died

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John Henry Wilcox was an American church organist who died at the relatively young age of 49. He is known in hymn history for one small contribution. He wrote the tune Faben, that is often used with a couple of hymns: Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him, and Lord, with Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee.

Both of these are hymns of praise to God. And some form of the word “praise” is found over 250 times in our English Bibles. We see it first when Jacob’s wife Leah praises the Lord for the birth of Judah (Gen. 29:35). And in John’s vision of the eternal heavenly city we read of a command that will issue from the throne of God, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him both small and great” (Rev. 19:5).

Over 150 times in the book of Psalms alone we read of praising God. This suggests a dominant theme of the book. David the psalmist declares, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (Ps. 9:2). Because of the greatness of our God, He is utterly deserving of all the praise we can render to Him. “The Lord…is worthy to be praised” (Ps. 18:2). In the words of Francis Scott Key’s 1819 hymn,

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise Thee,
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows:
Help, O God, my weak endeavour;
This dull soul to rapture raise:
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

(2) Gracious Father, Guard Thy Children (Data Missing)

This is a thoughtful hymn expressing a prayer for God’s protection in a time of trial. The author is unknown. You can hear the tune on the Cyber Hymnal.

Gracious Father, guard Thy children
From the foe’s destructive power;
Save, O save them, Lord, from falling
In this dark and trying hour.
Thou wilt surely prove Thy people,
All our graces must be tried;
But Thy Word illumes our pathway,
And in God we still confide.

We are in the time of waiting;
Soon we shall behold our Lord,
Wafted far away from sorrow,
To receive our rich reward.
Keep us, Lord, till Thine appearing,
Pure, unspotted, from the world;
Let Thy Holy Spirit cheer us
Till Thy banner is unfurled.

With what joyful exultation
Shall the saints Thy banner see,
When the Lord for whom we’ve waited
Shall proclaim the jubilee!
Freedom from this world’s pollutions;
Freedom from all sin and pain;
Freedom from the wiles of Satan,
And from death’s destructive reign.

Today in 1814 – Frederick Faber Born

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Frederick William Faber began his career as a Calvinist and a clergyman in the Church of England. Later in life, under the influence of John Henry Newman, he got involved in the Oxford Movement and became a Roman Catholic.

Faber was re-baptized a Catholic, and took the name of Wilfred. His followers were known as Wilfridians. He was an admirer of the hymns of John Newton and William Cowper and, though he confessed a lack of any musical ability, he tried to create some hymns that would be acceptable in his new-found religious orientation.

Where the teachings of Catholicism and Protestantism agree–and there are a number of points on which they do–Faber’s hymns have gained acceptance with the latter. My God, How Wonderful Thou Art, and There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy have found their way into many hymn books. Faith of Our Fathers did too, once some strongly Catholic lines were removed.

A touch of the Catholic influence is still evident in There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, in the second line of the second stanza given below–“And more graces for the good.” The grace of God (His unmerited favour) is mentioned nearly 160 times in the Bible. But it is never spoken of in the plural. It is simply His abundant grace, referring to His divine enablement. As Paul puts it, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (I Cor. 15:10).

Monsignor J. D. Conway, in his book Facts of the Faith, claims that “the sacraments…are divinely established channels through which graces flow” (p. 53). He speaks of “innumerable sorts of active graces” (p. 43), and explains the Roman Catholic teaching that “the Mass…brings to us daily that fountain of all graces, the cross of Christ.” 

But we must immediately question the claim that this pattern is “divinely established.” There is nothing of this in the Word of God, which invites the believer simply to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may…find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). No official clergy or formal rituals need to intrude between us and the throne of God.

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Saviour;
There is healing in His blood.

If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.

(2) Today in 1851 – Eliza Hewitt Born

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt trained to be a school teacher, and was valedictorian of her class. But her teaching career was sidelined by a spinal condition that kept her bedridden for a long period, leaving her a semi-invalid. It’s believed that this condition may have related to something that had happened in the classroom. She was struck in the back with a heavy slate by a boy she was trying to discipline.

Even after she retired from teaching, Eliza Hewitt continued to have a strong interest in children. She served as a Sunday School superintendent for much of her life. She was a friend of Fanny Crosby’s, had a cousin who was a hymn writer (Edgar Stites, who wrote Simply Trusting), and also wrote many hymns herself.

The writer of one of our hymns, No Other Plea (My Faith Has Found a Resting Place), remained something of a mystery for years. You will sometimes see it attributed to a Lidie H. Edmunds, but nothing is known of such a person. This was later discovered to be a pen name of Eliza Edmunds Hewitt.

It is a fine song, speaking with great clarity of the basis for our salvation. We aren’t saved by joining a particular church, or by adhering to a particular creed. We are saved by the grace of God, through personal faith in Christ (Jn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9). As Eliza Hewitt puts it:

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Saviour’s name,
Salvation through His blood.

Today in 1933 – James Mountain Died

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James Mountain was an English revivalist and pastor. He wrote many books and articles. And though he also wrote a number of hymns, he is better known for the tunes he contributed for hymns such as: Jesus I Am Resting, Resting; Like a River Glorious; and Loved With Everlasting Love. He was greatly influenced by the evangelistic ministry of Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey in Britain during the 1870’s. His music reflects what he learned from them. From 1882 to 1889 he made a seven-year evangelistic tour of the world.

Of the three hymns mentioned above, the tune for Frances Havergal’s  Like a River Glorious (called Wye Valley) seems especially singable. Its steady flowing pace suggests the idea of a peaceful flowing river. But its singability can also cause some congregations to run away with it. Don’t sing this hymn too quickly or the point is lost–that there is a restfulness and tranquility of soul found in the life of faith. In her second stanza Miss Havergal says, “Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.” Please see that it doesn’t!

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

As noted above, James Mountain also provided the tunes for Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting:

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

And Mountain gave us the tune for Loved with Everlasting Love:

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Spirit breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

(2) The Land Afar (Data Missing)

I have often wondered why it is that hymn books from a century ago and more contain many many hymns about the Lord’s return, and about heaven, while newer books include far fewer.

For one thing, it may have to do with the spirit of materialism that has infested our age, and the focus on the pleasures of the moment. How many Christians, unless they are elderly and infirm, love Christ’s appearing with the passion of the apostle (II Tim. 4:7-8)? And how many unfortunately are seeking more comfort and ease here below, or see their destiny in temporal and material terms?

A case in point is the simple little gospel song The Land Afar. We do not know who authored it, but George Stebbins provided the tune. If you are looking for the music, it is #972 in Ira Sankey’s old Sacred Songs and Solos. (Incidentally, of the 1200 songs in the book, there are nearly 150 about the second coming and heaven!) The present hymn says:

There is a land that lies afar,
Where grief is all unknown;
A land wherein the angels sing
Around the heav’nly throne.

Oh, ’twill be sweet when we shall meet
Upon that distant shore,
Whereon the glorious sun ne’er sets,
But shines forever more.

We are but pilgrims on the earth,
And brief our sojourn here;
But well we know, beyond this vale
There is a brighter sphere.

There is a realm of boundless love,
A goal for hearts distressed,
Where all may find for endless years
A home among the blest.

Today in 1702 – Philip Doddridge Born

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Philip Doddridge was the youngest of 20 children. (Sadly, 18 of these died in infancy.) He was a pastor, and a man of great scholarship. Doddridge was a friend of Isaac Watts, and described himself as one of several lamps “kindled at Watts’s torch.” He died of tuberculosis at the age of 49, but he packed a lot in a few years!

Philip Doddridge entered  pastoral ministry at the age of 19, and at the urging of Isaac Watts, he also opened a theological school for training young pastors. During the years he taught there, he trained about 150 young men to serve Christ. In addition he wrote about 370 hymns. Several of these are still in use. It was Pastor Doddridge’s practice, after he had finished his sermon preparation, to write a hymn to suit the theme. Among the songs he has given us:

Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand
How Gentle God’s Commands
How Rich Thy Bounty, King of Kings
My Gracious Lord, I Own Thy Right
O Happy Day
See Israel’s Gentle Shepherd Stand

The hymn My Gracious Lord, I Own Thy Right was headed in the original manuscript: “Christ’s Service, The Fruit of Our Labours on Earth.”  The hymn is a clear declaration of the sovereignty of God over our lives. That was the principle violated in Eden when our first parents disobeyed God’s command (Gen. 2:17; 3:6). They were asserting their independence, and we’ve been suffering from that ever since!

The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1). “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever” (Rom. 11:36). Therefore, “To God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25). Doddridge’s hymn, a personal affirmation of these truths, begins:

My gracious Lord, I own Thy right
To every service I can pay,
And call it my supreme delight
To hear Thy dictates, and obey.

What is my being but for Thee,
Its sure support, its noblest end?
’Tis my delight Thy face to see,
And serve the cause of such a Friend.

Philip Doddridge’s hymn, O Happy Day, was written to accompany one of his sermons, and first appeared in 1755. (The refrain was added later.) His original title was “Rejoicing in our Covenant Engagements to God,” referring to the covenant the Israelites made with the Lord in II Chron. 15:12, 15. Dodderidge obviously applied this to the bond that is formed between the believer and Christ, at conversion.

O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.

Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away.

O happy bond, that seals my vows
To Him Who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.

’Tis done: the great transaction’s done!
I am the Lord’s and He is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on;
Charmed to confess the voice divine.

Now for something completely different, 🙂 here is the Cathedral Quartet performing the tune for O Happy Day, but singing the Tonic Solfa (doh, ray, me) instead of words. It’s a novelty number, done just for fun.

Grace, ‘Tis a Charming Sound is a joint effort between Doddridge and Augustus Toplady, author of the hymn Rock of Ages. The hymn is based on Eph. 2:5, “By grace you have been saved,” and Pastor Doddridge’s original title was “Salvation by Grace.” Most hymnals today add a refrain, which was not part of the original.

Grace, ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heav’n with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Saved by grace alone!
This is all my plea;
Jesus died for all mankind,
And Jesus died for me.

‘Twas grace that wrote my name
In life’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace taught my wand’ring feet
To tread the heav’nly road;
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine
May all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

Today in 1799 – Philip Pusey Born

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Philip Pusey became a member of Parliament in Britain. Prime Minister Disraeli said of him that he was “both by his lineage, his estate, his rare accomplishments and fine abilities, one of the most distinguished country gentlemen who ever sat in the House of Commons.” A patron of the arts, he was one of the founders of the London Library. And Philip Pusey took a great interest in hymnology.

In 1834 he wrote Lord of Our Life, and God of Our Salvation, a paraphrase of an earlier German hymn. The original was written in 1644, near the end of the Thirty Years War, which accounts for  several military references in the song. Pusey saw his hymn as applying to the condition of the church in his day, “assailed from without, enfeebled and distracted within, but on the eve of a great awakening.”

The comment is reminiscent of Paul’s, in his farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus. “After my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-30). Attacks from the outside, and from within. And today we must be on guard against the same things. In part, the hymn says:

Lord of our life, and God of our salvation,
Star of our night, and hope of every nation,
Hear and receive Thy church’s supplication,
Lord God Almighty.

Lord, Thou canst help when earthly armour faileth;
Lord, Thou canst save when sin itself assaileth;
Lord, o’er Thy rock nor death nor hell prevaileth;
Grant us Thy peace, Lord.

 (2) Heir of the Kingdom (Data Missing)

It’s the Apostle James who speaks of believers as “heirs of the kingdom” (Jas. 2:5; cf. Lk. 12:32). Peter refers to us as “a royal priesthood” (I Pet. 2:), and Revelation describes the redeemed as “kings and priests” (or “a kingdom of priests”), promising that “we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10; cf. 3:1). We are joint heirs with Christ (Gal. 4:7), part of the royal family, and will have a part in His coming reign.

There is hymn whose authorship is unknown that challenges believers to live with eternity’s values in view, as those who are heirs of the kingdom. Lowell Mason provided the tune for Heir of the Kingdom, and you can hear it on the Cyber Hymnal.

Heir of the kingdom, O why dost thou slumber?
Why art thou sleeping so near thy blest home?
Wake thee, arouse thee, and gird on thine armour,
Speed, for the moments are hurrying on.

Heir of the kingdom, say, why dost thou linger?
How canst thou tarry in sight of the prize?
Up, and adorn thee, the Saviour is coming;
Haste to receive Him descending the skies.

Earth’s mighty nations, in strife and commotion,
Tremble with terror, and sink in dismay;
Listen, ’tis naught but the chariot’s loud rumbling;
Heir of the kingdom, no longer delay.

Stay not, O stay not, for earth’s vain allurements!
See how its glory is passing away;
Break the strong fetters the foe hath bound o’er thee;
Heir of the kingdom, turn, turn thee away.

Keep the eye single, the head upward lifted;
Watch for the glory of earth’s coming King;
Lo! o’er the mountain tops light is now breaking;
Heirs of the kingdom, rejoice ye and sing.

Why do we sing hymns in church? There are some reasons, perhaps unspoken and unrecognized, that are less than biblical. The Scriptures give us important insight on this. I’ve discussed the issue in the article Worship in Song.

Today in 1734 – James Allen Born

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James Allen began in the Church of England, but later joined first the Inghamites (a group that combined Methodist and Moravian doctrine), and later still the Sandemanians (a Scottish sect believing in community property to be shared by the members). Allen’s hymn, which originally began, “While my Jesus I’m possessing…” was revised and improved about 20 years later by Walter Shirley, becoming Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing.

A line in the second verse below (“Loving much, and much forgiven”) alludes to an incident in the Gospel of Luke. A Pharisee named Simon invited the Lord Jesus to his home for a meal. But he was indignant when the Lord allowed a woman to anoint His feet with costly perfume. He thought to himself, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner” (Lk. 7:39).

Knowing what was in his mind, Christ told a story about two debtors, one who owed a great deal of money, the other who owed little. Then came the question, “Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love [the forgiving creditor] more?” And Simon replied, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more” (vs. 40-43). Then came the Lord’s pointed application: “To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (vs. 47).

But of course there is an irony here. The Pharisee might have thought he had little need for God’s forgiveness and cleansing, but he seemed totally insensitive to the sinful pride in his heart. The more we are aware of our own weakness and imperfection, the more we’ll appreciate and revel in the grace and mercy of God.

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 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 1822 John Burton Sr. Died

Holy Bible Book Divine was published in 1803 as a children’s hymn. John Burton was a dedicated Christian layman who wrote many songs for use in Sunday Schools.  But this hymn has a message for all, young and old. In the short span of 4 stanzas, the song lists about 10 things the Bible can do for us. Among them, it tells us where we came from, and where we’re going. And God uses it to guide and guard us on the Christian way, and reprove us when we get off course.

In the words of the Bible itself, “All Scripture is given my inspiration of God [it’s God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16). The Word of God is a treasure indeed. In the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Ps. 119:72).

Holy Bible, Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am.

Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou holy Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.

Here are a couple of renditions of the song that may be of interest. In the first, a young man sings the song with a slightly contemporary style. Nicely done. He has a few comments at the end about the ministry opportunity he believes God is giving him. (Just one correction regarding what he says: the tune was composed by William Bradbury; the words are by John Burton Sr.) If you have never heard a bell choir, you may enjoy the lovely version of the tune in the second clip.

Today in 1738 – Samuel Medley Born

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It is interesting how the career path for some takes dramatic turns, and how the Lord keeps His hand on individuals to call them to Himself and engage them in service for Him.

Samuel Medley’s father was a school teacher, and a friend of the scientist Sir Isaac Newton. Young Samuel was apprenticed to an oil dealer, but abandoning that career, he joined the British Navy. After he was wounded in a battle with the French fleet, he was taken to the home of his godly grandfather to recuperate. The Lord used the prayers and witness of that good man, and the reading of a sermon by Isaac Watts, to bring Samuel Medley to faith in Christ.

Unfit for an active naval career because of the effects of his injury, and in the glow of his new-found faith, Medley trained for the ministry. By God’s grace his pastoral work was abundantly fruitful, and he also wrote dozens of hymns–among them, several that continue in use today: O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth, Awake My Soul to Joyful Lays, and I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

The first of these Medley called simply Praise of Christ. Written over 200 years ago, the words are soundly biblical and still relevant. Christ shed His precious blood (I Pet. 1:18-19) to pay the ransom (Mk. 10:45) to rescue us from divine wrath (Jn. 3:18, 36). When we put our faith in Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness (I Cor. 1:30; Gal. 3:26-27), and gain a right standing before God (Eph. 1:3, 6). For that great work of redemption He deserves our unending praise.

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth which in my Saviour shine,
I’d soar and touch the heav’nly strings, and vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine, in notes almost divine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin, and wrath divine;
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.

Samuel Medley has also given us a fine New Year’s hymn, Father of Mercies! God of Love! You can see the commonly used tune on the Cyber Hymnal. But the hymn was written in what is known as Long Metre (8.8.8.8), and there are a number of familiar tunes that will work with it, including Duke Street (used with Jesus Shall Reign).

Father of mercies! God of love!
Whose kind compassion still we prove,
Our praise accept, and bless us here,
As brought to this—another year.

We sing Thy goodness all divine,
Whose radiant beams around us shine,
’Tis through Thy goodness we appear
Preserved to this—another year.

Our souls, our all we here resign;
Make us, and keep us ever Thine;
And grant that in Thy love and fear
We may begin—another year.

Be this our sweet experience still,
To know and do Thy holy will;
Then shall our souls, with joy sincere,
Bless Thee for this—another year.

(2) Name of Jesus, Softly Stealing (Data Missing)

Here is a little song (only two stanzas) that reflects a warmth of devotion toward the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly focusing on His name. We know nothing at all about the authorship of the words, though the tune was composed by William Wallace Coe. (You can hear the tune played on the Cyber Hymnal.)

The name of Christ represents His Person (just as our name represents us). Notice how, in the last line of the first stanza, the author uses “Name” to stand for the Person of Christ. The name of Jesus also represents His authority. When Christians pray in His name, they are appealing to that (Eph. 5:20). And the saints are identified as those who “call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Cor. 1:2).

There is comfort and encouragement in His name, because of who He is, and the authority He has as our Saviour and heavenly Advocate.

Name of Jesus, softly stealing,
O’er a world of strife and shame,
Thou canst bring us heav’nly healing,
O Thou all restoring Name.

Name of Jesus, heav’n of gladness,
Cause our doubts and fears to cease;
Soothe away the aching sadness;
Name of Jesus, give us peace.

Today in 1850 – William Walford Died

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Some doubt has been expressed by hymn historians about the identity of William Walford, but the traditional account below remains likely in my view.

An elderly man, and blind, Mr. Walford owned a small novelty shop in Coleshire, England. Day by day, he would sit in the chimney corner, carving and polishing pieces of bone to make shoe horns and other useful items for sale. As he worked, he would commune with the Lord in prayer, sometimes putting together thoughts to be shared in church the following Sunday.

Walford had no formal education. But the Lord had given him an amazing memory. He knew much of the Bible by heart, and was sometimes called upon to speak. When he stepped into the pulpit, the blind preacher was able to quote Scripture passages word for word, giving chapter and verse, with hardly a slip.

One day in 1842, an American clergyman named Tom Salmon visited Mr. Walford’s little shop. Apparently, the old man talked with him about the theme of prayer, and the delight he took in fellowship with the Lord. Then he asked if Pastor Salmon would write down some lines of verse he had composed.

“How will this do?” he asked as he began, seemingly uncertain as to the worth of his creation. But he need not have worried. His poem became the beloved hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer. The tune was written by William Bradbury.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Here is a remarkable recording of this hymn. One man made a “male chorus” version, singing all the parts himself. It required overlaying  27 tracks. Wow!

Of course we can and should pray regularly on our own. But the Bible also reveals the value of corporate prayer, of fellowshipping in prayer with one another. How sad that the Prayer Meeting is often the most poorly attended gathering of the week! Believers were gathered for prayer prior to the birth of the church at Pentecost (Acts 1:14), and continued in prayer afterward (Acts 2:42).  More of us need the attitude expressed in a verse of Walford’s hymn not usually used today:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Saviour shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

(2) Today in 1870 – I Am Coming to the Cross first sung

William McDonald was an American pastor with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He also worked as an editor, and authored a number of books. He says of his hymn, I Am Coming to the Cross:

The hymn was written in 1870 in the city of Brooklyn, New York, while I was pastor in that city. I had felt the need of a hymn to aid seekers of heart purity while at the altar … something, simple in expression, true to experience, and ending in the fullness of love.

In spite of some lines (not quoted below) that reflect a Wesleyan perfectionism with which I disagree, there is also here a simple expression of salvation and dedication.

I am coming to the cross;
I am poor and weak and blind;
I am counting all but dross;
I shall full salvation find.

I am trusting, Lord, in Thee.
Blessèd Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow.
Save me, Jesus, save me now.

Here I give my all to Thee:
Friends and time and earthly store;
Soul and body Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forevermore.

Today in 1836 – Sanford Bennett Born

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Musician Joe Webster had a chronic problem. He was subject to bouts of emotional depression. But his good friend, Sanford Bennett, knew how to help him at such times. Before he finished medical training and became a physician, Sanford Fillmore Bennett was a town druggist. And one day in 1868, Webster entered his establishment, carrying his violin. Without a word of greeting, he walked over to the old stove that heated the place, and stood with his back to Bennett.

“Webster, what’s the matter now?” Sanford said, kindly. “It’s no matter,” was the despondent reply. “It’ll be all right by and by.” Latching on to that last phrase, Sanford Bennett got an idea. A prescription that had often helped his friend in times of distress. He found that if he could suggest an interesting theme for a new piece of music, it helped to bring Webster out of his dark moods. “Sweet by and by!” said the druggist. “Would that not make a good hymn?” “Maybe it would,” answered the musician, without much enthusiasm.

But Bennett started working at his desk on a short poem. He tells us, “I penned the words as fast as I could write.” When he handed the lines of verse to Webster, he could see a spark of life come into his friend’s eyes. Taking up his violin, he alternately played and jotted down notes of music.

The creation of the song, words and music, took only thirty minutes. Finally, the two men called over a couple of acquaintances, and they sang the hymn “Sweet By and By” for the first time. Someone just entering the store stood listening to the impromptu quartet. With tears in his eyes he exclaimed afterward, “That hymn is immortal!”

There is no deep biblical truth expressed in the song. But it was not intended for that. It was emergency comfort and help for one who was struggling, assuring him that there was a fairer day coming when “our spirits shall sorrow no more.” And that is God’s promise (Rev. 21:4).

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

(2) Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (Data Missing)

The authorship of this warm little song is unknown, but you can see all the stanzas and hear the tune on the Cyber Hymnal.

JESUS is the name presecribed for the Son of God before He was born (Matt. 1:20-21; Lk. 1:30-31). It is found in the New Testament over 900 times, beginning with the first verse of Matthew, and on to the very last verse of the book of Revelation. The name means Jehovah [is] Salvation, and it identifies Christ as the One come to be our Saviour.

The name is also found in the Old Testament, in prophecies of the coming Messiah. The word for “salvation” in the following texts is Yeshuwah, the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus. God says of Him:

It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation [My Jesus] to the ends of the earth….The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation [the Jesus] of our God.

Isa. 49:6; Isa. 52:10

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Sing aloud the name;
Till it softly, slowly,
Sets all hearts aflame.

Jesus! name of cleansing,
Washing all our stains;
Jesus! name of healing,
Balm for all our pains.

Jesus! be our joy-note
In this vale of tears;
Till we reach the homeland,
And th’eternal years.

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