John Cosin was a Church of England clergyman. He was deposed during the Puritan era of Oliver Cromwell, at which time he ministered to the exiled royal family in France. After the Restoration, he was appointed bishop of Durham Cathedral in the north of England. A liturgical scholar, he assisted in the revision of the Book of Common Prayer. It is this volume that contains his paraphrase of Veni, Creator Spiritus, written about six centuries before Cosin’s time, and now known to us as his hymn Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire; Thou the anointing Spirit art, Who dost Thy sev’nfold gifts impart.
Praise to Thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Thy blessèd unction from above Is comfort, life, and fire of love; Enable with perpetual light The dullness of our blinded sight.
(2) Today in 1880 – Jeanette Threlfall Died
The daughter of a wine merchant, Jeanette Threlfell had a life filled with tragedy. Born in Manchester, England, she was orphaned at a young age and went to live with relatives. Later she met with two serious accidents. The first lamed and disfigured her. The second left her a virtually helpless invalid. But she is described as a cheerful woman of beautiful character, always more interested in others than in herself. Those with whom she stayed described her as a “beloved inmate” of their home.
It is possible her disability may have given her more time to pursue the writing of poetry. She produced several volumes of verse. From a volume entitled Sunshine and Shadow, comes the following hymn for Palm Sunday that takes its title from the opening words.
Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang; Through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to His breast, The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd, The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of men and angels rode on in lowly state, Nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait.
“Hosanna in the highest!” that ancient song we sing, For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise Him with heart and life and voice, And in His blissful presence eternally rejoice!
Here is a choral arrangement of this hymn. The children are rather “pitchy,” but for the most part it is well done.
Louisa May Alcott is known today as the author of such stories as the best-selling novel Little Women, but at the age of 13 Miss Alcott also wrote a hymn–the only one she ever produced–about the struggles of the soul to do what is right. The Apostle Paul would certainly agree with her discouragement (cf. Rom. 7:15), though she says nothing of the Bible’s solution, through Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer (Rom. 8:3-4).
A little kingdom I possess, Where thoughts and feelings dwell, And very hard I find the task Of governing it well; For passion tempts and troubles me, A wayward will misleads, And selfishness its shadow casts, On all my will and deeds.
Dear Father, help me with the love That castest out my fear! Teach me to lean on Thee and feel That thou art very near. That no temptation is unseen, No childish grief too small, Since Thou, with patience infinite, Dost soothe and comfort all.
Today in 1930 – Joseph Hall Died
Joseph Lincoln Hall wrote sacred oratorios, cantatas and anthems, as well as hundreds of gospel songs. He was also involved in the editing and production of several hymnals. In addition, Joseph Hall was an exceptional choral director and song leader. As a publisher of Christian music he was associated with the Hall-Mack Publishing Company, later purchased by the Rodeheaver Company.
There are a couple of gospel songs still found in some books for which Joseph Hall provided the tunes. The one he wrote for Does Jesus Care? by Frank Graeff, he described as his “most inspired” piece of music. The refrain certainly provides a strong testimony and affirmation that the Lord does indeed care for His children.
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song, As the burdens press, and the cares distress And the way grows weary and long?
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares.
Mr. Hall also supplied the tune for I Belong to the King, by Ida Reed:
I belong to the King; I’m a child of His love, I shall dwell in His palace so fair, For He tells of its bliss in yon heaven above, And His children in splendour shall share.
I belong to the King; I’m a child of His love, And he never forsaketh His own. He will call me some day to His palace above; I shall dwell by His glorified throne.
(3) That Beautiful Name (Data Missing)
We know next to nothing about Jean Perry (1865-1935), the author of the hymn That Beautiful Name. It has a Christmas theme, especially in the opening stanzas. But it also relates the manger to the cross, which I think is important. Christmas is more than a sentimental story about a Babe born in a stable. It involves the incarnation of the Son of God, born to be our Saviour.
Of the author of the words, little is known. But an interesting story centres around the tune written by Mabel Johnston Camp. Apparently, the hymn poem was given to her by the author and she attempted to compose a tune to suit it. Dissatisfied with the result, she tore up the manuscript and dropped it in the waste basket. But her husband came by, some time later, and spotted the scraps. On a whim, he took them up and patiently fitted the pieces back together. Norman Camp believed the music provided a lovely setting for the words, and he convinced his wife to have the song published. Praise the Lord for His wise providence!
I know of a name, a beautiful name, That angels brought down to earth; They whispered it low, one night long ago, To a maiden of lowly birth.
That beautiful name, that beautiful name, From sin has power to free us! That beautiful name, that wonderful name, That matchless name is Jesus!
I know of a name, a beautiful name, That unto a Babe was given. The stars glittered bright throughout that glad night, And angels praised God in heav’n.
The One of that name, my Saviour became, My Saviour of Calvary. My sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare. He suffered all this for me.
Jeremiah Eames Rankin pastored churches in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, as well as in Washington D.C. In 1889, he became president of Howard University in that city.
Dr. Rankin wrote a number of gospel songs. But only one remains in common use. He based God Be with You Till We Meet Again on the etymology of the common word “goodbye.” The expression is actually a contraction of “God be with ye.” The first recorded use of it as a farewell is found in a letter written in 1573, where it is spelled godbwyes.
Rankin has restored the original thought, giving us a prayer for the Lord’s continuing care of the one we are parting from. It is reminiscent of the words of Paul when he bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus: “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace” (Acts 20:32). The hymn was written in 1880, during the years Jeremiah Rankin was pastor of a church in Washington.
God be with you till we meet again; By His counsels guide, uphold you, With His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet; Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; ‘Neath His wings protecting hide you; Daily manna still provide you; God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; When life’s perils thick confound you; Put His arms unfailing round you; God be with you till we meet again.
(2) Today in 1946 – John Clements Died
John Ralston Clements was born in Ireland. His family came to America in 1870, and he put his faith in Christ at the age of 18 through the preaching of D. L. Moody. He went on to an active ministry for the Lord, serving as president of the Practical Bible Training School in Lestershire, New York, for 17 years. He described himself at one point as “a three-score-and-sixteen-year-old Christian Endeavourer.”
Mr. Clements also wrote more than 5,000 hymns. In 1893 he published Jesus Leads. It is one of many songs that reflect upon the shepherd care of the Lord that the Bible speaks of so often (cf. Ps. 23).
Like a shepherd, tender, true, Jesus leads, Jesus leads, Daily finds us pastures new, Jesus leads, Jesus leads; If thick mists are o’er the way, Or the flock ’mid danger feeds, He will watch them lest they stray, Jesus leads, Jesus leads.
Six years later, John Clements published what is likely his best-known song, No Night There. The hymn is based on the description of the heavenly city given to us in Rev. 21-22. It was gazing at a sunset in California that inspired the author with the theme. He says:
The sky, riot with every hue in the spectrum of colour–so majestic, that I was afraid to move for fear of it disappearing. It actually took my breath away. And then came the thought: Darkness will soon follow this great spectacle. But some day I’ll be in the land where there is no night but eternal day, and with it no pain, no death nor fears. Just one glorious day that will never end, in a place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us….That evening I wrote No Night There.
In the land of fadeless day, Lies “the city foursquare,” It shall never pass away, And there is “no night there.”
God shall “wipe away all tears” There’s no death, no pain, nor fears; And they count not time by years, For there is “no night there.”
All the gates shall never close, To “the city foursquare,” There life’s crystal river flows, And there is “no night there.”
There they need no sunshine bright, In “that city foursquare,” For the Lamb is all the light, And there is “no night there.”
Andrew Reed was born in London, England, and later became a pastor in that city. He was also widely known as a social activist, being largely responsible for founding such institutions as: the London Orphan Asylum, the Royal Hospital for Incurables, the Asylum for Fatherless Children and more.
Reed wrote 21 hymns as well, one of which he called Prayer in the Holy Spirit. In his lovely little hymn (which we now know as Holy Ghost, with Light Divine) Andrew Reed speaks of the Spirit of God coming into his life. In his prayer, he gives the Spirit full permission to remove any pretender from the throne.
Holy Ghost, with light divine Shine upon this heart of mine; Chase the shades of night away, Turn my darkness into day.
Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine; Cast down every idol throne, Reign supreme, and reign alone.
(2) Today in 1862 – Adelaide Pollard Born
Adelaide Addison Pollard was a Bible teacher and missionary, and the author of over 100 hymns and gospel songs. She died in 1934 of a ruptured appendix. Only one of her hymns is in common use today, and the incident that led to its composition is interesting.
Adelaide Pollard believed the Lord wanted her to go to Africa as a missionary. It was a noble cause, but for some reason the funds for the trip did not come in. As Miss Pollard waited on the Lord to provide, her discouragement grew. Then, one evening in 1902 she attended a small prayer meeting.
In the group was an elderly woman whose prayer pricked Adelaide’s doubting, troubled heart. The woman said, “It’s all right, Lord. It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives. Just have Your own way with us.” Letting God have His way. The would-be missionary pondered that. Could it be she was insisting the Lord accept her way instead of submitting to His?
Adelaide Pollard considered what she had heard that evening, and before retiring to bed she composed a hymn of dedication called Have Thine Own Way, Lord. She went on to become an itinerant Bible teacher, and she taught for eight years at the Missionary Training School in New York City. Ironically, she did get to serve in Africa for a short time, just before the outbreak of the First World War. Sometimes, it may not be a matter of having the wrong plan, but of our failure to wait for God’s best time.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mould me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.
James Ellor was born in Droylsden, a village about three miles from Manchester, England. He was not a hymn writer, but was a hat maker by trade. In fact, most of the inhabitants of his little village were employed at the hat making factory. However, in the evening, many of the folk gathered to practice hymns to be sung at the Wesleyan Chapel on the next Lord’s Day. James Ellor was their leader, the music they produced attracted attention for miles around. Many would attend the services just to enjoy the blessing of the music.
One day in 1838, when Ellor was 19, he brought his choir a new tune he’d composed for the hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name. He had written it for the occasion of a Sunday School anniversary in their home church. The tune, called Diadem, was enthusiastically received, and it has been used with the hymn ever since. In 1843, James Ellor came to America, resuming his hat making trade on this side of the Atlantic.
Ellor is remembered in hymnody solely for his great hymn tune. In my view, it is the best tune for this marvellous hymn. There is a wonderful running bass part in the refrain that enhances the melody. If you have a congregation that can sing it, it will certainly adorn and enrich the powerful message of the hymn.
There are two other tunes commonly found in hymnals with this hymn. One is Miles Lane (also called Shrubsole after the composer, William Shrubsole). The composer was a personal friend of Edward Perronet who wrote the words, and he produced the tune expressly to go with them. It is a dramatic melody, and is quite common in Britain. Its only drawback is its octave-and-a-half range, which is too much for many singers. The other tune used for All Hail the Power is Coronation, by Oliver Holden. This seems to be the common setting for the hymn in many hymnals in America.
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all!
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all!
(2) O Teach Me What It Meaneth (Data Missing)
How little we understand of the meaning of the cross. We may have the basics, but there is so much more. This fine hymn is a prayer for the Lord to help us understand more.
The hymn O Teach Me What It Meaneth is ascribed to English hymn writer Lucy Ann Bennett, of whom we know little. She was born some time in 1850, and died in 1927. [Since this post was written, more information has come to light. The author’s dates are: b. Jan. 8, 1850; d. Mar. 10, 1927.] Here is the hymn, in part. The whole song is worth a look, and you can see it on the Cyber Hymnal.
O teach me what it meaneth, That cross uplifted high, With One, the Man of Sorrows, Condemned to bleed and die! O teach me what it cost Thee To make a sinner whole; And teach me, Saviour, teach me The value of a soul!
O teach me what it meaneth, Thy love beyond compare, The love that reacheth deeper Than depths of self-despair! Yes, teach me, till there gloweth In this cold heart of mine Some feeble, pale reflection Of that pure love of Thine.
O infinite Redeemer! I bring no other plea; Because Thou dost invite me I cast myself on Thee. Because Thou dost accept me I love and I adore; Because Thy love constraineth, I’ll praise Thee evermore!
The eldest of nine children, Isaac Watts was in frail health all of his life. And standing only five feet tall, with a large head, and a long hooked nose, he was not a physically imposing figure. He proposed marriage to a young woman named Elizabeth Singer, but she turned him down, saying, “Mr. Watts, I only wish I could admire the casket [the jewelry box] as much as I admire the jewel!” Rather than face such humiliation again, Watts became a lifelong bachelor.
But Isaac Watts was a genius. Sometimes that word is applied carelessly, but in this case it fits. As a boy, he was learning Latin at the age of four or five, Greek at the age of nine, French at twelve, and Hebrew by the time he was thirteen. He wrote 52 scholarly works on theology, and other subjects. His book on logic was used as a university text for the next century. (For more about Dr. Watts and his hymns, see Today in 1674.)
Yet with all his many accomplishments as an author and a pastor, it is Dr. Watts’s amazing facility with poetry that has left a lasting imprint on history. Known today as the “Father of English Hymnody,” he eventually wrote nearly 800 hymns (the Cyber Hymnal lists 823). His hymns are often strongly doctrinal, but he could express tender emotion too, as he does in this lovely lullaby, or Christmas hymn:
Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed, Heav’nly blessings without number, Gently falling on thy head. How much better thou art tended, Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended, And became a child like thee!
Soft and easy is thy cradle, Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay: When His birthplace was a stable, And His softest bed was hay. Oh, to tell the wondrous story, How His foes abused their King; How they killed the Lord of glory, Makes me angry while I sing.
And Watts wrote children’s hymns as well, though we might not think of them as such today. There is nothing of the trite shallowness of Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain in his song about creation, I Sing the Mighty Power of God, appearing in his book Divine Songs attempted in Easy Language, for the Use of Children–the first English hymnal written especially for children.
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
Join All the Glorious Names is a hymn Watts published in 1707, calling it originally Offices of Christ. In it, he extols the Lord Jesus Christ using some of His names and titles as found in Scripture. However, he confesses these are too limited to describe the infinite greatness of the Son of God.
Join all the glorious names Of wisdom, love, and power, That ever mortals knew, That angels ever bore: All are too mean to speak His worth, Too poor to set my Savior forth.
It is worthwhile to pause a moment and record Isaac Watts’s words on his deathbed. They reveal the faith and dedication of this great servant of God. To the one attending him he said:
If God should raise me up again, I may finish some more of my papers, or God can make use of me to save a soul, and that will be worth living for. If God has no more service for me to do, through grace I am ready; it is a great mercy to me that I have no manner of fear or dread of death….I trust all my sins are pardoned through the blood of Christ….I have no fear of dying.
(2) Today in 1871 – Mabel Camp Born
Mabel Johnston, a banker’s daughter, was a gifted pianist and alto soloist. She married a lawyer named Norman Camp, and they both came to Christ in Bible classes taught by an outstanding American Bible teacher named William Newell. She and her husband attended Moody Church in Chicago. Mrs. Camp composed tunes for the songs of others, as with the hymn I Know of a Name, and she wrote gospel songs herself, such as He Is Coming Again (published in 1913).
Lift up your heads, pilgrims aweary, See day’s approach now crimson the sky; Night shadows flee, and your Belovèd, Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.
He is coming again, He is coming again, The very same Jesus, rejected of men; He is coming again, He is coming again, With power and great glory, He is coming again!
(3) Today in 1929 – Elisha Hoffman Died
Elisha Albright Hoffman was the son of a clergyman, and he followed in his father’s footsteps, pastoring churches in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. He also wrote over 2,000 gospel songs, usually providing both words and music, and he edited 50 song books. Among the lyrics Hoffman wrote are:
Are You Washed in the Blood? Down at the Cross I Must Tell Jesus Is Thy Heart Right with God? Is Your All on the Altar? Leaning on the Everlasting Arms What a Wonderful Saviour!
The latter hymn was published in 1891. It repeats the title phrase many times. But the repetition (as in the case of his song I Must Tell Jesus) helps to emphasize the point. Christ is a wonderful Saviour!
Christ has for sin atonement made What a wonderful Saviour! We are redeemed, the price is paid What a wonderful Saviour!
What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus! What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!
George Croly was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1780. When he was about 30 years of age he moved to London, and took up a ministry there that lasted for the next 50 years. He reopened St. Stephen’s Church in a poor section of the city–a church that had been closed for a century. He proved himself to be a strong fundamentalist preacher, opposing liberalism of any kind. (In spite of the bad press the word fundamentalist has received in recent years, in Christianity, the word simply signifies one who adheres to the fundamental or foundational doctrines of the Bible.)
George Croly also wrote copiously, books on history and biography, as well as on biblical subjects. In addition, he wrote a number of hymns, published in 1854 in a volume entitled Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship. Unfortunately, most copies of this book were destroyed in a fire. It is now an extremely rare volume. But one passionate hymn about the Holy Spirit has survived and is still much used, Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart. The text he superscribed as reflective of his song’s intent is: “If we live in the Spirit [i.e. through the new birth], let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25).
Some might be concerned that Croly’s choice of phrasing seems to take us back at times into a pre-Pentecost environment. After all, the Spirit of God not only comes upon but permanently indwells every Christian at conversion (Rom. 8:9, 15). His presence is God’s seal upon us that we belong to Him (Eph. 1:13-14). But if we take Croly to be pleading simply for the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in his life, we can concur.
The baptizing work of the Spirit of God unites us to Christ and makes us a part of His spiritual body, the church (I Cor. 12:12-13; Gal. 3:26-28). So to avoid a confusion of the ministries of the Spirit, some modern editors have changed the line in the last stanza where the author prays for “The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove” to “The kindling of the heaven-descended Dove.” But apart from these things, there are so many choice insights in the hymn it is very much worthy of our meditation.
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move; Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art; And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, No sudden rending of the veil of clay, No angel visitant, no opening skies; But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear. To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh, Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
(2) More from Avis Christiansen
Sometimes using pen names such as Christian B. Anson, Avis Burgesson (a variation of her maiden name), and Constance B. Ried, Avis B. Christiansen (1895-1985) produced many fine gospel songs. In 1918, Mrs. Christiansen published It Is Glory Just to Walk with Him. Haldor Lillenas provided the sprightly tune.
It is glory just to walk with Him Whose blood has ransomed me; It is rapture for my soul each day. It is joy divine to feel Him near Where’er my path may be. Bless the Lord, it’s glory all the way!
It is glory just to walk with Him, It is glory just to walk with Him, He will guide my steps aright Through the vale and o’er the height, It is glory just to walk with Him.
’Twill be glory when I walk with Him On heaven’s golden shore, Never from His side again to stray. ’Twill be glory, wondrous glory With the Saviour evermore, Everlasting glory all the way!
Thomas Tallis was England’s leading church musician during the reign of Henry VIII, and other Tudor monarchs that followed him. The composer lived through Henry’s conflict and final break with the Church of Rome, and he wrote music for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. Tallis served as an organist in Dover, then in London. Around 1543 he became “Gentleman of the Chapel Royal,” probably playing there and composing for the rest of his life.
Tallis is famous for writing the most complex choral work ever produced. Most commonly, choir pieces involve four parts (or voices) singing together–soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Occasionally a higher soprano obbligato is added for effect. But Tallis has given us a choral number in 40 parts, written for eight five-voiced choirs!
Thomas Tallis composed a few hymn tunes that are still in use four centuries after they were written. One is Tallis’ Canon used with All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night. And Tallis’ Ordinal is used with When All Thy Mercies, O My God.
When all Thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I’m lost In wonder, love and praise.
(2) Today in 1872 – John Bowring Died
A prominent British statesman and linguist, John Bowring served two terms as a member of parliament, and was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1854. Bowring also wrote several hymns, including: In the Cross of Christ I Glory, God Is Love–His Mercy Brightens, and the lovely carol Watchman, Tell us of the Night.
Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height, See that glory beaming star. Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes—it brings the day, Promised day of Israel.
Watchman, tell us of the night, For the morning seems to dawn. Traveler, darkness takes its flight, Doubt and terror are withdrawn. Watchman, let thy wanderings cease; Hie thee to thy quiet home. Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace, Lo! the Son of God is come!
(3) Today in 1895 – Sylvanus Phelps Died
Sylvanus Dryden Phelps was an American Baptist clergyman who pastored churches in Connecticut and Rhode Island. He also became editor of The Christian Secretary. His son attained wider fame than the father, being an author, critic and scholar, and professor of English at Yale University for 41 years. The son famously said, “This is the first test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible value to him.”
Sylvanus Phelps wrote a number of books of both poetry and prose. But he has left us only one fine hymn, written in 1862, Saviour, Thy Dying Love (also called Something for Thee). It was published under the heading, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6, KJV). It is somewhat problematic whether we can actually give God anything, since He has created all things. But rendering to Him our obedience and our sincere worship would seem to fit the case.
Robert Lowry, who wrote the tune, said, “It is worth living seventy years even if nothing comes of it but one such hymn.” Phelps, for his part, said of Lowry’s tune, “Dr. Lowry has given wings to my hymn.” It was the author’s wish that his tombstone recognize him for the hymn, and it was.
Saviour, Thy dying love Thou gavest me. Nor should I aught withhold, dear Lord, from Thee. In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfill its vow, Some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee.
At the blest mercy seat, pleading for me, My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee. Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare, Some song to raise, or prayer, something for Thee.
Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee. That each departing day henceforth may see Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done, Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee.
All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free, In joy, in grief, through life, dear Lord, for Thee! And when Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be Through all eternity, something for Thee.
Born in Massachusetts, Daniel Webster Whittle was named after the famed New England attorney, statesman and politician Daniel Webster (1782-1852). He served in the American Civil War, attaining the rank of major. During one battle, he was severely wounded, losing an arm, and he ended up in a prisoner-of-war camp. It was during that time that he put his faith in Christ, and his conversion was unusual, to say the least.
Because of his injury, Whittle spent a long time in the prison hospital. Having nothing to read while he convalesced, he took up a New Testament his mother had packed in his belongings. He read and read it, with growing interest. A short time later, an orderly awoke him, saying a dying prisoner wanted him to pray with him. Seeing him reading his Bible, the hospital orderly had assumed he was a Christian, which he was not. But he finally agreed to make his way to the boy’s bedside. Major Whittle says:
I dropped on my knees and held the boy’s hand in mine. In a few broken words I confessed my sins and asked Christ to forgive me. I believed right there that He did forgive me. I then prayed earnestly for the boy. He became quiet and pressed my hand as I prayed and pleaded God’s promises. When I arose from my knees, he was dead. A look of peace had come over his troubled face, and I cannot but believe that God who used him to bring me to the Saviour, used me to lead him to trust Christ’s precious blood and find pardon. I hope to meet him in heaven.
Daniel Whittle went on to become an effective evangelist after the war, and he wrote many gospel songs. Quite a few of these are still found in hymnals and gospel song books. Here are a few of them:
Beloved, Now Are We the Sons of God Christ Liveth in Me Have You Any Room for Jesus? (adapted from an anonymous poem) I Know Whom I Have Believed Moment by Moment The Banner of the Cross The Crowning Day Is Coming There Shall Be Showers of Blessing Why Not Now?
The song I Know Whom I Have Believed is based on the testimony of the Apostle Paul: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (II Tim. 1:12). It is a reminder that there are lots of things we do not know–at least, not yet. But what we can know for certain, based on the sure promises of God, is that Christ has the power to save and keep those who come to Him.
I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own.
But I know Whom I have believèd, And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.
I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart, Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart.
(2) Today in 1900 – Arthur Sullivan Died
Arthur Seymour Sullivan was best known in his day for writing popular operettas with William Gilbert (such as H.M.S. Pinafore). But he wrote a wide variety of other music as well, including many hymn tunes. After he was knighted by Queen Victoria, some criticized him for “lowering” himself to write comic operas, but others praised the genius that enabled him to compose music in so many styles, and do it so well.
The most familiar of his hymn tunes, St. Gertrude, is used with Onward Christian Soldiers. The tune, written in 1871, was named in honour of a friend, Mrs. Gertrude Clay-Ker-Seymer. He often visited the family at their home in Dorsetshire, and wrote the melody there.
Sir Arthur Sullivan died of heart failure at his flat in London. A monument to his memory is inscribed with words from The Yeoman of the Guard, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas: “Is life a boon [a blessing]? If so, it must befall that Death, whene’er he call, must call too soon.”
John Henry Yates was born and died in Batavia, New York. He held a number of jobs over the years. In his early days he was a shoe salesman, as was D. L. Moody in his youth. Then he had a turn at being a newspaper editor, and a hardware store manager. In 1886, he became a Methodist pastor, later joining the Free Will Baptists.
It was in 1891, during his stint as an editor, that John Yates published the gospel song, Faith Is the Victory. It was one of several song texts that the author sent to musician Ira Sankey, so that he could supply tunes for them.
The basic theme of the hymn mentioned comes from I Jn. 5:4, “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.” That is, the born again Christian has the power available to have victory over the temptations of this evil world, and faith in God is the key to that victorious living.
Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise. And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled. Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love, Our sword the Word of God. We tread the road the saints above With shouts of triumph trod. By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, Swept on o’er every field. The faith by which they conquered death Is still our shining shield.
What Makes a Good Hymn? Not all the hymns in our hymnals are of the highest quality, but some are. And what are some of the characteristics to look for in the best of our hymns? Here are five to consider.
(2) Today in 1927 – James Clem Died
American composer James Bowman Overton Clem was the nephew of Methodist Episcopal bishop Thomas Bowman, and the cousin of Virginia Clem, wife of author Edgar Allen Poe. We know little else about him, other than that he wrote the tune Far and Near for James Thompson’s missionary hymn of the same name. (To read more about this hymn, see the second item under Today in 1790.) The song is based on the words of the Lord Jesus regarding the need of willing workers to serve Him:
The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. (Matt. 9:37-38)
Far and near the fields are teeming With the waves of ripened grain; Far and near their gold is gleaming O’er the sunny slope and plain.
Lord of harvest, send forth reapers! Hear us, Lord, to Thee we cry; Send them now the sheaves to gather Ere the harvest time pass by.
O thou, whom thy Lord is sending, Gather now the sheaves of gold; Heav’nward then at evening wending, Thou shalt come with joy untold.
