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Today in 1808 – Horatius Bonar Born

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Horatius Bonar was a Scottish pastor, and a renowned evangelical preacher. He also had a major part in organizing the Free Church of Scotland. Bonar, known as “the prince of Scottish hymn writers,” also produced some 600 hymns. (For more, see the second item under Today in 1865.)  Examples of his work:

Go, Labour On
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
I Lay My Sins on Jesus
No, Not Despairingly
Not What These Hands Have Done
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face

The last of these, a Communion hymn, was written at the request of Horatius Bonar’s brother John, the pastor of St. Andrews’ Free Church, Greenock, Scotland. Once each year, Horatius went to visit, and assisted his brother at the Lord’s Supper. It was for such a service in October of 1855 that Horatius Bonar supplied this beautiful hymn. The original had 10 stanzas, but here is a sampling. (You are permitted a “Wow!” when you get to the end!)

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

This is the hour of banquet and of song;
This is the heavenly table spread for me;
Here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
The hallowed hour of fellowship with Thee.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness:
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
Thy Blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God!

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by;
Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love.

Here is a beautiful choral arrangement of this hymn–by a very fine church choir.

(2) Today in 1860 – Frank Graeff Born

Frank Ellsworth Graeff was a Methodist pastor who served several churches in the area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Widely known and beloved, he was called the “Sunshine Minister” because of his encouraging optimism and simple faith. He also wrote 200 hymn texts and a book of fiction called The Minister’s Twins.

In spite of Graeff’s sunny disposition, he faced many hardships in his life. It was while enduring a particularly severe trial that he penned the words of the only song of his that remains in common use, Does Jesus Care? Each stanza raises the question in connection with some trial. Then, the refrain provides the resounding answer of faith.

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.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Today in 1707 – Charles Wesley Born

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English hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns. While most have been forgotten, there are many that are still printed in our hymn books three centuries after his birth. Some of them rank among the best in the English language. Here are a few that are commonly used today:

A Charge to Keep I Have
And Can It Be?
Arise, My Soul, Arise
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Forth in Thy Name, O Lord
Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
O for a Heart to Praise My God
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
Soldiers of Christ, Arise
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim

It is simply impossible in the blog to do justice to the wonderful output of this man. But allow me a brief comment on several of the songs listed.

In his brother John’s Character of a Methodist, published around 1741, is found the words of Soldiers of Christ, Arise. It is based on the following passage of Scripture that deals with spiritual warfare, and the armour God provides for our defense (Eph. 6:10-17). (Note: The word “panoply” in Wesley’s hymn refers to a full suit of armour, a complete set of equipment.)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armour on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies through His eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts, and in His mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror.

Stand then in His great might, with all His strength endued,
But take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God;
That, having all things done, and all your conflicts passed,
Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone and stand entire at last.

The original of the above hymn had sixteen stanzas (which the Cyber Hymnal gives us), but I believe editors have chosen the best for our use today. From his Hymns and Sacred Poems, published in 1742 we have another hymn:

O for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels Thy blood
So freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer’s throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.

The Methodists faced a great deal of persecution in those days. To encourage them, Charles Wesley published Hymns in Times of Trouble and Persecution, in 1744. From this collection, here are a couple of stanzas of Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim–stanzas not usually included in our hymnals. They particularly suggest the dangers and difficulties these Christians faced.

The waves of the sea have lift up their voice,
Sore troubled that we in Jesus rejoice;
The floods they are roaring, but Jesus is here;
While we are adoring, He always is near.

When devils engage, the billows arise,
And horribly rage, and threaten the skies:
Their fury shall never our steadfastness shock,
The weakest believer is built on a rock.

In Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, in 1745, Wesley included:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Buffalo Bill

(2) Today in 1903 – Dion de Marbelle Died

Daniel (or Dion) De Marbelle had a fascinating history. He sailed with a whaling crew in his youth, and served in the American navy during the Mexican War (1847), and as a drum major in the American Civil War. He toured America as a musician and an actor with an opera company, later organizing his own theatrical troupe.

When James A. Bailey (the future partner of P. T. Barnum) organized a circus, De Marbelle was hired as his first clown. He later headed up his own circus, but lost everything when a fire destroyed his tents during a tour of Canada. Then he helped Buffalo Bill Cody organize his popular Wild West show. This is the man who wrote When They Ring the Golden Bells:

There’s a land beyond the river,
That we call the sweet forever,
And we only reach that shore by faith’s decree;
One by one we’ll gain the portals,
There to dwell with the immortals,
When they ring the golden bells for you and me.

Don’t you hear the bells now ringing?
Don’t you hear the angels singing?
’Tis the glory hallelujah Jubilee.
In that far off sweet forever,
Just beyond the shining river,
When they ring the golden bells for you and me.

We shall know no sin or sorrow,
In that haven of tomorrow,
When our barque shall sail beyond the silver sea;
We shall only know the blessing
Of our Father’s sweet caressing,
When they ring the golden bells for you and me.

De Marbelle faced severe financial troubles in his latter years. His old friend Bill Cody visited and gave him money at one point. And neighbours helped too. The man accepted his trials with grace, saying, “For years I was so busy I didn’t have time for God, and so rich I didn’t need Him. God had to slow me down and take my success away, so that He could talk to me about the home beyond the river.”

Today in 1807 – John Whittier Born

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Known as the Quaker Poet, John Greenleaf Whittier was an editor, and member of his government as well. He was elected to the Massachusetts legislature (1847-1859), and served as secretary of the American Anti-slavery Society. Though he did not consider himself a hymn writer, almost a hundred hymns have been drawn from his poetry. (See also Today in 1892.) From a poem of 22 stanzas Whittier called The Eternal Goodness, comes a hymn of trust in the Lord called I Know Not What the Future Hath.

I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
God’s mercy underlies.

And if my heart and flesh are weak
To bear an untried pain,
The bruised reed He will not break,
But strengthen and sustain.

Marianne Hearn

(2) Today in 1834 – Marianne Hearn Born

Marianne Hearn was an English author, editor of the Sunday School Times, and on the staff of the Christian World newspaper. In addition, she wrote extensively, publishing 20 volumes of her collected works, often writing under the pen name Mary Anne Farningham. It is said that Hearn was greatly beloved within her Baptist denomination. She wrote a hymn of dedication for the young called Just As I Am Thine Own to Be (not to be confused with Charlotte Elliott’s invitation hymn, Just As I Am).

Just as I am, Thine own to be,
Friend of the young, who lovest me,
To consecrate myself to Thee,
O Jesus Christ, I come.

In the glad morning of my day,
My life to give, my vows to pay,
With no reserve and no delay,
With all my heart I come.

Just as I am, young, strong, and free,
To be the best that I can be
For truth, and righteousness, and Thee,
Lord of my life, I come.

Today in 1770 – Ludwig van Beethoven Born

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Beethovan

Beethoven stands atop the ranks of great composers, perhaps rivalled only by Johann Sebastian Bach. He was born in Bonn, Germany. A true prodigy, he began working on music at the age of 4, played concerts at the age of 8, and began serious composition at the age of 10. When he was 12, he conducted an opera orchestra. But in spite of this early beginning, his greatest work often took years of struggle to produce.

Beethovan’s religious views are difficult to catagorize. He was baptized and raised a Catholic, but his principle teacher and mentor was a Protestant. Although his beliefs were untraditional and even eccentric, there is no doubt of his devotion to God. He wrote:

Almighty God, You look down into my innermost soul, You see into my heart and You know that it is filled with love for humanity and a desire to do good.

Calmly will I submit myself to all inconsistency and will place all my confidence in Your eternal goodness, O God! My soul shall rejoice in Thee, immutable Being. Be my rock, my light, forever my trust.

Beethoven did not write hymn tunes specifically, but many themes from his compositions have been used as such. The most famous of these comes from his magnificent 9th Symphony, and the Hymn to Joy in the last movement. Henry van Dyke suggested it as the tune for a hymn he wrote in 1907 called Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

sunrise sunset

(2) Today in 1826 – John Ellerton Born

John Ellerton was a preacher, teacher and author, as well as being a fine hymn writer. He wrote or translated 86 hymns, and as an editor of hymn books and a consultant in the editorial process, he held a prominent place in church music for decades. Interestingly, he refused to copyright his songs, saying that if they were “counted worthy to contribute to Christ’s praise in the congregation, one ought to feel very thankful and humble.” (For more about Ellerton and his hymns, see Today in 1893.)

His wonderful hymn The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended may look from the title as though it was intended as a closing hymn, but it also has a world missions theme. I do not usually give the full text of hymns in these blogs, more often simply providing sample stanzas. However, in this case, we need them all. As Christians we need to sense something of the spreading grandeur of the church of Jesus Christ.

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ’neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away:
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

Today in 1843 – Albert Simpson Born

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Albert Benjamin Simpson was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada. While attending high school in Chatham, Ontario, he put his faith in Christ. In 1864, he began a successful pastoral ministry at Knox Presbyterian Church, in Hamilton, Ontario (my own home town). He was an eloquent preacher and able leader, and during his eight years there, God used him to add 750 new members to the congregation.

Albert Simpson’s keen interest in world missions, as well as his particular views on sanctification and bodily healing, led him to found the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. And although he had no formal musical training, Pastor Simpson had a keen sense of melody and rhythm, and wrote many hymns. Something of his missionary fervour is seen in the hymn, A Missionary Cry:

A hundred thousand souls a day
Are passing one by one away
In Christless guilt and gloom;
Without one ray of hope or light,
With future dark as endless night,
They’re passing to their doom,
They’re passing to their doom.

Other songs from Simpson’s pen are: Yesterday, Today, Forever, What Will You Do with Jesus? and Step by Step. An unusual song called Himself addresses the danger of focusing on the Lord’s blessings rather than on the One who blesses us:

Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, now it is His Word;
Once His gift I wanted, now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.

All in all forever,
Jesus will I sing;
Everything in Jesus,
And Jesus everything.

globe sunrise

(2) Today in 1861 – Anna Olander Born

Anna Helena Olander, the daughter of a clergyman, was a Swedish hymn writer. Early in life she started writing poems and stories. She edited nearly 50 books, and also translated hymns into Swedish from English and German, as well as writing some original songs herself.

The only song of hers that is still in use in English is If I Gained the World. It gives us a meditation on the stirring question of Jesus: “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,
Were my life worth living for a day?
Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort
In the things that soon must pass away?
If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,
Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife?
Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing
For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

O the joy of having all in Jesus!
What a balm the broken heart to heal!
Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it,
Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!
If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,
Nothing else in all the world beside—
O then everything is mine in Jesus;
For my needs and more He will provide.

(2) Today in 1961 – James Coats Died

James B. Coats was born in 1901, in Summerland, Mississippi. With his innate musical gift, when only fourteen, he was teaching music classes, and serving as a song leader. A public school teacher most of his life, he was also a staff song writer for the Stamps-Baxter Music Company, and a deacon in his home church for about three decades. Mr. Coats wrote many gospel songs, the best known being Where Could I Go But to the Lord?

Living below in this old sinful world,
Hardly a comfort can afford;
Striving alone to face temptations sore,
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Where could I go, O where could I go;
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me in the end,
Where could I go but to the Lord?

It seems like this one is just about everyone’s karaoke favourite. Many, many versions on YouTube. Most of them are mediocre, as far as the performance is concerned. My greater concern and hope is that those who sing this song truly believe its simple message: that the Lord Jesus Christ is the soul’s only true and trustworthy Refuge. The rendition below? Well…It made me smile. 🙂

Today in 1836 – Francis Havergal Born

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new year

In a way, the days flow after one another in a regular sequence, and our adherence to a “calendar” is a social convention for convenience sake. January 1st is just another day, like December 31st. But we have accepted the idea that a new year begins each January, and it has become an important time to look back, and look ahead.

Frances Ridley Havergal, the great English hymn writer, used to send New Year’s cards, rather than Christmas cards. And she wrote her own verses to include in them. (Wouldn’t you like to have received one of them?) A couple of these poems have become fine New Year’s hymns. I encourage you to take a look, and perhaps use one or both in a church service this year. Both are excellent. One of these, written in 1873, is Standing at the Portal.

The other, Another Year Is Dawning, is from a card Miss Havergal sent in 1874.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

It is a bit frustrating, when dealing with gifted writers who have produced many hymns, to try to give an adequate sampling of their work in this kind of blog–abbreviated as it tends to be. Before we leave Miss Havergal, let me add two more songs of hers that have merit: O Saviour, Precious Saviour, and I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus.

O Saviour, precious Saviour,
Whom yet unseen we love!
O name of might and favour,
All other names above!
We worship Thee, we bless Thee,
To Thee, O Christ, we sing;
We praise Thee, and confess Thee
Our holy Lord and King.

Then, we have I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, a simple declaration of faith that is said to have been Frances Havergal’s favourite of all the hymns she wrote.

I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.

I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead;
Every day and hour supplying
All my need.

I am trusting Thee for power,
Thine can never fail;
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.

(2) Today in 1891 – Henry Barraclough Born

Henry Barraclough was born in England. For a time he served as the secretary of a British member of Parliament. Then he joined the team of evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman, as their accompanist.

In the summer of 1915, Chapman preached a sermon at a Christian camp in North Carolina. His text was Psalm 45:8, and he showed how the words provide a prophetic picture of Christ. The verse says, “All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.”

As an aside: There is a historical oddity connected with that verse. In 1879, a man named James Norris Gamble was sitting in church when the passage was read. He thought “ivory” would be a perfect name for a new soap his father, the co-founder of Proctor and Gamble, was about to market. That is how Ivory Soap got its name!

More importantly, the text is a poetic description of a Hebrew king in his resplendence, coming from his palace for his wedding. As he proceeds on his way, the fragrance of his garments is shed abroad. Myrrh and cassia were two of the principle ingredients used for the anointing oil referred to in vs. 7 (cf. Exod. 30:22-25). It was used in inaugurating the priests and kings of Israel. Myrrh and aloes are also mentioned in the marriage preparations of King Solomon (S.S. 4:14).

The spices which perfumed the king’s robes have a connection to the Lord Jesus too. Myrrh was one of the gifts of the wise men brought to the baby Jesus (Matt. 2:11). And myrrh and aloes were used to embalm the body of Christ at His burial (Jn. 19:39). Ps. 45:8 gives us a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, coming for His spiritual bride, the church.

Following Chapman’s sermon, his pianist, Henry Barraclough, created a hymn based on the text. It is the only song we have from him.

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine,
And myrrh their texture fills;
Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine
With joy my being thrills.

Out of the ivory palaces,
Into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love
Made my Saviour go.

His life had also its sorrows sore,
For aloes had a part;
And when I think of the cross He bore,
My eyes with teardrops start.

In garments glorious He will come,
To open wide the door;
And I shall enter my heav’nly home,
To dwell forevermore.

Today in 1769 – Christian Gellert Died

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Christian Furchtegott Gellert’s father was a Lutheran pastor. For a time, Christian assisted him. But both physical and emotional maladies forced him to leave the ministry to take up the less demanding role of a private tutor. He also took on a minor post at the University of Leipzig, where he had trained. He lectured on poetry and rhetoric, and taught philosophy, and was apparently very popular with his students. Gellert wrote over 50 hymns, but only a few remain in common use. One is Jesus Lives and So Shall I, published in 1751.

Jesus lives! No longer now
Can thy terrors, death, appall us;
Jesus lives! By this we know
Thou, O grave, canst not enthrall us.
Alleluia!

Jesus lives! Henceforth is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm our trembling breath,
When we pass its gloomy portal.
Alleluia!

Jesus lives! Our hearts know well
Naught from us His love shall sever;
Life, nor death, nor powers of hell
Tear us from His keeping ever.
Alleluia!

(2) Today in 1823 – William How Born

William Walsham How was a spiritually-minded Anglican clergyman. His son wrote of him:

It is the fate of a hymn writer to be forgotten. Of the millions who Sunday after Sunday sing hymns in our churches, not more than a few hundred know or consider whose words they are singing….Bishop Walsham How was prepared for this. His ambition was not to be remembered, but to be helpful. He gave free liberty to any to make use of his hymns. It was enough for him if he could enlarge the thanksgiving of the church or minister by song to the souls of men.

Few who have sung his hymns would doubt this goal has been achieved. (For more on Bishop How and his hymns, see the second item under Today in 1810.) Of the more than 50 How wrote, several are still in common use:

For All the Saints
Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love
O Jesus, Thou Art Standing
O Word of God Incarnate
Soldiers of Christ, Arise
We Give Thee but Thine Own

One of Bishop How’s hymns that is rarely used today is Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love. It contains allusions to the angel telling Joseph to name the coming One “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), and to Paul’s words, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

Jesus! name of wondrous love!
Name all other names above!
Unto which must every knee
Bow in deep humility.

Jesus! name of priceless worth
To the fallen sons of earth,
For the promise that it gave—
“Jesus shall His people save.”

Jesus! Only name that’s given
Under all the mighty heaven,
Whereby man, to sin enslaved,
Bursts his fetters, and is saved.

William Walsham How’s hymn on Christian stewardship issues an important reminder that all that we are and have comes from the Lord in the first place.

We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our firstfruits give.

In the following brief video clip, the first stanza of the hymn appears to be used as a musical prayer before the receiving of the offering. The other interesting thing here is the projection of the words above the choir. I wonder if that would help a congregation to focus more on the message of the words and less on the quality of the performance. It would certainly assist those who are hard of hearing.

(3) Today in 1847 – Daniel McGregor Born

Daniel Arthur McGregor grew up in rural Ontario with little education beyond his twelfth year. But a keen interest in reading gained him a great breadth of knowledge. Led to Christ at the age of 20 by his oldest brother, McGregor attended a church notable for both the holiness of its members, and their thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. It was said in that community that “every dinner table was a theological class.” (What a blessing!)

After some formal training, Daniel McGregor served as the pastor of several churches. His Christ-centred ministry brought many to the Saviour. During five years in the Ontario town of Stratford, 121 individuals were received into his church upon profession of faith. In 1886 he accepted a teaching position at Toronto Baptist College (associated with McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario). A former student said, “He not only thought out the doctrines upon which he lectured, but he felt their power, and falling tears often evinced his emotion as he spoke of some particular aspect of the truth.”

In 1889 McGregor took over as principal of the school, but he died a year later of tuberculosis of the spine and complications from surgery. It was during his confinement to bed in the autumn months of 1889 that he composed the hymn Jesus, Wondrous Saviour, expressing his deep love for Christ. His family donated the original manuscript of the hymn to the university in 1921 and it became known officially as “The McMaster Hymn.”

Jesus, wondrous Saviour! Christ, of kings the King!
Angels fall before Thee, prostrate worshiping;
Fairest they confess Thee in the heav’n above.
We would sing Thee fairest here in hymns of love.

All earth’s flowing pleasures were a wintry sea,
Heav’n itself without Thee dark as night would be.
Lamb of God! Thy glory is the light above.
Lamb of God! Thy glory is the life of love.

Life is death if severed from Thy throbbing heart.
Death with life abundant at Thy touch would start.
Worlds and men and angels all consist in Thee:
Yet Thou camest to us in humility.

Jesus! All perfections rise and end in Thee;
Brightness of God’s glory Thou, eternally,
Favoured beyond measure, they Thy face who see;
May we gracious Saviour, share this ecstasy.

Today in 1718 – John Cennick Born

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English hymnist John Cennick was born into a Quaker family. He considered becoming a surveyor but, after meeting John and Charles Wesley, he joined them in their ministry.

In those early days, Charles Wesley assisted him in polishing some of his hymn lyrics. Cennick became a lay preacher and teacher with the Methodists, but he later parted with them on some doctrinal differences. He joined with George Whitefield, and became a deacon in the United Brethren Church. He served the Lord in evangelistic itinerant work in England, Ireland, and Germany.

We have several good hymns from the pen of Mr. Cennick, including: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (with a text improved by Charles Wesley), and Children of the Heavenly King.

Children of the heavenly King,
As we journey, let us sing;
Sing our Saviour’s worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways

We are traveling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod;
They are happy now, and we
Soon their happiness shall see.

Lord, obediently we go,
Gladly leaving all below;
Only Thou our Leader be;
And we will still follow Thee.

It is also John Cennick we have to thank for the table blessing, Be Present at Our Table, Lord. (The version below is slightly altered from the original, the third line of which begins “Thy creatures bless.”)

Years ago, I sang with a men’s choir. On one occasion, we were on tour, and stopped at a restaurant to eat. Our leader simply sounded a note, and we all joined in singing Cennick’s prayer in four-part harmony. A sure conversation stopper! More recently, I was in a restaurant with some Christian friends, and was asked to say grace. Instead, I suggested we sing. At first, they thought I was kidding, but we did it! Folks seemed to appreciate the unexpected music, and it was a way of witnessing to the Source of all our blessings.

Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
These mercies bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.

Here is a lovely choral version of this hymn by a ladies’ choir. And below is a youth choir singing a different tune, with some changes in the words as well. I’ve included it as an example of singing a blessing before mealtime.

(2) Today in 1805 – Frederic Hedge Born

Frederic Henry Hedge was a pastor and author, who also taught ecclesiastical history and German literature at Harvard University. It is Mr. Hedge who, in 1853, gave us the English translation of Martin Luther’s 1529 hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, which German poet Heinrich Heine called “the Marseillaise Hymn of the Reformation.”

The term Sabaoth in the second stanza below is a Hebrew word meaning armies, or hosts. Our God is the Lord of Hosts, sovereign Commander of the armies of heaven.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Today in 1792 – Joseph Mohr Born

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The story of the writing of the lovely Christmas hymn Silent Night is better known than most. Pastor Joseph Mohr wrote the words, and his church organist Franz Gruber composed the tune. The song was written on Christmas Eve morning, and shared with the congregation at a service that evening. But there is some confusion regarding the way the song was shared with the world.

Some accounts of our hymn’s origin speak of a breakdown of the church organ, making it necessary for Gruber to accompany the song with guitar that evening. But the organ malfunction did not likely happen until a year or two after the song was written. It was, however, the organ repairman Fritz Mauracher, who came from over the mountains, heard the song, and shared it with the outside world.

In Mauracher’s hometown lived the Strasser family, who manufactured fine leather gloves. They had trained their children to sing in front of their booth at fairs and festivals, in order to drum up sales. It was the Strasser Sisters Quartet that soon spread the song to town after town. At first, it did not even have a name, but was known simply as a Tiroler Volkslied (a Tyrolean Folk Song). It was published in a German hymnal under the heading, “A Hymn of Unknown Origin.” Now we know it in English as Silent Night. The German original begins:

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar,
Holder Knabe mit lockigem Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

The familiar translation of the opening stanza reads:

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

A quick check shows that Silent Night has been recorded by just about everybody! (And I’m convinced some of them should not have bothered!) But here are two renditions to check out, the first in the original German by the St. Thomas Boys’ Choir, the second in English by the men’s quartet known as G4.

(2) Today in 1845 – The Present Crisis published

James Russell Lowell was a prominent American poet, author, and lawyer. He became Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at Harvard University, edited some prominent journals, and later in his life served as American minister to Spain, and ambassador to England.

In the Boston Courier, Lowell published a long poem called The Present Crisis, protesting America’s war with Mexico. Garrett Horder took some lines from the poem, and arranged them in the form of a hymn. The result was published in 1896. The hymn does not contain much in the way of biblical teaching, but it does emphasize our personal responsibility, as citizens, for the welfare of the country in which we live.

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.

Today in 1815 – John Zundel Born

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John Zundel was born in Germany and died there, though he spent about three decades in America. A gifted musician, he studied the violin, and later became an organist and a bandmaster. He served as the organist of Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn, for a number of years. The pastor there was the famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher. The two men, along with Dr. Beecher’s brother Charles, produced a hymnal called the Plymouth Collection, in 1855. It was the first major hymn book to have the music on the same page as the text of the hymns.

John Zundel wrote other books on music theory and organ playing as well, but he is best known for one hymn tune. In 1870, Zundel wrote a tune which he named Beecher, in honour of his pastor. It is commonly used with Charles Wesley’s hymn, Love Divine.

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

(2) Today in 1862 – Henry Nichol Born

Henry Ernest Nichol originally planned to be an engineer. But he switched to a study of music, graduating from Oxford University in 1888 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Most of his hymns were written for the Sunday School.

For many of the songs he wrote both words and music. But in a few older hymnals it may not seem like it. Nichol created a pen name by rearranging the letters of his middle and last name. So you may see H. Ernest Nichol as the composer of the tune, and Colin Sterne as the author of the words, but both are the same man. One of Nichol’s contributions is the missionary hymn, We’ve a Story to Tell.

Above is a picture of our lovely granddaughter Hannah. Her parents are missionaries in Mexico, and Hannah herself seems to have a special gift for making friends with the Mexican children. In her way, she is telling the story too.

We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigneth above
Has sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.

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