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Today in 1958 – Margaret Simpson Died

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Margaret Mae Simpson was the daughter of Albert Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. Delicate as an infant, she nonetheless lived until the age of 80.

Margaret wrote the tune for her father’s missionary hymn, The Regions Beyond, published in 1904. The phrase is taken from II Cor. 10:16, where Paul expresses his purpose “to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you [i.e. areas beyond Corinth].”

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go
Where the story has never been told;
To the millions that never have heard of His love,
I must tell the sweet story of old.

To the regions beyond
I must go, I must go,
Till the world, all the world,
His salvation shall know.

To the hardest of places He calls me to go,
Never thinking of comfort or ease;
The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool,
Enough if the Master I please.

(2) More from John Newton

An encouraging–though little known–hymn of John Newton’s, that he entitled The Lord Will Provide, was published in his hymn book, Olney Hymns, in 1779.

Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.”

The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn to trust God for our bread.
His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied
So long as ’tis written, “The Lord will provide.”

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;
Yet, since we have known of the Saviour’s great name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide:
The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”

Today in 1865 – Hugh Stowell Died

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Hugh Stowell, born in 1799, on the Isle of Man, was an Anglican clergyman who served his denomination in a number of positions. He was also a great man of prayer. His son wrote, “My father’s last utterances abundantly showed his love of and delight in prayer. Almost every word was prayer…The morning of his death the only articulate words that we could catch, uttered two or three hours before his decease, were ‘Amen! Amen!’”

His passion to commune with God is indicated by the only hymn of his that is still in common use, From Every Stormy Wind That Blows. Because it uses the imagery of the Old Testament “mercy seat,” let’s take a moment to look at the Scripture regarding that.

The context is God’s instruction to Israel for building a worship centre called the tabernacle. The most sacred item in the tabernacle, kept by itself in an inner sanctuary called the holy of holies, was the ark of the covenant. In the ark, among some other things were to be placed the stone tables inscribed with the Ten Commandments. The lid of the ark, made of solid gold, was called the mercy seat. (Note: the “cubit” [kewbit] is about 18 inches.)

The High Priest and the Ark of the Covenant

You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim [angelic beings] of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat….And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat….And there I [the Lord] will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat.

Exod. 25:17-22
Graphic Mercy Seat Diagram

In between the two golden cherubim, Jehovah God manifested His presence in the form of a glorious light that the Jews called the shekinah. Picture the arrangement, referring to this simplified drawing. Above, was the revealed presence of a holy God. Below, his righteous and holy Law, broken many times by the people. How could such a holy One meet and have fellowship with a sinful people? The answer: The only way was for the shed blood of a substitute to intervene. This was symbolized in an annual ceremony under the Law of Israel.

Once a year, the high priest entered the holy of holies and applied the blood of a sacrifice to the mercy seat. This portrayed the way that the shed blood of a substitute came between a holy God and His broken Law. And this symbolism was finally fulfilled in reality at the cross of Calvary. “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3). We are able to have our sins forgiven, and find acceptance with God, through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

Hugh Stowell pictured his fellowship with God as an approach to the mercy seat, where the justice of a holy God was satisfied through Christ. Through the blood of Christ shed on the cross, he was able to have access to God.

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
’Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.

There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.

(2) More from Isaac Watts – Jesus Shall Reign

Isaac Watts was both a brilliant man and a very significant hymn writer. For good reason he has been called “the Father of English Hymnody.”  His Jesus Shall Reign, a paraphrase of Psalm 72, pictures the coming reign of Christ. But nearly two centuries ago there was a remarkable illustration of the transforming power of the gospel that foreshadows the blessings of the Messiah’s coming kingdom

By 1821, missionary work had already been taking place on the Pacific island of Fiji. Many had come to Christ. Then, one day, the people there were terrified to see a Tonga war canoe appear on the horizon. No wonder they were fearful. The Tonga warriors were ferocious head-hunters and cannibals. But incredibly they had not come that day to kill. They wanted to buy a Bible. Somehow they had heard about Christ, and wanted to know more.

Even more remarkable, this was their second attempt to reach Fiji. A canoe had been sent out some time before, only to vanish without a trace. Now, a second boat had made the perilous journey across 250 miles of open ocean on the same urgent quest. They had not even realized that a Bible would be completely useless to them. Not one of them could read! But a solution was proposed.

Seeing in their earnestness the call of God, a missionary named John Thomas agreed to return with them to teach the Word of God. Over the next twenty years, on Tonga and the neighbouring islands, that ministry was visited with such blessing that thousands put their faith in the Saviour. Then, on Whit-Sunday (Pentecost) of 1862, an amazing worship service was held.

Under the spreading umbrella of a banyan tree, some 5,000 native Christians assembled. The meeting was led by “King George,” a local ruler who had himself been a cannibal in his younger years. He too was now a dedicated follower of Christ. Around him sat a coterie of old chiefs, warriors who had fought many a grisly battle in days gone by.

All rejoiced in God’s gracious salvation, and their faces radiated with sublime joy. King George announced that the islands would now be governed according to Christian principles. Formerly bound by wicked cruelty and dark superstition, they now bowed the knee to Christ.

One hymn chosen to be sung that day was Jesus Shall Reign. Picture the scene in 1862. As the sunlight beamed down on that South Sea island, dancing and sparkling on the incoming waves, 5,000 native believers lifted their voices and sang, in their own tongue, “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun doth his successive journeys run.” Delivered from heathen darkness by the power of Christ, they were the living embodiment of the words.

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Doth his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

From north to south the princes meet
To pay their homage at His feet;
While western empires own their Lord,
And savage tribes attend His Word.

To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

Peoples and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where’er He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.

Today in 1810 – Henry Alford Born

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Henry Alford was an Anglican clergyman, born in London. At the age of 16, he wrote in his Bible: “I do this day, in the presence of God and my own soul, renew my covenant with God, and solemnly determine henceforth to become His, and to do His work, as far as in me lies.” He became an eloquent preacher in Victorian England. In addition, he wrote a scholarly four-volume commentary on the Greek New Testament, translated a number of hymns, and wrote some of his own. Before his death, Alford specified what he wanted on his tombstone. In English translation the Latin inscription reads: “The inn of a traveller on his way to Jerusalem.”

Dean Henry Alford has given us two fine hymns that are still in use: Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand, and Come, Ye Thankful People, Come. The former hymn, a thrilling depiction of the saints triumphant in the heavenly kingdom, was sung at the author’s own funeral.

Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, then take Thy power, and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heaven Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Saviour, come.

The second hymn appears, in the beginning, to be a thanksgiving hymn, a harvest hymn. But Dean Alford saw the prophetic application of the words, based on the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43).

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Graphic Thanksgiving (1)

(2) Today in 1835 – Folliot Pierpont Born

Folliot Sandford Pierpont was a distinguished classical scholar in England. He taught for a number of years, and published some poems, but he is known in hymnody for one song only, the hymn of thanksgiving, For the Beauty of the Earth.

In the song he lists many of the blessings for which we should be grateful to God. And of course we need more than an annual Thanksgiving Day for this. Each day of the Christian’s life should be thanksgiving day (I Thess. 5:18).

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Today in 1816 – William Bradbury Born

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The name of William Batchelder Bradbury may not be too familiar to some, but he made a great contribution to our hymnody. Bradbury was a pioneer in music for children, both in the public school system and in the Sunday School. And it was this man who first encouraged Fanny Crosby to begin writing hymns.

A church organist, William Bradbury also organized singing classes, and taught music in the public schools. With his brother, he founded the Bradbury Piano Company. He devoted much time to composing and editing, and was the composer of dozens of gospel hymn tunes, such as those for Jesus Loves Me, Holy Bible, Book Divine, Even Me, Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, The Solid Rock, Sweet Hour of Prayer, and many more.

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.

(2) Today in 1818 – Silas Vail Born

Silas Jones Vail, born in Brooklyn, New York, trained as a hatter. He clerked in a store, and later had a successful business of his own. Vail also compiled and published collections of songs. His book The Athenaeum Collection included 10 new songs by popular composer Stephen Foster. Then, in 1874, in collaboration with Horace Waters and W. F. Sherwin, Vail published Songs of Grace and Glory, a book of Sunday School songs.

In the book was printed, for the first time, Fanny Crosby’s lovely song, Close to Thee. Silas Vail composed the tune for it. Well, actually, he composed the tune before the words were written. Then Vail went to see Fanny Crosby, and played it for her, asking that she think of some words to go with it. While he was playing it, Fanny said, “That refrain says ‘Close to Thee; close to Thee.” The composer agreed, and a new song was born.

“‘Then I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me; For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’” (Jer. 30:21-22)

“Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith.” (Heb. 10:22)

Thou my everlasting portion, more than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.

(3) Today in 1945 – George Stebbins Died

American musician George Coles Stebbins was born in 1846, and lived through almost a century of the development of gospel music. He studied music in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, then moved to Chicago, where he became acquainted with many of the gospel songwriters of the day, George Root, Philip Bliss, and Ira Sankey.

He served as the director of music in a couple of churches, but in 1876, evangelist Dwight L. Moody persuaded him to focus on evangelistic ministry. He directed the choir for Moody’s first evangelistic campaign in that year. And for the next quarter of a century he was associated with Mr. Moody and other evangelists.

In addition to serving as a choir director and song leader, George Stebbins composed hundreds of hymn tunes, and assisted in the publication of a number of song collections. Among many others, he wrote tunes for:

Calling Today
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
I’ve Found a Friend
Jesus, I Come
Must I Go and Empty-handed?
Saved by Grace
Saviour, Breathe an Evening Blessing
Take Time to Be Holy
There Is a Green Hill Far Away
Throw Out the Lifeline
Ye Must Be Born Again

Fanny Crosby’s fine gospel song Saved by Grace had an interesting beginning. In his book, Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories, Mr. Stebbins tells what happened.

During the August Conference at Northfield in 1893, Fanny Crosby, who was a guest in Mr. Sankey’s summer home, was invited to address the conference at one of its sessions. At the close of her remarks, she quoted the verses of Saved by Grace….That evening Mr. Sankey asked, “Fanny, where did you get the hymn you quoted?”…She replied, with a smile, that she had stored it away in her memory, to use when she was asked to address meetings, and added, “I don’t intend to let any of you singers have it, either.” Meaning thereby that she did not want it set to music, lest it become well known and less desirable for her individual use.

However, there was a reporter at the meeting, who took down the words in shorthand. Not knowing of Fanny’s wish to keep the poem for her exclusive use, he published it in the paper. Ira Sankey and George Stebbins spoke of this afterward. Sankey felt that since they had become widely known, they should be set to music, and he asked his friend Mr. Stebbins to write a tune. It became a song much used in Dwight Moody’s meetings–and there’s no evidence that Fanny Crosby objected in the end.

Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace.

Some day my earthly house will fall.
I cannot tell how soon ’twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in heav’n for me.

Some day: till then I’ll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Saviour ope’s the gate,
My soul to Him may take its flight.

Today in 1864 – Hold the Fort inspired

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Hymn writer Philip Paul Bliss has given us a couple of songs based on contemporary incidents. Hold the Fort relates to something that happened during the American Civil War.

Graphic Civil War

A company of Union soldiers was commanded to defend an important supply depot at Altoona Pass. (A million and a half rations were stored there.) Soon surrounded by a much stronger force of Confederate troops, it looked as though the cause was hopeless. But suddenly, an officer caught sight of a white signal flag being flown from Kenesaw Mountain, 20 miles away. Soon, a message was conveyed across the miles: “Hold the fort; I am coming.” (William Tecumseh Sherman). A cheer went up from the men, and they redoubled their efforts and were able to hold on until Sherman arrived with reinforcements and drove the enemy back. (If you’d like to see a picture of the man who sent the signal, and a picture of his actual signal flag, check here.)

Bliss took this as an illustration of our spiritual conflict, and of the need to remain faithful to our charge, and continue on until Christ comes again.

Ho, my comrades! see the signal waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

There is also a fascinating story behind Philip Bliss’s song, Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. A harbour on Lake Erie, at Cleveland, was set up with a series of lights to guide ships in safely. Above the harbour was a lighthouse. Then, along the channel that led to an inner basin that was the Cleveland harbour there was a series of lamps lit.

But one day, the man responsible for lighting the lower lights carelessly neglected his duty. He reasoned that the lighthouse was good enough, and no one had ever yet failed to make the harbour. So he decided not to bother igniting the channel lights.

That night a terrible storm blew up, with waves rolling in like mountains, and the moon and stars obscured by black clouds. Nearing the harbour was a ship, and on deck this conversation took place between the captain and the pilot, amid the roar of the storm:

“Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain.
“Quite sure, sir,” replied the pilot.
“Where are the lower lights?”
“Gone out, sir.”
“Can you make the harbor?”
“We must, or perish, sir!”

But they did not make it. And the ship went down with great loss of life. Bliss applied this story to the need for Christians to share their faith. From heaven shines the great light of the gospel, through the Word. But we bear the lesser lights along the shore, commissioned to guide sinners into the safe harbour of God’s salvation.

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
For to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Graphic Riverside Church

(2) Today in 1930 – God of Grace and God of Glory written

Modernist pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote this hymn for the opening service of Riverside Church, in New York City (pictured to the left). On one occasion, when our family was visiting friends in the city, my father and his friend attended a concert given by renowned organist Virgil Fox at the large and magnificent edifice

In his day, Fosdick stoutly denied the inspiration of Scripture, seeing the Bible rather as a record of the evolution of religious thought. In a famous sermon, “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” he opposed those who held to the fundamental doctrines of the apostolic faith. While many of us would disagree with Fosdick’s theology, and with that of Riverside Church over the years, the hymn in question has some merit–and a certain irony in its defense of Christ, given the views of the author!

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days.

Today in 1226 – Francis of Assisi Died

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Francesco Bernardone was born in central Italy. At the age of 22 he had a significant spiritual experience and determined to devote himself to a life of poverty and service for Christ.

A few years later, he formulated his lifestyle into a set of rules, applying to Pope Innocent III for permission to found a religious order along these lines. It was granted, and the Franciscan order was born. Barefoot, and having given up all earthly possessions, members went out two by two, preaching the need for repentance, and aiding the poor and the sick wherever they went, frequently working compassionately among lepers. They slept in hay lofts or leper houses along the way.

Francis died at the age of 44, but his great love of the natural world is commemorated in his hymn, All creatures of our God and King.

All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(2) Today in 1837 – Mary Maxwell Born

At least, we think Mary E. Maxwell was born then. There is a bit of a mystery surrounding the authorship of the hymn Channels Only. Nowhere is data available for the woman credited with writing it. However, there was a popular author in England whose name was Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1837-1915). She married a John Maxwell in 1874, and it is thought that she may be the “Mary E. Maxwell” credited with the hymn-poem.

Whatever the authorship, this song says some important things. Preeminently, that we have nothing of spiritual worth to give needy people. Rather, the Lord wants us to be channels of His love and blessing to them. The Bible speaks of being “a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (II Tim. 2:21). That is what God expects of us–to His glory, not our own.

Using a slightly different gardening analogy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (I Cor. 3:6-7). He says, “I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3). And he adds later, “I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (vs. 10). Are you a channel the Lord can use?

How I praise Thee, precious Saviour,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.

Channels only, blessèd Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no power but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command.

(3) Today in 1888 – Homer Rodeheaver Born

Homer Alvan Rodeheaver began his gospel music ministry as a song leader with evangelist Billy Sunday. Uniquely, he held his trombone in one hand, as he led. Another gospel musician, George Stebbins, called it his “magic wand.” Stebbins said he was impressed with:

His great gift as a leader and…the ease with which he controls vast multitudes of people; also his winsome personality which renders him a worthy and invaluable associate of the great evangelist with whom he has been working for many years.

Mr. Rodheaver appears briefly (with his signature trombone) at the beginning of this very old film clip, as he introduces Billy Sunday to a waiting audience. Billy speaks of the reasons for his support of Prohibition.

Homer Rodeheaver wrote the music for a number of gospel songs. Among them, Good Night and Good Morning, and Then Jesus Came. In later years he founded the Rodeheaver-Ackly Company (eventually becoming the Rodeheaver Hall-Mack Company), publishers of gospel music.

Today in 1832 – Lina Sandell Born

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Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg (Lina Sandell) was born in Sweden, the daughter of Lutheran pastor Jonas Sandell. Not physically strong as a child, she often stayed inside in her father’s study, while friends were out playing. A poetic gift appeared early on. Lina published her first book of poems when she was only 15.

When she was 26, Lina and her father were crossing Lake Vattern on a boat trip. Suddenly, the boat pitched, and he fell overboard and was drowned before her eyes. This tragedy deeply affected her. God used it to turn her toward a ministry of writing hymns. Over succeeding years she wrote about 650 of them, becoming known as the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.” Her deeply devotional songs played an important part in the revival that took place in her home country in the nineteenth century. Carolina Sandell married a Stockholm merchant, C. O. Berg, at the age of 35, but she continued to initial her hymns L. S.

Legendary soprano, Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale,” was well known for her classical concerts on both sides of the Atlantic. But as a woman of faith she used to visit the common working men as they laboured, singing for them many of Lina Sandell’s hymns. Jenny Lind helped to get Lina Sandell’s hymns published.

Swan on a nest

Two songs Lina Sandell wrote are still in common use: Day by Day, and Children of the Heavenly Father (Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara meaning, literally, Safer Can Nothing [Be]). Though some historians date the latter song from 1858, shortly after the death of Sandell’s father, she likely wrote it when in her mid-teens. It was, however, sung at her father’s funeral, and that may account for the confusion. The second of the stanzas printed below has a poignant appropriateness to her loss.

Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

What He takes or what He gives us
Shows the Father’s love so precious;
We may trust His purpose wholly–
‘Tis His children’s welfare solely.

Note: Sometimes the hymn is entitled More Secure Is No one Ever, and is begun with the last stanza of Sandell’s poem:

More secure is no one ever
Than the loved ones of the Saviour
Not yon star on high abiding
Nor the bird in home-nest hiding.

Another of this author’s hymns voices a commitment to depend on and follow the Lord, day by day. You can see the full hymn, and hear the tune, on the Cyber Hymnal.

I with Thee would begin, O my Savior so dear,
On the way that I still must pursue;
I with Thee would begin every day granted here,
As my earnest resolve I renew
To be and remain Thine forever.

Let Thy Word all divine be my lamp in whose light
I may constantly keep to Thy way;
And each day wouldst Thou cleanse me anew, make me white
In the blood shed for me on that day
The cross Thou didst suffer, Lord Jesus.

(2) The Wise May Bring Their Learning (Data Missing)

This fine children’s hymn appeared in 1881, but we know nothing of the authorship. It expresses clearly many of the ways a child can honour and serve the Lord. The tune was written by Edward Hopkins.

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.

Today in 1808 – Allen Chatfield Born

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Allen William Chatfield was an Anglican clergyman, and a scholar who graduated from Cambridge winning first class in classical honours. He wrote Songs and Hymns of Earliest Greek Christian Poets in 1876, and several of the ancient hymns he translated were published and used. Among them is Lord Jesus, Think on Me, written in Greek by Synesius of Cyrene, around 430 AD. It says in part:

Lord Jesus, think on me
And purge away my sin;
From earthborn passions set me free
And make me pure within.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
With many a care oppressed;
Let me Thy loving servant be
And taste Thy promised rest.

Lord Jesus, think on me
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point Thou the heavenly way.

(2) Today in 1918 – Donald Hustad Born

Donald Paul Hustad has had a long and varied career in Christian music, extending over more than six decades. An outstanding organist and choral director, a music historian, an editor with Hope Publishing Company, and a composer of sacred music, Hustad has received many honours over his time of ministry. He was associated with the Billy Graham Evangelist Association for years as a crusade organist, and with Moody Bible Institute. In later years, he served as Professor of Church Music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

During Mr. Hustad’s time at Moody, he was a guest organist in my home church in Hamilton, Ontario. My father, our regular organist was a little intimidated by this, being self-taught, but he asked Hustad’s advice about various things, and played a bit for him. Graciously, Don Hustad said, “Don’t change a thing. You’re doing very well.” High praise from a man who has since become an associate of the American Guild of Organists, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in London!

Don Hustad arranged an old Irish folk tune and it became the hymn tune Slane, to which we sing Be Thou My Vision. The name comes from the fact that it was on Slane Hill, around 433 AD, that Patrick defied a royal edict of pagan King Logaire. He earned the king’s respect by his courage, and was allowed to continue his missionary work in Ireland.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Mr. Hustad wrote a number of  books on church music, including the useful Dictionary-Hand­book to Hymns for the Liv­ing Church, and composed several hymn tunes himself, such as Highlands, to fit Grant Colfax Tullar’s I’ve Heard the King. Tullar’s original poem was created during the Second World War. He had just listened to a broadcast of Britain’s King George VI over the radio, and compared the Christians supreme privilege of communicating with the King of Kings.

 I’ve heard the King! The King of heaven!
Nor can I e’er forget the music of His voice.
I’ve heard the King! His call I’ve answered.
I’ve made the King of heav’n my everlasting choice.

He came to me, and with Him came a blessing.
He spoke to me, and glory filled my soul;
His voice I heard, so charming and so wondrous.
I’ve heard the King, and hearing am made whole.

Today in 1807 – Roswell Park Born

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Born in Connecticutt, Mr. Park was trained at Union College and West Point Military Academy, serving for a time in the United States Engineer Corps. He was also professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Later, he studied theology, and began service as a clergyman in the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1852, he became the president of Racine College, in Wisconsin. In 1863 he founded a school in Chicago, where he remained until his death in 1869.

The hymn Jesus Spreads His Banner O’er Us is taken from a book of poems Dr. Park published in 1836. Originally entitled simply The Communion, it is a hymn intended for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. In the Song of Solomon, the bride extols her husband saying, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (2:4). Mr. Park takes this as a picture of the church’s praise of Christ.

Jesus spreads his banner o’er us,
Cheers our famished souls with food;
He the banquet spreads before us,
Of His mystic flesh and blood.
Precious banquet, bread of heaven,
Wine of gladness, flowing free;
May we taste it, kindly given,
In remembrance, Lord, of Thee.

In Thy holy incarnation,
When the angels sang Thy birth;
In Thy fasting and temptation,
In Thy labors on the earth,
In Thy trial and rejection,
In Thy sufferings on the tree,
In Thy glorious resurrection,
May we, Lord, remember Thee.

These two stanzas are usually all that are used. But Roswell Park included an opening stanza which relates to the practice of some congregations to close the service and dismiss the congregation before the Lord’s Supper. The idea is that non-Christians, or backslidden believers are unfit to partake at the Lord’s Table, so they should leave! (“The sons of earth [all those sinners]” need to be “retiring” now, so we, the chosen few, can continue.)

I’ve always been uncomfortable with this. For one thing, it can tend to feed the pride of those who remain. And I believe little is gained–and much can be lost–by forcing those who choose not to participate (for whatever reason) to publicly humiliate themselves. It’s surely sufficient to explain that the Communion is for Christians, and leaving individuals to decide whether to partake of the elements or pass them by when they are distributed. Anyway, that is the background of the following stanza of the hymn:

While the sons of earth retiring,
From the sacred temple roam;
Lord, Thy light and love desiring,
To Thine altar fain we come.
Children of our heavenly Father,
Friends and brethren we would be;
While we round Thy table gather,
May our hearts be one in Thee.

Historial Issues: Over the centuries, there have been various points of debate regarding sacred music. Whatever personal convictions we have, these differences have affected the music we use to this day. Here are five historical issues to consider.

(2) Today in 1942 – George Webster Died

George Orlia Webster was the son of a Baptist minister, and he became a pastor himself. But we was more ecumenical than his father. In over 50 years of ministry he most often served in non-denominational settings, or in churches that combined congregations from several denominations. He wrote several hundred hymns and other songs, but few survive today.

One that does grew out of his conviction that Christians needed to get together more, instead of remaining hostile to one another, crouched behind denominational walls. He said he was sitting on the porch of his cottage one afternoon, thinking how foolish it was for Christians to be unhappily divided. “After all,” he said to himself, “we all need Jesus.” And looking into his own heart he confessed, “I need Jesus.” It was then the song was born.

We might not entirely agree with Pastor Webster’s ecumenical views. It is especially bad when churches compromise ethical standards or key biblical doctrines, just for the sake of some kind of organizational togetherness. But we can certainly espouse the sentiment of his hymn, admitting our own need of Christ. When many deserted the Lord Jesus, He asked His disciples, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter’s insightful response was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:67-68). Christ alone is the answer to our soul’s deepest need. As Webster’s hymn says:

I need Jesus, my need I now confess;
No friend like Him, in times of deep distress;
I need Jesus, the need I gladly own;
Though some may bear their load alone
Yet, I need Jesus.

I need Jesus, I need Him to the end;
No one like Him–He is the sinner’s Friend;
I need Jesus, no other friend will do;
So constant, kind, so strong, and true–
Yes, I need Jesus.

Today in 1852 – Charles Stanford Born

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Irishman Charles Villers Stanford was the son of a lawyer. He became the organist at Trinity College, and composed for, and conducted concerts for, musical societies in the nineteenth century. In 1883, he became the first professor of composition and orchestra at the Royal College of music, and was later conductor of the London Bach Choir. In the early part of the twentieth century he taught at Cambridge University, where he had been a student many years before. He was knighted in 1902.

Stanford wrote the hymn tune St. Patrick (also called Stanford) for Cecil Frances Alexander’s version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate. The hymn says in part:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

(2) Today in 1902 – John Vernon Died

We know relatively little of Anglican clergyman John Richard Vernon, other than that he served churches in England in the nineteenth century. Only one obscure hymn of his is in use. There’s Peace and Rest in Paradise sounds like it is a hymn about heaven, but it is so only indirectly. Vernon expresses the longing of the believer, in the heat of the battle, for his heavenly home. But he challenges us to return to the fight, while the Lord gives us the time, and strength, and opportunity to do so.

There’s peace and rest in paradise,
In weary hours we say;
And oh that we had wings like doves
That we might flee away!

For here so strong the evil seems,
So weak appears the good,
Our standard wavers in the rush
Of evil, like a flood.

Then for the quiet land we long,
And the abode of peace;
And for the word, “Come, weary soul,
From war and vigil cease!”

But in our stronger hours we grasp
The warrior’s sword again,
And burn the good fight yet to fight,
The faithful watch maintain.

The Lord Himself hath need of us;
On! till the fight be won;
And the King’s words shall thrill the heart:
“Servant of God, well done!”

(3) Another Song from Emily Wilson – I Will Pilot Thee

I can recall, years ago, singing with the Ambassador Male Chorus, the beautiful hymn, I Will Pilot Thee. Emily Divine Wilson (1865-1942) wrote both words and music for it. The refrain is somewhat unusual, in that it quotes Christ speaking encouragement to the struggling saint.

Somtimes, when my faith would falter
And no sunlight I can see;
I just lift mine eyes to Jesus
And I whisper, “Pilot me.”

“Fear thou not, for I’ll be with thee,
I will still thy pilot be;
Never mind the tossing billows,
Take My hand, and trust in Me.”

Often, when my soul is weary,
And the days seem, oh, so long,
I just look up to my Pilot
And I hear this blessed song:

When I come to Jordan’s river
And its troubled waters see,
On the brink I’ll see my Saviour
And I know He’ll pilot me.

Mr. Byrd’s vocal style is not particularly to my taste, but he does all right with the song. I just can’t get out of my mind what a men’s choir of twenty or so voices did with it, prayerfully quiet with the stanzas, and a firmly assured crescendo in the refrain. (Wish we’d recorded it so I could share it with you!)

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