Today in 1785 – Samuel Ecking Died

Today we’ll take a quick look at several songs by more obscure hymn writers.

Samuel Ecking was a Baptist believer born in 1757 at Shrewsbury, England. He contributed hymns to the Gospel Magazine, under the odd signature “S. E-k-g.” His hymn Peace, Troubled Soul is still found in some books.

Peace, troubled soul, thou need’st not fear;
Thy great Provider still is near;
Who fed thee last, will feed thee still:
Be calm, and sink into His will.

The Lord, who built the earth and sky,
In mercy stoops to hear thy cry;
His promise all may freely claim;
Ask and receive in Jesus’ Name.

(2) Data Missing – Keep on Believing

Occasionally I want to include songs for which dates are lacking–or other information. For a time it seemed to me there was some confusion as to the authorship of the song Keep on Believing. A Salvation Army publication (Salvation Army Songs of Faith) credits the lyrics to Lucy Booth-Hellberg. But the only hymnal I have seen that includes it is Living Hymns, edited by Alfred Smith. He credits the words to “M.D.” and the tune to “L.M.B.”–noting also that he has edited the text and arranged to tune.

I contacted Smith’s son, but he could shed no more light on the origin of the hymn. However, a correspondent passed on the following information to me, which seems to clear up the mystery. “L.M.B” is Lucy Milward Booth (1868-1953), the daughter of William and Catherine Booth, who wrote the song when she was 17 (in 1885, before she married Mr. Hellberg). Though the message of the song was her own, she was assisted somewhat with the rhyming by “M.D.”–Mildred Duff–who later became a Commissioner in the Salvation Army.

I include a bit of the song here because it seems to fit the theme of Peace Troubled Soul above, and it is very honest about the struggles through which we sometimes go. At such times, our emotions may mislead us. God’s care doesn’t waver according to our feelings of the moment. “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (I Jn. 3:20).

When you feel weakest, dangers surround,
Subtle temptations, troubles abound;
Nothings seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, often times sad.

Keep on believing, Jesus is near,
Keep on believing, there’s nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way,
Faith in the night as well as the day.

If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be? and where the fight?
But in the testings God gives to you,
Chances for proving what He can do.

(3) Today in 1893 – Isaiah Baltzell Died

Isaiah Baltzell was born near Frederick City, Maryland, in 1832. He published a number of books of sacred song, and wrote some himself, sometimes contributing the music, other times authoring both words and music. He was partnered, in this endeavour, with editor and songwriter Edmund Lorenz. Of interest is his song The Missionary’s Farewell, to be sung on the occasion indicated by the title.

The second-to-last line of the lyric suggests that the song may have been first applied to a missionary heading to Africa. However, with a bit of creative adjustment, the name of another country could be substituted.

Far away, beyond the sea,
Where the fields are bright and fair,
There’s a call, a plaintive plea;
I must hasten to be there.

Let me go, I cannot stay,
’Tis the Master calling me;
Let me go, I must obey;
Native land, farewell to thee.

Hark! I hear the Master say,
“Up, ye reapers! why so slow?”
To the vineyard far away,
Earthly kindred, let me go.

Bear me on, thou restless sea,
Let the winds the canvas swell;
Afric’s shore I long to see,
Native land, farewell, farewell.

4) Today in 1940 – William Hewlett Died

William Henry Hewlett was a composer, organist, and choral conductor, who has a number of connections with my own family. For many years, he was the organist of the Centenary United Church, in Hamilton, Ontario, where I was born. Each Saturday afternoon, for twenty-five years, he gave a recital on the church’s great Casavant pipe organ. I heard my parents speak of him, and believe they attended some of those concerts.

Mr. Hewlett was also one of the founders of the Mendelssohn Oratorio Choir, in Toronto, and was its first accompanist. He was on the editorial committee of The Hymnary, the hymn book of the United Church of Canada, produced in 1930. Check out his tune Somerset, for John Newton’s hymn, Dear Shepherd of Thy People, Hear.

Dear Shepherd of Thy people, hear;
Thy presence now display;
As Thou hast given a place for prayer,
So give us hearts to pray.

William Hewlett died six months before I was born, and is buried in Hamilton, in the same cemetery as my father and mother.