Today in 1813 – John Stockton Born

John Hart Stockton was born of Presbyterian parents, but was converted to Christ at a Methodist camp meeting in New Jersey. He was ordained by the Methodist Episcopal Church and became active in evangelism, though ill health interrupted this ministry a couple of times. Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey greatly appreciated his assistance in their ministry. After Stockton wrote the invitation hymn Only Trust Him, Sankey used it on occasion as a solo number, changing the words of the refrain to “I will trust Him,” or  “I do trust Him.”

Come, every soul by sin oppressed;
There’s mercy with the Lord,
And He will surely give you rest
By trusting in His Word.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,
Only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.

For Jesus shed His precious blood
Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
That washes white as snow.

(2) Today in 1860 – William Rowlands Born

William Penfro Rowlands was a school teacher in Wales. He became the Precentor (song leader or choir conductor) at Bethania Chapel, and also served at the Morriston Tabernacle Congregational Church. For many years (1892-1927) he conducted the Morriston United Choral Society.

Rowlands has given us one of the church’s great hymn tunes, Blaenwern, which is, unfortunately, not well known in North America. It is most often used with Wesley’s Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, but try it with What a Friend We Have In Jesus. Here, from a choral festival in Wales, is a video clip of the tune used with Love Divine (with one stanza appropriately sung in Welsh). The conductor is very energetic, but when you see the size of the huge crowd you’ll understand why he wanted to make his movements so broad and precise.

(2) Today in 2004 – Richard Blanchard Died

Richard E. Blanchard Sr. was born in Chung-king (now Chong-quing), China, to Methodist missionary parents. He grew up in Indiana and North Carolina. He served as a pastor for many years in the Methodist denomination, retiring in 1988. It is Blanchard who gave us words and music of Fill My Cup, Lord, a popular gospel song in the 1960’s.

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Saviour speaking:
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord–I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!