Today in 1856 – Mary Brown Born

Mary Haughton Brown was born in Canada. She later taught school in Connecticut for many years, as well as working in the Sunday School. She died in the influenza pandemic of 1918. She has given us the opening stanza of one gospel song. (Charles Edward Prior added two more.) Originally called Go, Stand and Speak (after the words of Acts 5:20), we know it now as I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go.

Carrie Esther Parker Rounsefell wrote the tune. A tiny woman who lived in Boston, she travelled around in evangelistic work, accompanying her singing on a zither or autoharp. One day she was given the words of this song, and she immediately improvised the tune that is still used.

If you check the various rendings of the song on YouTube, you will see that words and tune are almost always claimed as a “Mormon hymn,” but it is nothing of the kind. Mr. Prior was a Baptist, and the song has long been found in Christian hymnals.

It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front my Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours,
I’ll go where You want me to go.

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.

Perhaps today there are loving words which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now, in the paths of sin, some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Saviour, if You will be my Guide, though dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet,
I’ll say what You want me to say.

(2) Today in 1895 – Albert Malotte Born

Albert Hay Malotte was an American composer, pianist, organist and educator. He served in the Second World War, was an amateur pilot, and even boxed with Jack Dempsey. Malotte’s musical career was focused mainly in Hollywood, where he produced a variety of music. He composed a number of film scores, as well as uncredited music for cartoons produced by the Disney Studios. A Presbyterian layman, he also wrote sacred music, including settings for the Beatitudes and the Twenty-third Psalm and a produced number of cantatas.

Albert Hay Malotte is best known for his setting of The Lord’s Prayer. The song has been widely used at weddings and other special occasions, and has been recorded by many artists. It also appears in a number of hymnals. It was written in the 1930s especially for the great baritone John Charles Thomas. Thomas died in 1960, but if you want to hear the original version of the prayer I encourage you to order the CD John Charles Thomas–Prima Voce.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil;
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
And the glory forever. Amen.