The Story of the Hymns and Tunes Part 64

Eben Eugene Rexford was born in Johnsburg, N.Y., July 16, 1841, and has been a writer since he was fourteen years old. He is the author of several popular songs, as "Silver Threads Among the Gold," "Only a Pansy Blossom" etc., and many essays and treatises on flowers, of which he is pa.s.sionately fond.

"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."

Horatio Gates Spafford, the writer of this hymn, was a lawyer, a native of New York state, born Oct. 30, 1828. While connected with an inst.i.tution in Chicago, as professor of medical jurisprudence, he lost a great part of his fortune by the great fire in that city. This disaster was followed by the loss of his children on the steamer, Ville de Havre, Nov. 22, 1873. He seems to have been a devout Christian, for he wrote his hymn of submissive faith towards the end of the same year--

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll-- Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, "It is well, it is well with my soul."

A friend of Spafford who knew his history read this hymn while repining under an inferior affliction of his own. "If he can feel like that after suffering what he has suffered," he said, "I will cease my complaints."

It may not have been the weight of Mr. Spafford's sorrows wearing him down, but one would infer some mental disturbance in the man seven or eight years later. "In 1881" [writes Mr. Hubert P. Main] "he went to Jerusalem under the hallucination that he was a second Messiah--and died there on the seventh anniversary of his landing in Palestine, Sept. 5, 1888." The aberrations of an over-wrought mind are beckonings to G.o.d's compa.s.sion. When reason wanders He takes the soul of His helpless child into his own keeping--and "it is well."

The tune to Spafford's hymn is by P.P. Bliss; a gentle, gliding melody that suits the mood of the words.

"WAITING AND WATCHING FOR ME."

Written by Mrs. Marianne Farningham Hearn, born in Kent, Eng., Dec. 17, 1834. The hymn was first published in the fall of 1864 in the _London Church World_. Its unrhythmical first line--

When mysterious whispers are floating about,

--was replaced by the one now familiar--

When my final farewell to the world I have said, And gladly lain down to my rest, When softly the watchers shall say, "He is dead,"

And fold my pale hands on my breast, And when with my glorified vision at last The walls of that City I see, Will any one there at the Beautiful Gate Be waiting and watching for me?

Mrs. Hearn--a member of the Baptist denomination--has long been the editor of the (English) _Sunday School Times_, but her literary work has been more largely in connection with the _Christian World_ newspaper of which she has been a staff-member since its foundation.

_THE TUNE._

The long lines, not easily manageable for congregational singing, are wisely set by Mr. Bliss to duet music. There is a weighty thought in the hymn for every Christian, and experience has shown that a pair of good singers can make it very affecting, but the only use of the repeat, by way of a chorus, seems to be to give the miscellaneous voices a brief chance to sing.

"HE WILL HIDE ME."

(Isa. 49:2.)

Miss Mary Elizabeth Servoss, the author of this trustful hymn, was born in Schenectady, N.Y., Aug. 22, 1849. When a very young girl her admiration of f.a.n.n.y Crosby's writings, and the great and good service they were doing in the world, inspired her with a longing to resemble her. Though her burden was as real, it was not like the other's, and her opportunities for religious meditation and literary work were fewer than those of the elder lady, but the limited number of hymns she has written have much of the spirit and beauty of their model.

Providence decreed for her a life of domestic care and patient waiting.

For eighteen years she was the constant attendant of a disabled grandmother, and long afterwards love and duty made her the home nurse during her mother's protracted illness and the last sickness of her father, until both parents pa.s.sed away.

From her present home in Edeson, Ill., some utterances of her chastened spirit have found their way to the public, and been a gospel of blessing. Besides "He Will Hide Me" other hymns of Miss Servoss are "Portals of Light," "He Careth," "Patiently Enduring," and "Gates of Praise," the last being the best known.

When the storms of life are raging.

Tempests wild on sea and land, I will seek a place of refuge In the shadow of G.o.d's hand.

CHORUS.

He will hide me, He will hide me, Where no harm can e'er betide me, He will hide me, safely hide me In the shadow of His hand.

So while here the cross I'm bearing, Meeting storms and billows wild, Jesus for my soul is caring, Naught can harm His Father's child.

He will hide me, etc.

_THE TUNE._

An animating choral in nine-eight tempo, with a swinging movement and fugue chorus, is rather florid for the hymn, but undeniably musical. Mr.

James McGranahan was the composer. He was born in Adamsville, Pa., July 4, 1840. His education was acquired mostly at the public schools, and both in general knowledge and in musical accomplishments it may be said of him that he is "self-made."

Music was born in him, and at the age of nineteen, with some valuable help from men like Ba.s.sini, Webb, Root and Zerrahn, he had studied to so good purpose that he taught music cla.s.ses himself. This talent, joined to the gift of a very sweet tenor voice, made him the natural successor of the lamented Bliss, and, with Major D.W. Whittle, he entered on a career of gospel work, making between 1881 and 1885 two successful tours of England, Scotland and Ireland, and through the chief American cities.

Among his publications are the _Male Chorus Book_, _Songs of the Gospel_ and the _Gospel Male Choir_.

Resides at Kinsman, O.

"REVIVE THY WORK, O LORD."

(Heb. 3:2.)

The supposed date of the hymn is 1860; the author, Albert Midlane. He was born at Newport on the Isle of Wight, Jan. 23, 1825 a business man, but, being a Sunday-school teacher, he was prompted to write verses for children. The habit grew upon him till he became a frequent and acceptable hymn-writer, both for juvenile and for general use. English collections have at least three hundred credited to him.

Revive Thy work, O Lord, Thy mighty arm make bare, Speak with the voice that wakes the dead, And make Thy people hear.

_THE TUNE._

Music and words together make a song-litany alive with all the old psalm-tune unction and the new vigor; and both were upon Mr. McGranahan when he wrote the choral. It is one of his successes.

Revive thy work, O Lord, Exalt Thy precious name, And by the Holy Ghost our love For Thee and Thine inflame.

REFRAIN.

Revive Thy work, O Lord, And give refres.h.i.+ng showers; The glory shall be all Thine own, The blessing shall be ours.

"WHERE IS MY WANDERING BOY TO-NIGHT?"

This remarkable composition--words and music by Rev. Robert Lowry--has a record among sacred songs like that of "The Prodigal Son" among parables.

A widowed lady of culture, about forty years of age, who was an accomplished vocalist, had ceased to sing, though her sweet voice was still in its prime. The cause was her sorrow for her runaway boy. She had not heard from him for five years. While spending a week with friends in a city distant from home, her hidden talent was betrayed by the friends to the pastor of their church, where a revival was in progress, and persuasion that seemed to put a duty upon her finally procured her consent to sing a solo.

The church was crowded. With a force and feeling that can easily be guessed she sang "Where Is My Boy Tonight?" and finished the first stanza. She began the second,--

Once he was pure as morning dew, As he knelt at his mother's knee, No face was so bright, no heart more true, And none were so sweet as he;