Our Christian Heritage

Bridgeport, Connecticut: Fanny Crosby

Our Christian Heritage goes “On Location” with the Hymn History of Fanny Crosby who penned “Safe In The Arms Of Jesus” and I Shall Know Him”.

Transcript:

We’re here in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the P.T. Barnum Museum and Institute of Science and History. While Barnum is the city’s most famous showman, he’s not the only notable resident. Just a block away is the Bridgeport Public Library, which houses a wealth of materials on one of Barnum’s friends: the renowned blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby.

Fanny Crosby (1820–1915) authored more than 3,000 hymns and poems—some estimates reach 8,000—making her one of the most prolific gospel songwriters in history. Inside the library, you’ll find newspaper clippings, books, hymnals, biographies, autobiographies, and even an autographed copy of one of her works. Remarkably, though blind from infancy (due to a medical mishap), Fanny learned to write by hand so she could sign her books personally.

We have much more to share about her life and legacy, but let’s start by visiting the home where she spent her final years—just about a mile from here in Bridgeport.

In 1900, Fanny moved from New York City to Bridgeport. By 1906, now a widow, she moved in with her sister Carrie and niece Julia at 226 Wells Street. She lived there quietly until her death. Early on the morning of February 12, 1915, at age 94, Fanny passed away peacefully. Her doctor listed the cause as arteriosclerosis, with a secondary cerebral hemorrhage.

Her funeral was held at the First Methodist Episcopal Church (now Golden Hill Methodist Church) on Elm Street in Bridgeport. The pastor, Reverend George M. Brown, delivered the eulogy, speaking to a congregation very familiar with their beloved parishioner. The service featured hymns of special significance: “Faith of Our Fathers, Living Still” (one of Fanny’s favorites), and two she wrote—”Someday the Silver Cord Will Break” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.”

“Safe in the Arms of Jesus” held deep personal meaning for Fanny. Many scholars believe it was composed during one of her life’s lowest points—after the death of her only child, a daughter who lived only a few weeks or months in 1858. Fanny rarely spoke of the loss, but the hymn reflects profound trust in Christ’s comfort amid sorrow. At the service’s close, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution distributed flowers to attendees. Fanny was a direct descendant of Mayflower passengers (including Elder William Brewster) and a deeply patriotic American who counted every U.S. president from John Quincy Adams to Woodrow Wilson among her friends.

From the church, her body was taken in procession to Mountain Grove Cemetery, where she was laid to rest.

Mountain Grove Cemetery was founded by P.T. Barnum himself in 1878, and his grand monument stands prominently here (you can see it behind the trees). Nearby is the life-sized statue marking the grave of General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), Barnum’s famous little performer. Across the path lies Fanny Crosby’s resting place.

Her original marker is simple: “Aunt Fanny – She hath done what she could” (echoing Mark 14:8). It’s a fitting, humble tribute to a phenomenal woman. But 40 years after her death, in the 1950s, her community felt a more fitting memorial was needed. They erected this monument in grateful and loving memory: “Fanny Crosby, who inspired and edified Christians all over the world by the writing of more than 3,000 hymns and poems. Born in Southeast, New York, March 24, 1820. Married March 5, 1855 to Alexander Van Alstyne. Died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, February 12, 1915.”

The monument also features the opening lines of her most famous hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” But perhaps another of her songs feels even more appropriate here: “My Savior First of All” (also known as “I Shall Know Him”).

Fanny once shared with friends in New York how she imagined meeting Jesus in heaven, despite never having seen Him on earth: “I’ll be looking for His smile.” When they replied that everyone in heaven would be smiling, she said, “Then I’ll ask to see His hands.” She explained she would know her Redeemer by the print of the nails in His hands. This inspired the hymn:

“When my lifework is ended, and I cross the swelling tide, When the bright and glorious morning I shall see; I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side, And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

Chorus: I shall know Him, I shall know Him, And redeemed by His side I shall stand; I shall know Him, I shall know Him, By the print of the nails in His hand.”

America’s Founding Pastors: Princeton, NJ

Our Christian Heritage goes “On Location” with Randy Melchert to a Princeton, NJ cemetery to find the grave of America’s Founding Pastors: Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, and John Witherspoon. Explore the intertwined histories of Princeton University and the prominent religious figures who shaped its early development. It highlights the legacies of Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, and John Witherspoon, demonstrating how these influential ministers – pivotal figures in the Great Awakening and champions of religious freedom – also served as presidents of the institution and profoundly impacted the intellectual and spiritual landscape of America. The narrative underscores the original purpose of Princeton as a training ground for ministers dedicated to spreading the Gospel, and connects these academic leaders to the broader narrative of American patriotism and the founding of the nation. Watch on VCY.tv

Transcript:

I’m standing outside the president’s plot of Princeton Cemetery here in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is one of the oldest colleges in America, right up there with Harvard, Yale, and the College of William & Mary. Originally called the College of New Jersey, it traces its roots back to the Log College founded by William Tennent to train preachers for the “New Light” Presbyterian movement. These were the supporters of the religious revivals during the Great Awakening.

Let’s go look at some of the graves you’ll see inside the president’s plot.

As we enter the cemetery, a few markers stand out. One of the most prominent is that of Aaron Burr—the Aaron Burr involved in the famous duel with Alexander Hamilton, as immortalized in the Broadway musical Hamilton. Aaron Burr’s father, Aaron Burr Sr., was one of the early leaders who helped found the College of New Jersey.

Right behind Aaron Burr’s grave is that of Jonathan Edwards, the third president of the college. Yes, the Jonathan Edwards of the Great Awakening, famous for preaching “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” He promoted revivals across the region and was a close friend and associate of George Whitefield. Edwards was appointed president late in his ministry but sadly died just a few months after taking office. He’s still buried here in the president’s plot.

Who took over Princeton after Jonathan Edwards? Edwards was widely published on both sides of the Atlantic—even Benjamin Franklin advertised collections of his sermons in colonial newspapers.

The man chosen to fill the gap was Samuel Davies, buried right next to Edwards. You can see Edwards’ grave, and then Davies’. Samuel Davies served as the fourth president of the college.

Most interestingly, Davies had been a pastor in Virginia before coming to Princeton. He was one of the first non-Anglican pastors licensed in Virginia, a colony with an established state church (the Church of England). Davies arrived as a missionary and fought for the rights of English freemen to worship freely. He helped establish “reading houses” (simple meeting places where dissenters gathered to read sermons, since they couldn’t have their own ministers). One famous example was Pole Green Church—we’ve visited the site on earlier tours. (Unfortunately, the original Pole Green Church was destroyed during the Civil War, but there’s a semi-replica that gives a sense of what it looked like.)

While ministering there, Samuel Davies preached to a young boy who attended services with his mother. That boy’s name was Patrick Henry. You’ve heard of Patrick Henry’s legendary oratory as a revolutionary leader. But Henry himself said that the greatest orator he ever heard was Samuel Davies. Davies was a powerful preacher. He served for about two years before he, too, passed away.

Later, another key figure would lead the college. His tomb is a couple down from Samuel Davies—in fact, there’s a small marker noting him as a “Revolutionary Patriot.” Yes, that’s Reverend John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence and sixth president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). He led for nearly two decades, elevating the institution to new heights. Witherspoon was not only a pastor but a patriot who signed the Declaration and influenced other founding documents.

We’ll try to find the statue of Reverend Witherspoon somewhere on campus later. But this is just a glimpse of the fascinating stories here. If you get the chance, read some of the preaching by Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, or John Witherspoon. The early leaders of America’s founding colleges—including Princeton—were men deeply committed to training ministers to spread the word of God throughout the new country. Their influence on faith, education, and even the American Revolution runs deep.

The Pioneer Mother, Kansas City

A sculpture in the middle of the park – inscribed with a Scripture reference. Designed by Alexander Phimister Proctor, and dedicated in 1927, this bronze sculpture sits near the Santa Fe Trail, inscribed with Ruth 1:16, to commemorate their “unfaltering trust in God.” Watch on VCY.tv

Transcript:

Welcome to Kansas City.

We’re here at the site of a fascinating monument: the Pioneer Mother statue in Penn Valley Park. This location sits near one of the summits of the city, overlooking much of Kansas City.

What you see is a statue not dedicated to a single individual, but to a concept—the Pioneer Mother. It was presented to the people of Kansas City by businessman Howard Vanderslice in 1927 to commemorate the pioneer mothers who, with unfaltering trust in God, endured the hardships of the unknown West to prepare for us a homeland of peace and plenty.

As we look at the statue, there’s an inspiring quotation carved around the base from the Book of Ruth: “Whither thou goest, I will go; where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”

It’s noteworthy that here, at one of the high points of the city, the monument highlights themes of faith and family. In the distance, you can even catch a glimpse of the Liberty Memorial, honoring World War I veterans.

This isn’t your typical “Christian heritage” site in the traditional sense, but it does mark an important aspect of our nation’s history: the deep Christian faith that sustained many pioneers as they built this country. Dedicated nearly 100 years ago on November 11, 1927, the Pioneer Mother sculpture—created by renowned western artist Alexander Phimister Proctor—honors the courage, determination, and trust in God of those early settler women.

S2E14: Hudson Taylor, Part 2

In 19th-century England, James and Amelia Taylor famously prayed, ‘Dear God, if you should give us a son, grant that he may work for you in China.’ Their son, James Hudson Taylor, would go on to become the most influential missionary of the modern missionary movement. Author Vance Christie tells Hudson Taylor’s story to Randy Melchert. Watch on VCY.tv

Boscobel, WI: Birthplace of the Gideons

An old hotel, a small town, and the birthplace of the Gideons in Boscobel, Wisconsin Watch on VCY.tv

Transcript: We’re just south of the town of Boscobel, Wisconsin—along the Wisconsin River. Boscobel is one of those quiet towns you might drive right past without noticing, but it’s a beautiful area with rich history.

There’s an interesting historical marker here commemorating a chance meeting between two Christian businessmen back in September 1898. This was in the era of traveling salesmen—like the ones in The Music Man—who went from town to town by train or buggy. Hotels were often full, and private rooms weren’t always available; guests frequently had to share.

In this case, two traveling salesmen—John H. Nicholson from Janesville and Samuel E. Hill from Beloit—ended up sharing Room 19 at the Central House Hotel (later known as the Boscobel Hotel). They didn’t know each other at first, and neither realized the other was a fellow believer.

As the story goes, one of them asked, “Do you mind if I keep the light on for a little while? It’s my practice to read from the Bible each night before bed.” The other replied, “Please do—I’m a believer, too.”

That simple exchange sparked an idea. They discussed the need for an organization to support Christian commercial travelers and provide mutual encouragement. Though the first formal meeting of what became Gideons International happened later in Janesville, the Gideons have always recognized this hotel room in Boscobel as the birthplace of their movement.

About a year later, as their group grew, they decided to take action: place Bibles in hotel rooms across the country so other travelers could find spiritual comfort and guidance. Today, Gideons International has distributed well over two billion copies of God’s Word (that’s billion with a “b”) in hotels, hospitals, schools, and other places around the world.

Right here at the historical marker—near the site of that original hotel—you’ll often find free Gideon New Testaments available for the taking. It’s a fitting spot to reflect on this small-town beginning that grew into a global ministry. If you’re ever passing through Boscobel, stop by and pick one up—it’s a tangible piece of that inspiring story.

S2E13: Hudson Taylor, Part 1

In 19th-century England, James and Amelia Taylor famously prayed, ‘Dear God, if you should give us a son, grant that he may work for you in China.’ Their son, James Hudson Taylor, would go on to become the most influential missionary of the modern missionary movement. Author Vance Christie tells Hudson Taylor’s story to Randy Melchert. Watch on VCY.tv

The Writing of the Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross is one of the most beloved – and most claimed hymns! Our Christian Heritage has been to the Old Rugged Cross church on Pokagon, MI where it was first performed in its entirety and we’ve interviewed the couple that restored the church. We’ve also been to Sturgeon Bay, WI where the Friends Church is that it was first partially performed. But on this stop we’re at the site where it was written – in an apartment of a professor of Albion College that became a fraternity house before it was demolished in the 60s. This marker was recently restored after the previous was destroyed in a car crash in 2020.

Transcript:

We’re here in Albion, Michigan, at the site of the birthplace of one of the most beloved hymns in Christian history: “The Old Rugged Cross.”

There are actually several historical markers related to the hymn in the area. This spot marks where it was written. In December 1912 (and into 1913), George Bennard lived right behind me in what is now a vacant lot. At the time, he was staying in a rented apartment in the home of Professor Delos Fall at 1101 East Michigan Avenue, near Albion College.

Later, that same house became the chapter house for Delta Tau Delta, the first fraternity established at Albion College. In 1959, during the college’s 125th anniversary, a historical marker was placed here honoring the composition of the hymn—one of the most famous in church history and the standout among the more than 300 hymns George Bennard wrote.

Sadly, in 2020, a car accident destroyed the original monument. But as you can see, it’s been beautifully rebuilt—and many say it looks better than ever.

The marker reads in part: “The Old Rugged Cross,” one of the world’s best-loved hymns, was composed here in 1912 by the Rev. George Bennard (1873–1958). The son of an Ohio coal miner, Bennard was a lifelong servant of God, chiefly in the Methodist ministry. He wrote over 300 hymns, but none achieved the fame of “The Old Rugged Cross.”

What’s especially moving are the powerful words etched on these markers: “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.”

While the hymn was composed here in Albion, it had key early performances elsewhere. Parts of it were first performed in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, during evangelistic meetings at the Friends Church (from late December 1912 to January 1913). We’ve visited that site as well. The completed version was then sung in its entirety on June 7, 1913, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Pokagon, Michigan (near Niles). We had an incredible interview with the family and volunteers who restored and recreated that historic church to its original condition—it’s now part of The Old Rugged Cross Historic Site.

Even though Bennard lived here during the hymn’s composition, there’s a fourth significant site connected to its legacy: the Old Rugged Cross Museum (also known as part of the Old Rugged Cross Historical Society), located about a couple of hours north in Reed City, Michigan, where the Bennards lived later in life. (Note: There’s also a related historic site and museum in Pokagon focused on the church and first full performance.)

If you’re interested in church history and hymns like this one, mark these places on your map. Check them out at christianheritage.info—search for “The Old Rugged Cross” to find more details on these inspiring locations.

Rush Limbaugh

A conservative icon. The man who saved AM radio. And yet divorced 3 times. And an OxyContin addict. But yet shortly before he died, even he found Jesus! Join us for a OCH Short on Rush Limbaugh!

Transcript:

Welcome to Historic St. Louis. We’re here at Bellefontaine Cemetery, one of the city’s most historic resting places. I’m Randy Melchert, and today we’re at the gravesite of a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Rush Limbaugh was a highly controversial figure who many credit with saving AM radio. His nationally syndicated radio show ran from 1988 until his death in 2021. He was called everything from a trailblazer to a provocateur, drawing callers from across the country and shaping conservative discourse for decades.

As a private individual, Rush faced significant personal struggles: multiple divorces, battles with addiction (including painkiller dependency), and other challenges. Yet, toward the end of his life—after his 2020 diagnosis of advanced lung cancer—he spoke openly about finding profound peace and strength through faith.

One of his longtime friends and occasional radio guests, author Joel Rosenberg (who once worked for Rush early in his career), shared that Rush had made a deep, personal commitment to Jesus Christ as his Savior in 2019, just a couple of years before his passing. This wasn’t merely a passing moment; it transformed his final days. Rush publicly referenced his faith on air while facing stage 4 lung cancer, emphasizing how it gave him hope, confidence, and acceptance of God’s sovereignty.

In one poignant broadcast segment, he reflected: “It’s tough to realize that the days where I do not think I’m under a death sentence are over now. We all are, is the point. We all know that we’re going to die at some point, but when you have a terminal disease diagnosis that has a time frame to it, then that puts a different psychological and even physical awareness to it.

The only thing that any of us are certain of is right now today. That’s why I thank God every morning when I wake up. I thank God that I did. I try to make it the best day I can no matter what. Don’t look too far ahead. I certainly don’t look too far back.

I try to remain as committed to the idea that what’s supposed to happen will happen when it’s meant to. I mentioned at the outset of this—and the first day I told you—that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is of immense value, strength, confidence. And that’s why I’m able to remain fully committed to the idea that what is supposed to happen will happen when it’s meant to.”

President Donald Trump surprised many by awarding Rush the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—during the 2020 State of the Union address, with First Lady Melania Trump placing the medal around his neck.

For a man who influenced millions worldwide through his voice and opinions, Rush came to realize in his final chapter that the one thing that truly mattered was where he would spend eternity.

S1E2: Bill Federer on D. L. Moody and Booker T. Washington

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Bill Federer, author of America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, joins us to talk about the visit by Abraham Lincoln to Moody’s Sunday school; Moody’s work in the Civil War with the U.S. Christian Commission; P. T. Barnum’s hippodrome; and Booker T. Washington, the freemen schools, and his famous “Cast Down Your Bucket Where You Are” speech.

S1E1: Bill Federer on Charles Finney, William Booth, George Williams, Henry Dunant, Edgar James Helms, and Jeremiah Lanphier

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE on VCY.tv

Bill Federer, author of America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, joins us to talk about social impact ministry throughout history, especially as a result of Charles Finney’s initial work.

He talks about several Christians who founded global organizations, such as William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army), George Williams (founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association, aka the YMCA), Henry Dunant (founder of the International Red Cross), and Edgar James Helms (founder of Goodwill).

He analyzes how Christian experience goes from a first generation convert, to a second generation legalist, to a third generation rebel.

Lastly, he tells the story of Jeremiah Lanphier and the Laymen’s Prayer Revival in New York City, which began on September 23, 1857.

Robert Lowry, Pastor & Hymnwriter

He wrote Shall We Gather at the River, What Can Wash Away My Sin?, Low in the Grave He Lay, Jesus My Savior; as well as the chorus to I Need Thee, O I Need Thee WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE on VCY.tv

Transcript:

Reverend Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 12, 1826. From a young age, he showed a deep love for music, often entertaining himself with various instruments.

He enrolled at the University at Lewisburg (now Bucknell University) in Pennsylvania, where he excelled academically and graduated at the top of his class in 1854. That same year, he was ordained into the Baptist ministry and began his pastoral career.

Lowry served churches in several locations, including West Chester, Pennsylvania; Bloomingdale Church in New York City; and the prominent Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. During his time in Brooklyn, he composed some of his most enduring hymns.

Later in life, he returned to Lewisburg, where he pastored the local Baptist church while also serving as a professor of rhetoric (and later literature) at his alma mater, Bucknell University. In 1875, the university honored him with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his accomplishments as a preacher, educator, and especially as a prolific hymn writer. He composed both words and music for hundreds of gospel songs and edited numerous hymnals for the prominent publisher Biglow & Main.

Some of his most beloved hymns are still sung in churches today:

  • “Shall We Gather at the River?” (1864), a joyful vision of heaven inspired by Revelation’s imagery of the river of life.
  • “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” (often titled “What Can Wash Away My Sin?”), based on Revelation’s text, with its powerful refrain emphasizing Christ’s atoning blood.
  • His famous Easter resurrection hymn, “Low in the Grave He Lay” (also known as “Christ Arose!” or “Up from the Grave He Arose,” 1874), which vividly captures the triumph of Jesus over death: “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord! Up from the grave He arose…”
  • The beloved refrain he composed for Annie S. Hawks’s text: “I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.” (From “I Need Thee Every Hour,” 1872.)

Robert Lowry passed away on November 25, 1899, in Plainfield, New Jersey, but his “sermons in song” continue to inspire and uplift believers worldwide. His work helped shape 19th-century gospel music and remains a cherished part of Christian worship.

 

James Delaney, the Irishman saved in Burma who became a missionary to Wisconsin

On location in Whitewater, Wisconsin, we found the tomb of James Delaney, the Irishman saved in Burma who became a missionary to Wisconsin WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE

Transcript: We’re here in Whitewater, Wisconsin, exploring America’s Christian heritage. Today, we’re focusing on the remarkable story of James Delaney, a pioneering Baptist missionary and church planter whose life was transformed through a chain of divine encounters involving some of the 19th century’s most famous missionaries.

A former skeptic from Plymouth, Massachusetts—Eugenio Kincaid—went as a missionary to Burma (now Myanmar). There, in the British East India Company’s territory, he met and mentored an Irish soldier named James Delaney. Kincaid sent him to Bible college, and Delaney went on to become a key figure in planting churches across what was then the Wisconsin Territory.

Over a century ago, the Wisconsin Historical Society recorded Delaney’s passing with a brief biography, but it omitted his profound connection to one of the era’s most renowned missionaries: Adoniram Judson.

James Delaney was born in Ireland on February 1, 1804. Newspapers of the time noted that his parents had designated him to become a Catholic priest. But the early death of his parents left him in poverty, ignorance, and superstition. At age 22, following a financial panic in London that cost him his job, he enlisted in the British East India Company. In 1826, he sailed from Ireland with 224 other raw recruits bound for Madras, India, enduring a six-month voyage.

Upon arrival, his natural leadership and superior intelligence quickly made him a standout among his comrades. He was promoted from private to artilleryman. After four years in India, he was transferred to Moulmein, the capital of British Burma (captured by the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War). The soldiers were needed to maintain order in the newly occupied provinces.

Around this time, Delaney’s life began to change dramatically. He had a wild and reckless disposition; once, for resenting a petty insult from a superior officer, he was court-martialed, demoted, and sentenced to 200 lashes—though the flogging was later remitted. It was a rough season.

Meanwhile, Eugenio Kincaid—a doctor’s son from Connecticut—had arrived in Burma. While in college, Kincaid heard a sermon by Luther Rice that burdened him for missions. Initially rejected by the mission board, he preached in the States for eight years before being appointed to Burma. Kincaid settled in Moulmein, while Adoniram Judson (one of America’s first Protestant missionaries overseas) was across the gulf in Rangoon, translating the Old Testament into Burmese.

Kincaid, still learning the difficult Burmese language, preached in English to British soldiers in Moulmein. Not all his ministry happened in churches. In one dramatic instance, a soldier insulted an officer and shot him, wounding the man. The soldier was sentenced to hang. Before the execution, Kincaid preached, prayed, and led the singing of Isaac Watts’s hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The message of the cross touched the hardened 27-year-old soldier James Delaney.

Delaney had been avoiding the American missionary but began attending Kincaid’s services. He read the Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress, and prayed at night in the jungle. That year, about 100 soldiers were converted, and on March 23, 1831, Delaney was baptized in the Sittang River of Burma. His comrades initially thought his conversion was a joke, but when they saw it was genuine, they attacked and threatened him. Yet, as Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Kincaid later moved to Rangoon to oversee mission schools, while Judson relocated to Moulmein. Judson spent time mentoring Delaney, encouraging his studies and helping build his theological library. In 1834, the Judsons raised $350 to purchase Delaney’s discharge from the East India Company. That November, they sent him to the London Missionary Society and then to America, to Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution (where Kincaid had studied).

Delaney arrived in New York in 1835 and trained for the ministry. To help with tuition, Sarah Judson (Adoniram’s wife) sent $25 from her own purse. He preached revival meetings across New York, including one on Lake Champlain with Baptist minister William Arthur (father of future U.S. President Chester A. Arthur). In 1838, Delaney held his first baptism service in New York—immersing 14 converts, even though the temperature was 15 degrees below zero!

Before leaving New York, he married Tirzah O. Platt in 1839. Soon after, he arrived in Wisconsin Territory—when there were only a handful of Baptist churches in the entire region. He immediately began organizing new ones in places like Madison and Janesville. He earned the title “exploring agent” and “general missionary” for the territory.

Looking back, contemporaries described him as filled with earnest piety and missionary zeal, a robust constitution, untiring energy, and unfailing moral heroism. His journeys along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers were full of wild adventure, thrilling incidents, and heroic endurance—comparable to those of his mentor Kincaid along Burma’s Irrawaddy and Salween rivers.

In 1840, Wisconsin Territory had only about 30,945 people—smaller than modern Menomonee Falls or West Bend. Delaney’s family settled in the western part (Iowa and Lafayette Counties) at the time of the census. His son Arthur (born 1841, likely named after William Arthur) grew up to serve as a Wisconsin assemblyman, senator, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He later joined the Klondike Gold Rush and became the first mayor of Juneau, Alaska.

In 1845—the year Sarah Judson died—Delaney wrote a missionary report on Wisconsin for the American Baptist Convention from East Troy, noting that while Easterners viewed Westerners as ignorant, Wisconsinites were discerning judges of preaching and demanded well-qualified ministers. Error and opposition were bold, so capable gospel preachers were needed more than ever.

In 1846, he helped form the Wisconsin Baptist State Convention on a purely evangelical basis, dedicated to evangelizing the territory through preaching and church planting.

By 1849, he was pastoring in Grafton. In 1850, his mentor Adoniram Judson died and was buried at sea. Delaney pastored for a time in Waukesha, with stints in New York and Vermont. Later, he served in Port Washington (Ozaukee County). By then, Kincaid had become a special envoy from the King of Burma to President James Buchanan, delivering a royal letter in an ivory box and returning with American gifts.

In 1860, Delaney lived in Hubbard (Dodge County) with wife Tirzah and children Arthur, Mary, and Frederick. The Civil War soon began, and he served as chaplain in the 18th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.

In 1868, he moved to Whitewater, where he spent his remaining years. Census records show him here with Tirzah and daughter Mary. By 1872, his church had 72 members; he labored patiently and piously, enduring all for the elect’s sake. In 1875, he took over the church in East Troy (22 members, but 53 in Sunday school). By 1880, widowed, he lived in Whitewater with daughter Mary and son Alfred. He retired but preached occasionally.

In 1886, with Whitewater’s population just over 3,000, a new church building was constructed a few blocks from downtown (later sold to the Norwegian Lutheran Church).

Delaney died in Whitewater on December 18, 1896, at age 92 (some records say 93). At his funeral, Dr. Hage (then pastor of the Janesville church Delaney had started) closed his eulogy with these words: “Servant of God, well done. Rest from thy loved employ. The battle fought, the victory won. Enter thy Master’s joy.”

Adoniram Judson

Tim Schmig is at the grave of Adoniram Judson, telling the remarkable story of how Adoniram grew up in a Christian home, lost his faith in college, and how he returned to the Lord!WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE

Transcript:

What that means—and it’s often a Jewish tradition, though others pick it up too—is simply, “I came to visit you.”

In a military cemetery, if you see a coin on a headstone, each denomination carries a specific meaning as a way to honor the veteran and let their family know someone stopped by:

  • A penny means: “I visited and recognized your service.”
  • A nickel means: “We trained together at boot camp.”
  • A dime means: “We served together in the same unit, company, barracks, or capacity.”
  • A quarter means: “I was there when you were killed in action.”

That’s the tradition, though it’s more symbolic than universal—similar to the old yarn about statues of men on horseback.

You know that one: If all four of the horse’s feet are on the ground, the rider died of natural causes. One leg raised means he was wounded in battle and later died from those wounds. Two legs up means he was killed in action. It holds for many equestrian statues, but not all—like the famous one of Andrew Jackson in New Orleans’ Jackson Square. There, the horse is reared up on its hind legs, and Jackson has his hat off in salute. The story some tell is that a Creole woman (half French, half Black) once confronted Jackson on the street for not tipping his hat to her, and he refused, saying she was beneath him. Years later, when the city commissioned the statue, her descendant supposedly sculpted it so Jackson would forever tip his hat toward her family’s home as poetic justice.

But historically, sculptor Clark Mills designed it to depict Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, acknowledging his troops’ salute—nothing to do with that anecdote. Still, it’s a great story people love to share!

Now, speaking of powerful turning points… this is the grave of Adoniram Judson, one of the greatest missionaries in Christian history.

Adoniram Judson was born in 1788 into a pastor’s home in Malden, Massachusetts. At just 16 years old, he entered what was then the College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (now Brown University) to study for the ministry. Back then, education worked by mastery levels—you advanced as soon as you completed each stage, like catechism and core subjects—not by age-based grades like our modern Franco-Russian model where everyone progresses together regardless of readiness. Judson was a brilliant student and graduated as valedictorian in 1807 at age 19.

While at Brown, he befriended a classmate named Jacob Eames, a convinced deist and skeptic who mocked Christianity. Eames influenced Judson to abandon his childhood faith, turning him into an infidel. After graduation, Judson didn’t tell his parents about his change of heart. Instead, he headed to New York City with dreams of becoming a famous playwright.

Just before leaving, he stopped home and had a big confrontation with his father: “I’m an infidel now. Jacob Eames showed me Christianity is foolish and childish.” They argued fiercely. The next day, Judson mounted his horse and rode toward New York.

Along the way, with no Holiday Inns back then, he stopped at a roadside inn for the night. The innkeeper said, “I have a room, but I’m hesitant—the man next door is dying, and it might disturb you.” Judson replied, “I’ll take it anyway.”

All night long, he heard shuffling feet, doctors coming and going, and the dying man screaming in agony, begging for forgiveness and crying out for his soul. Judson couldn’t sleep. He thought, “What would Jacob Eames say if he saw me worried about this? He’d call me a fool—there’s no soul, no afterlife, nothing to fear.” But the cries haunted him.

In the morning, the room next door fell silent. When Judson settled his bill, he asked the innkeeper, “Did he…?” The innkeeper confirmed, “Yes, he passed in the night.” Judson asked, “Do you know his name?” The reply: “Yes—a young man from Brown College. His name was Eames. Jacob Eames.”

Judson was stunned. His closest friend—the one who’d led him into unbelief—was dead, and by all accounts, died in terror without peace. The finality hit hard: “Lost! Utterly, irrevocably lost!” All his deistic ideas crumbled. God used that “coincidence” to pursue him relentlessly.

Judson turned around, went home, reconciled with his parents, got right with God, and soon felt called to missions. He trained at Andover Theological Seminary, married Ann Hasseltine, and in 1812 became one of America’s first foreign missionaries—sailing to India and then Burma, where he spent decades translating the Bible into Burmese, planting churches, and enduring imprisonment and hardship.

This happened around 1808, early in the 19th century. God’s story is full of these simple, providential moments that change everything. He can use the smallest “coincidence” to bring us back to Himself.

 

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
  It must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
  His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
  And Christ is Lord indeed.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO on VCY.tv

Stand up for Jesus
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
  It must not, it must not suffer loss.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
  The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
  In this His glorious day.
Ye that are men, now serve Him
  Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger.
  And strength to strength oppose.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
  Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you;
  Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor,
  And, watching unto prayer,
Where duty calls, or danger,
  Be never wanting there.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
  The strife will not be long:
This day the noise of battle,
  The next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh
  A crown of life shall be;
He, with the King of glory,
  Shall reign eternally.

 

Transcript:

We’re here at the grave of George Duffield Jr. in Elmwood Cemetery, not far from downtown Detroit, Michigan.

George Duffield Jr. (1818–1888) was a second-generation Presbyterian minister—his father was also a well-known preacher—and he faithfully served the gospel for about 48 years across several churches in places like Brooklyn, Bloomfield (New Jersey), Philadelphia, Adrian (Michigan), Galesburg (Illinois), Saginaw, Ann Arbor, and Lansing. He lived to be nearly 70 years old and was a man of letters, earning a D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) degree.

But he’s best remembered today not primarily for his sermons, but for one enduring hymn he wrote: “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” Interestingly, the hymn wasn’t inspired by his own experiences or preaching—it came from the dying words of his close friend, Dudley Atkins Tyng.

Tyng was an Episcopalian minister in Philadelphia who was removed from his pastorate at the Church of the Epiphany for boldly preaching against slavery during a time when such views were controversial in many circles. He then turned to evangelism and revival work. Duffield supported him, and together they participated in a major revival movement in Pennsylvania (often called the “Work of God in Philadelphia” in 1858). In one powerful meeting at the YMCA, Tyng preached to over 5,000 young men on Exodus 10:11—”Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord”—and more than 1,000 professed faith in Christ.

Tragically, shortly after, Tyng suffered a farming accident at his home. His sleeve caught in a corn-sheller, severely mangling his arm. Infection set in, and he died a few days later at age 33. On his deathbed, he asked his father (also a minister) to deliver a message to his fellow ministers: “Tell them all to stand up for Jesus.”

At Tyng’s memorial service, Duffield preached a sermon based on Ephesians 6:14—”Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”—and closed by reciting a new poem he had written in tribute to his friend. That poem became the hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” It was soon printed by the church’s Sunday school superintendent, appeared in a local Christian publication, spread to a Baptist newspaper, and was included in the Presbyterian Church Psalmist (1859 edition), gaining wide circulation.

The hymn is even carved into Duffield’s tombstone here, with these stirring lines:

“Stand up, stand up for Jesus, The strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, The next the victor’s song. To him that overcometh A crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory Shall reign eternally.”

(Full first stanza for context: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.”)

George Duffield’s body rests here on earth in Elmwood Cemetery, but as the hymn declares, he is now with the King of glory, reigning eternally. His legacy lives on through this call to courageous faith—a reminder that even in loss and tragedy, God can inspire songs that stir hearts for generations.

James K. Polk

The K in James K Polk stands for Knox. His mother was Jane Knox, a direct descendant of John Knox, the Scottish preacher who faced off against Bloody Queen Mary. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO on VCY.tv

 

His mother, it is said, held to four things: the Bible, the Confession of Faith, the Psalms, and Isaac Watts’ Hymns.

His father on the other hand, scoffed at religion. He wanted carved on his tombstone:

Here lies the dust of old E.P. on instance of mortality

Pennsylvania born Carolina bred, In Tennessee died on his bed.

His youthful days he spent in pleasure, His latter days in gathering treasure

From superstition liv’d quite free, and practised strict morality…

To holy cheats was never willing To give one solitary shilling

First fruits and tenths are odious things And so are Bishops, Tithes, and Kings 

James K Polk had two strong forces – one pulling him towards God and one pulling Him away. In 1833, James Polk was running for Congress and heard a crowd was gathering at the Campground near Columbia, Tennessee. Politicians and crowds are like moths to a flame, so Polk went! Evangelist John McFerrin was preaching. Polk was impacted – but McFerrin reports that “he went away from the camp-ground a convicted sinner, if not a converted man.”

Polk was re-elected to congress, he was hard-working, dedicated to politics, and ambitious. But not saved as best as we can tell, unlike his wife.

Later as Governor of Tennessee, Polk “used to hold many arguments with” McFerrin “and that he had promised him that when he did embrace Christianity, [McFerrin]… should baptize him.”

The 11th President of the United States

James Polk went on to be president, the ambitious lawyer was the youngest president America had ever had to that point. Many regard him as one of the most powerful – he stopped a potential war with Britain and started a war with Mexico. He annexed Texas and acquired California when the war with Mexico ended. While president he kept a diary, and while he attended church regularly with his wife, he never commented on the service. Except for one day, in which he made some surprising comments on the presidency.

Sunday, November 2nd, 1845. The day of his fiftieth birthday. This is from his very own diary:

“Attended the Methodist Church (called the Foundery Church) to-day, in company with my private secretary, J. Knox Walker. It was an inclement day, there being rain from an early hour in the morning, and Mrs. Polk and the ladies of my household did not attend church to-day. Mrs. Polk being a member of the Presbyterian Church, I generally attend that church with her, though my opinions and predilections are in favor of the Methodist Church. This was my birthday, being fifty years old. The text was from the Acts of the Apostles, chap. 17, verse 31: ‘Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.’ It was communion day, and the sermon was solemn and forcible. It awakened the reflection that I had lived fifty years, and that before fifty years more would expire I would be sleeping with the generations which have gone before me. I thought of the vanity of this world’s honors, how little they would profit me half a century hence, and that it was time for me to be “putting my house in order.”

Diary of President James K. Polk

Did you catch this? The president of the United States – thinking of the vanity of this world’s honors, and how little they would profit him in fifty years!

Yet nothing is written of what he did to put his house in order. For the next 4 years of his presidency, he records many church services that he went to, but no commentary on any of them.

Finally, 1849 came, and his one term as president came to an end. Acquaintances (he didn’t have too many friends) noticed that the presidency aged him incredibly. He would be dead in just three months. 

The Last Days of James K Polk

Shortly before he died, he called for another pastor.

“Sir, if I had suspected twenty years ago that I should come to my death-bed unprepared, it would have made me a wretched man; yet I am about to die and have not made preparation. Tell me, sir, can there be any ground for a man thus situated to hope?”

The minister talked with him of the gospel, President Polk was quite familiar with the Bible, but probably just on a head-basis, not a heart-basis. Unfortunately, the illness took over and Polk was unable to continue talking with the minister.

The next day, Polk in a moment of clarity, remembered his conversation with the Evangelist McFerrin, and summoned him – finally ready to get his life in order.

James K Polk is a story of an ambitious politician – who as best as we can tell, kept pushing off his relationship with the Lord, until it was almost too late.

The sermon he heard while president that almost drove him to give his life to Christ was from Acts 17:31. The previous verse tells us God “now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Don’t wait until its too late!

For more information on James Polk, check out:

Wonderful Peace!

Join us as we go on location to West Bend, WI to learn about the Wisconsin Gospel song,
“Wonderful Peace!”

This hymn is a uniquely Wisconsin hymn. The words were written by a pastor buried in Wisconsin, and set to music by a pastor born in Wisconsin.

Rev. Warren D. Cornell was born in Michigan but left at 19 to teach and preach in Texas. At 23 he came to Wisconsin, where he’d spend the next 40 years of his life in pulpit ministry and civic service. He pastored in the greater Oshkosh area for awhile and 1889 found him as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Berlin, Wisconsin. He later founded an independent church in Fond du Lac, the same city where he’s also buried.

In the 19th century, Camp meetings were an opportunity for churches to come together for singing and fellowship, but primarily preaching the way of Salvation, with the Mourner’s Bench prominently at the front.

Rev. William G. Cooper was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Bend, Wisconsin, he’d later go on to pastor several Baptist churches, but in 1889, his church in West Bend held their annual summer camp meeting from Wednesday night to Sunday night. According to the church historian, the families would gather at the farm of Francis Gansel, a Prussian immigrant to America, who became Town Chairman of West Bend.

We’re standing on the site of the original Francis Gansel farm where the camp meetings were held, although now it is the Bicentennial Park in West Bend.

Rev. Cornell came down from Ripon as a guest speaker at the camp meeting, and on Sunday, the last day of the camp meeting, took a walk down the Milwaukee River just a mile to our east, over by the church building.

Many hymns come from personal tragedy. This hymn however comes from a time of happiness, reminding us that the same God who sends times of sorrow also sends times of joy. Rev. Cornell was so filled with joy after five days of camp meeting spent fellowshipping and eating with believers, testimonies, singing, and preaching, that the words flowed out of the overabundance of his soul. According to a couple of sources, as he walked, Rev. Cornell grabbed the back of an advertising flyer and penned these words along this river:

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

Rev. Cornell put the paper back in his pocket and walked back to the campground for the evening service, surrounded by His Father’s love

Back here at the campground, after the evening service, the host pastor, Rev. Cooper, was cleaning up the grounds when he saw a paper lying on the floor. He read the words, took the paper to the organ, and began composing a tune for the words. As he played on the organ, the words to another stanza began to form in his mind, this stanza an invitation to unbelievers to partake of this peace:

Ah soul, are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

Three years later, in 1892, Rev. Cooper and his friend Robert McCabe published the hymn in their songbook, Pearls of Paradise, with the note, Dedicated to the M.E. Church, West Bend, Wisconsin, that hosted that camp meeting that gave birth to this beloved hymn, Wonderful Peace.

The Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross was written over a hundred years ago, and performed in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Friends Community Church has an outdoor memorial commemorating the first public performance of the hymn, and we take you there! #churchhistoryonlocation

Transcript:

We’re here in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, outside Friends Community Church—a historic site tied to one of the most beloved hymns in Christian history: “The Old Rugged Cross.”

This is where evangelist George Bennard, during revival meetings from December 29, 1912, to January 12, 1913, finished writing the hymn and performed it publicly for the first time. On the closing night (January 12, 1913), Bennard and his colleague Rev. Ed E. Mieras sang it as a duet, accompanied by organist Pearl Torstensen Berg, before a full house. The church’s backyard now features a large wooden cross monument with a plaque honoring the event: “Most popular and widely accepted Christian hymn, ‘The Old Rugged Cross,’ completed by Reverend George Bennard during evangelistic meetings December 1912 to January 1913. First sung as a duet here.”

George Bennard (1873–1958) was born in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of a coal miner who also owned a bar. The family later moved to Iowa, where his father died when George was young, leaving him to help support his mother and siblings by working in the mines starting at age 16. Despite early hardships and an initial aspiration to enter the ministry, Bennard was converted at a Salvation Army meeting. He and his wife became active in the Salvation Army as brigade leaders before transitioning to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was ordained and served as a traveling evangelist.

While preaching across the country, Bennard faced mockery and persecution—especially from local youth who ridiculed his emphasis on the cross and the call to surrender one’s life to Jesus. This opposition led to a period of deep reflection and even depression. As he prayed, studied Scripture, and meditated on passages like “take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24) and Paul’s words “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), the message of the cross became profoundly real to him.

Words and melody came to him during this time. He began writing the first verse and chorus in Albion, Michigan, in late 1912 (possibly after a revival there), and completed the full hymn during his Sturgeon Bay meetings. When he shared it with his wife, she was moved to tears—it was powerful and personal. The hymn’s enduring appeal comes from its heartfelt focus on Christ’s sacrifice and the believer’s response.

The song gained massive popularity through Bennard’s publisher, Homer Rodeheaver (“Rody”), the famous song leader for evangelist Billy Sunday. Rodeheaver purchased the rights for $500 (some accounts say $50 initially, but $500 is commonly cited) and featured “The Old Rugged Cross” in countless Billy Sunday crusades, helping spread it nationwide. It was published in 1915 and became a staple in gospel music.

In Sturgeon Bay, the original Friends Church fell into disrepair over the years and was even used as a barn for a time. But in recent decades, recognizing that many great hymns were fading from modern worship, dedicated folks raised funds to restore it. Today, Friends Community Church hosts regular afternoon hymn sings that draw people from miles around. Services often begin with a reenactment of Bennard’s first duet performance, using researched original shaped-note music to share the hymn’s message anew.

This is the story of “The Old Rugged Cross”—a hymn born from personal struggle, divine inspiration, and faithful proclamation. As the lyrics declare:

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above To bear it to dark Calvary.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, Such a wonderful beauty I see; For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share.”

Amarna Letters

The Amarna Letters are a collection of 380 clay tablets from the Office-House of Letters of Pharoah at Amarna, Egypt, now mostly in the British Museum. Conservatives believe that the Exodus was in 1446 BC, while liberal scholars believe that “if” there was an Exodus it was several centuries later. From a conservative date, these letters would be in the time of the early Judges.

Amarna Letter 289 is from the King of Jerusalem to Pharoah complaining that Labayu gave some of the land of Shechem to the “Habiru.” Many other Amarna letters refer to these Habiru. The word “Habiru” refers to fugitives or refugees, so while one can’t definitively say all Habiru are Hebrews, it is possible from a conservative date for the Exodus, that some Habiru were Hebrews.

Why is Shechem important to a Bible student?

Genesis 12:6-8 – “And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.”

During the time of the Amarna letters – Gideon’s son Abimelech tried to set himself up as king.

Judges 9 1-2 – “And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”