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Hymn History: A Child of the King Author: Harriet Eugenia “Hattie” Peck Buell “Harriett E. Buell, a native of New York state, wrote the words for ‘A Child of the King’ as she walked home from church one Sunday.” (Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Vol. 12, No. 22 [Spring 1999], p. 27) The Origin of the Hymn Read more...
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Hymn History: A Glorious Church Author: Ralph Erskine Hudson “He often took old hymns and gave them a new tune, with a jolly, bouncing chorus.” (Robert Cottrill) The Origin of the Hymn “A Glorious Church” The hymn “A Glorious Church” is a stirring declaration of the beauty, purity, and victory of Christ’s redeemed people. With its triumphant refrain—“’Tis Read more...
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Hymn History: All for Jesus Author: Mary Dagworthy James “It is noted that she ‘strived to live a life as close to Christ as possible.’” (Hymnary.org) The Origin of the Hymn “All for Jesus” The hymn “All for Jesus” is a heartfelt expression of complete consecration to Christ—an anthem of surrender that calls believers to live every moment, Read more...
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Hymn History: All That Thrills My Soul Author: Thoro Harris “His greatest success was achieved with his favourite song… one contemporary recalled him as ‘a very energetic person, walking about the city almost constantly carrying a little canvas handbag in which he carried copies of his song-books for sale.’” (Praise!) The Origin of the Hymn “All That Thrills Read more...
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Hymn History: Anywhere With Jesus Author: Jessie Brown Pounds “Her ability to express deep spiritual truths in simple, heartfelt language made her a favourite among churches and Sunday schools.” (referring to her hymn “Anywhere With Jesus”) (Hymnal Library) The Origin of the Hymn “Anywhere with Jesus” The hymn “Anywhere with Jesus” is a beautiful expression of trust, courage, Read more...
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Hymn History: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship Author: George Askins/Atkins “He was a man of small stature, and a cripple, one of his legs being withered up to the hip; yet he was more active on foot than any cripple I ever saw. Notwithstanding his bodily infirmity, he was full of spirit, and a stranger to fear. No Read more...
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Hymn History: Bring Them In Author: Alexcenah Thomas “Sunday School workers began to recognize that music was a natural way to teach the children and provide scriptural and life lessons for them to easily remember. This is a song which was written for Sunday School sometime in the early 1880s … Alexcenah Thomas was aware of this movement, which Read more...
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Hymn History: Channels Only Author: Mary Elizabeth Dobell Maxwell “The writer of this verse was Mary Elizabeth Dobell Maxwell. She wrote four known hymns, but beyond that little is known about her. … What is known from her hymns is that she understood the New Covenant life of surrender to Christ and living only by His life in her.” Read more...
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Hymn History: Search Me, O God Author: James Edwin Orr “Some men read history, some write it, and others make it. So far as the history of religious revivals is concerned, J. Edwin Orr belongs to all three categories.” (F. F. Bruce) The Origin of the Hymn “Search Me, O God” Few hymns express a more personal cry Read more...
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Hymn History: Fairest Lord Jesus Author: Joseph Augustus Seiss “His contemporaries described him as ‘an eloquent pulpit orator’ and said his ‘style is clear, ornate, attractive, and forcible.’” (Wikipedia) The Origin of the Hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” Among the world’s most beloved hymns exalting the beauty and majesty of Christ, “Fairest Lord Jesus” holds a cherished place in Read more...
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Hymn History: Faith Is the Victory Author: John Henry Yates “Life wasn’t always easy for John H. Yates … He knew hard work. … Shortly after his interaction with Ira D. Sankey, Yates wrote ‘Faith Is the Victory’. … Yates knew what it meant to ‘let tents of ease be left behind’, but he recognized that there is reward Read more...
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Hymn History: Footsteps of Jesus Author: Mary Bridges Canady Slade “She and her husband were active in the Underground Railroad. … She authored children’s magazine Wide-Awake and Sunday school materials, primarily for training teachers.” (Bible Exchange) The Origin of the Hymn “Footsteps of Jesus” Among the tender and devotional hymns that call believers to follow Christ in daily Read more...
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Hymn History: Give of Your Best to the Master Author: Howard Benjamin Grose “This hymn calls believers to wholehearted devotion to Christ. Grose … was known for his passionate dedication to missions and Christian service, and this hymn reflects that same spirit.” (Bible Exchange) The Origin of the Hymn “Give of Your Best to the Master” Among the Read more...
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Hymn History: God Be with You ‘Till We Meet Again Author: Jeremiah Eames Rankin “That gifted hymn-writer, Jeremiah Eames Rankin, tells us that the two most useful farewell hymns in the world are Blest Be the Tie That Binds and God Be With You ’Til We Meet Again.” (W. H. Bergherm) The Origin of the Hymn “God Be Read more...
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Hymn History: God Leads Us Along Author: George A. Young “This song is a reminder that God’s providence is still with us even in our difficult moments … The author of this song … was a rural preacher and carpenter whose fame only came after he was already dead.” (Christianmusicandhymns.com) The Origin of the Hymn “God Leads Us Read more...
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Hymn History: Happy the Home When God Is There Author: Henry Ware Jr. “He was kind to children, and had a happy influence with them.… He said he did not wish to set the child an example of obstinate willfulness, but would rather let him see that the strongest must and could yield sometimes.” (Samuel A. Eliot) The Read more...
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Hymn History: He Keeps Me Singing Author: Luther Burgess Bridgers Sr. “In spite of ‘life’s ebb and flow,’ he felt his heart filled with a melody whispered by Jesus: ‘Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still.’ … He knew that even though we may feel overwhelmed by the hardships in life, this truth keeps us singing God’s Read more...
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Hymn History: He the Pearly Gates Will Open Translator: Nathaniel Carlson The Origin of the Hymn “He the Pearly Gates Will Open” Few gospel hymns express the transforming power of divine grace as movingly as “He the Pearly Gates Will Open.” Written in 1917 by Fredrick Arvid Blom, a Swedish immigrant to America, the hymn tells the story of Read more...
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Hymn History: Heavenly Sunlight Author: Henry Jeffreys Zelley “From what we know of Henry Zelley … he was an evangelist for 40 years … He urged hearers to seek the ‘promise divine’, the ‘mansions above’ by travelling in the ‘sunlight of love’.” (David Cain) The Origin of the Hymn “Heavenly Sunlight” Among the joyful gospel songs of the Read more...
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Hymn History: His Way with Thee Author: Cyrus Sylvester Nusbaum “Cyrus Sylvester Nusbaum … was one of the most outstanding evangelists of his time. He wrote these words [for ‘His Way with Thee’] at a time when economic need forced him to surrender to the will of God.” (Hinshaw Music) The Origin of the Hymn “His Way with Read more...