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Hymn History: Fairest Lord Jesus & Translator: 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 & Translator: 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 “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 Origin 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 Read more...
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Hymn History: Heavenly Sunlight & Author: Henry Jefferys 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...
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Hymn History: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day & Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “He was the most popular poet of his day, widely read at home and abroad …” (Kristine Frederickson) The Origin of the Hymn “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” Few Christmas carols carry the emotional depth and historical weight of “I Heard the Bells Read more...
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Hymn History: I Surrender All & Author: Judson W. Van DeVenter “The author of this beautiful hymn … definitely struggled. However, from his struggles came a beautiful hymn that shares the sentiment of so many.” (Diana Leagh Matthews) The Origin of the Hymn “I Surrender All” Among the great hymns of personal consecration, few have spoken more powerfully or Read more...
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Hymn History: I Will Praise Him & Author: Margaret Jenkins Harris “Very little is known about Margaret Jenkins Harris … but untold numbers have been blessed by the singing of her hymn ‘I Will Praise Him’. … Her name will probably not be remembered by many.” (Melody Publications) The Origin of the Hymn “I Will Praise Him” Among the Read more...
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Hymn History: I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go & Author: Mary Haughton Brown “A tiny woman who lived in Boston, she travelled around in evangelistic work, accompanying her singing on a zither or autoharp.” (Robert Cottrill) The Origin of the Hymn “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” Among the many hymns of Christian consecration and Read more...
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Hymn History: In My Heart There Rings a Melody & Author: Elton Menno Roth “One hot summer afternoon … I walked up and down the aisle and began singing, ‘In my heart there rings a melody’ … I was thrilled, as it seemed my whole being was transformed into a song.” (Elton Menno Roth) The Origin of the Hymn Read more...
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Hymn History: In the Garden & Author: Charles Austin Miles “The song [‘In the Garden’] has always been one of my favorites. … Charles Austin Miles … was a very talented man. Along with being a successful songwriter he was a church music director, a pharmacist, and a photographer who developed his own photos.” (Blind Pig & The Acorn) Read more...
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Hymn History: In Times Like These & Author: Ruth Naomi Caye Jones “She is said to have tears come to her eyes when she watched George Beverly Shea sing her song on a Billy Graham telecast. She said: ‘I can’t believe I had any part in writing this song. I just feel that God gave it to me, and I Read more...
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Hymn History: Is My Name Written There? & Author: Mary Ann Pepper Kidder “Mary Ann (Pepper) Kidder … was a Civil War widow in New York City whose pastime of writing poetry became the primary support of her family. … She, Crosby, and Pollard were referred to as ‘the Trio’ at the Biglow & Main publishing house because of their Read more...
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Hymn History: It’s Just Like His Great Love & Author: Edna Randolph Worrell “Virtually nothing is known of the author …” (hymnstudiesblog) The Origin of the Hymn “It’s Just Like His Great Love” Among the many gospel songs that celebrate the steadfast love of Christ, few express it as simply and sweetly as “It’s Just Like His Great Love.” Read more...