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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...
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Hymn History: Ivory Palaces & Author: Henry Barraclough “Twenty-four year old Henry Barraclough’s path to a hymn he was writing was circuitous … He might never have imagined the words to ‘Ivory Palaces,’ except that he had agreed to be the piano player for a touring preacher.” (David Cain) The Origin of the Hymn “Ivory Palaces” Few gospel hymns Read more...
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Hymn History: Jesus, I Come & Author: William True Sleeper “I never wasted a moment. When I was not at work, I always took my singing-book or some other book which I was studying, and was thus learning something.” (William True Sleeper) The Origin of the Hymn “Jesus, I Come” Among the many invitation hymns that have echoed through Read more...
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Hymn History: Jesus Saves & Author: Priscilla Jane Owens “… of Scotch and Welsh descent, she spent her entire life in Baltimore. … She was a public-school teacher there for 49 years. … For 50 years Miss Owens has interested herself in Sunday-school work, and most of her hymns were written for children’s services.” (Hymnary.org) The Origin of the Read more...
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Hymn History: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee & Author: Henry Van Dyke “He was first and last a ‘fisher of men,’ … a minister of God, a minister of his country, … And no doubt what he said of the Other Wise Man he would have said of himself: that if he could live his earthly life again he would Read more...
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Hymn History: Lead Me to Calvary & Author: Jennie Evelyn Hussey “Miss Hussey, a Quaker by background, lived much of her life on the family farm … She cared for an invalid sister, and in later years suffered crippling arthritis; yet she was known for her cheerful disposition and courageous attitude.” (hymnstudiesblog) The Origin of the Hymn “Lead Me to Read more...
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Hymn History: Lead on, O King Eternal & Author: Ernest Warburton Shurtleff “Dr. Shurtleff was one of those rare souls whose spiritual quality appeared in all his acts and speech without the slightest taint of pietism. … His deep and quiet nature had the force of a rising tide.” (Hymns for Family Worship) The Origin of the Hymn “Lead Read more...
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Hymn History: Love Lifted Me & Author: James Rowe “Poetry came easy to him.” (Louise Rowe Mayhew) The Origin of the Hymn “Love Lifted Me” Few hymns capture the saving grace and redemptive power of Christ’s love as beautifully as “Love Lifted Me.” Its joyful declaration—“Love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me”—has been sung by Read more...
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Hymn History: Make Me a Channel of Blessing & Author: Harper Garcia Smyth “Harper G. Smyth … was an excellent example of someone who used his musical talent to bring spiritual refreshment to others. … His music ministry was a form of Christian hospitality!” (Institute in Basic Life Principles) The Origin of the Hymn “Make Me a Channel of Read more...
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Hymn History: Must I Go, and Empty-Handed? & Author: Charles Carroll Luther “Years ago … my parents had friends we visited quite often … On one occasion … that represents the way in which we can encourage and bless our friends with unexpected gifts, tokens of our appreciation for them. … ‘Must I go, and empty-handed, thus my dear Redeemer Read more...
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Hymn History: My Anchor Holds & Author: William Clark Martin “Martin was a prolific writer of gospel verse with numerous texts appearing in early-20th-century hymnals and song collections.” (Hymntime.com) The Origin of the Hymn “My Anchor Holds” Among the hymns that speak to the steadfastness of faith in the midst of life’s storms, few are as stirring and resolute Read more...
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Hymn History: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee & Author: Samuel Francis Smith “In the front rank of American hymn-writers Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, D.D., has long had a place.” (Gospelstudies.org.uk) The Origin of the Hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” Few patriotic hymns have stirred American hearts quite like “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” For nearly two centuries, this Read more...
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Hymn History: Near to the Heart of God & Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee “Dr. McAfee, an eminent theologian, a brilliant speaker, author of a number of books and learned papers … yet today … is best remembered for this one simple, unassuming hymn of devotion.” (Alessandra Sorace) The Origin of the Hymn “Near to the Heart of God” Few Read more...