Hymn Stories of the Twentieth Century — John Shaqi
Hymn Stories of the Twentieth CenturyHart, William J. (William John)
Religion
Hymn Stories of the Twentieth Century
Hart, William J. (William John)
Hymns, English -- History and criticism
This was an effective use of words from a great hymn which Mr. Choate, a
Harvard graduate, evidently well knew. The incident has been preserved
for us by the Rev. John Telford. They came from the hymn of Charles
Wesley, which begins:
“Come, let us join our friends above
Who have obtained the prize.”
This was the hymn that John Wesley and his congregation in Staffordshire
were singing at the hour when Charles Wesley, its author, joined the
company in heaven. Once, when in Dublin, John Wesley announced this
hymn, and making some comments on the same affirmed that it was “the
sweetest hymn” his brother ever wrote. That lover and critic of hymns,
W. T. Stead, reports that the Bishop of Hereford wrote him that he
thought that the fourth verse “was one of the finest in the whole realm
of hymnology.” This runs:
“One army of the living God,
To His command we bow:
Part of his host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.”
Students in the classes of the beloved Samuel F. Upham, professor in
Drew Theological Seminary, will readily recall how he, in advancing age,
with characteristic fervor and deep emotion, occasionally quoted the
third and fourth lines of this cherished verse. Stevenson, in his
informing discussion of the Wesley hymns, has given us a great variety
of incidents associated with this song, and refers to it as “that great
and impassioned hymn.”
His Ordination Hymn
The day of his ordination is a sacred one in the life of a minister. It
marks the time when he is definitely set apart for a very sacred task
for the balance of his life. Therefore the events of that day are deeply
embedded in the life of the individual who is henceforth to proclaim the
gospel.
Reference was made by Dr. William Pierson Merrill, then pastor of the
Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, on October 26, 1930, when
the fortieth anniversary of his own ordination was observed, to the
special hymn which was sung on that occasion. Written by the scholarly
Dr. Timothy Dwight, it has held a secure place in the hymnology of the
Christian Church. The words deeply impressed him as a young man when
they sang:
“I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.”
Speaking of what the hymn had meant to him through the years of his
pulpit and pastoral experience, he said: “I believed then, I am far
surer now, that this is the attitude for every Christian, and everyone
who would do his best for the common good. You cannot afford to neglect
_the church_.” Then once more the hymn was sung.
Deep in the affections of thousands of Christians there dwells this love
for the church of the living Christ. Therefore through the decades since
this hymn was written Christians have assembled in their various places
of worship, and have meaningly and happily sung:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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