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
In confirmation of this statement, we have the experience of the Rev.
Eric Kinworthy, Rotherham, England. This personal incident won first
prize among six hundred hymn stories submitted to _The Methodist
Recorder_, London, in a “Readers’ Christmastide Symposium,” December,
1946. We give the story in the words of Mr. Kinworthy, who indicated the
effect it had on his life:
“As a boy in my ’teens my work was that of a pony-driver in the local
coal-mine, and being a lover of horses, my work-mate and I were on good
terms. Usually we were kept very busy, for two ponies and their drivers
were needed to keep the colliers supplied with empty tubs, and to take
away the full tubs from the coal-face.
“One afternoon, since but few of the men were at work, Captain, my pony,
was well able to do the work by himself. The other pony was allowed to
stay in the stables. As we went on our way to the end of the level with
a full load, I was singing a hymn.
“Suddenly, there was an awful crash. We were jerked to a standstill. It
was impossible to see anything until the dust cleared. In a little
while, I found the roof had caved in, and resting on top of the first
two tubs was a huge stone weighing about two hundredweights. Other big
stones were lying around. I was badly frightened, but realized my life
had been wonderfully spared from death or certain injury. If the pony
had not increased his pace a moment or two before, nothing could have
saved us. I had been singing a moment before—
“‘God moves in a mysterious way.
His wonders to perform.’
Immediately I knelt in the dust and dedicated my life to God. He had
spared me for some high purpose. Today I am trying to fit in, in that
great purpose, as a minister.”
Decision of the “Incorrigible”
One of the great hymns of the twentieth century, and one which attained
immediate popularity, the author tells us, was “written for a
Consecration Service at Boston University School of Religious Education
in 1926.” The opening lines begin with a striking question and a
significant answer:
“‘Are ye able,’ said the Master,
‘To be crucified with me?—’
‘Yea,’ the sturdy dreamers answered,
‘To the death we Follow Thee.’”
Many interesting stories have gathered around this hymn, written by
Professor Earl Marlatt, then of the Boston University School of
Theology. Among these stories, which he treasures, was one given to me
by Professor Marlatt, with full permission to use the same. Therefore I
give it in his own words: “One of my former students, serving as a
chaplain in Sherborn Prison for Women, wrote me a letter to say that she
had used this hymn in a Sunday vesper service at the prison. Two hours
later she was called to the cell of one of the so-called
‘incorrigibles.’ The girl was very quiet now and soft-spoken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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