Henry Van Dyke – birth, Nov. 10, 1852

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Henry Van Dyke was born this date, 11/10/1852, at Germantown, Pennsylvania.   Van Dyke was a Presbyterian who pastored in Rhode Island and New York City from 1879 to 1899.  He was appointed professor of English literature at Princeton University, where he remained for many years.  He also served as the Amer­i­can am­bas­sa­dor to Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 

His published books include The Story of the Other Wise Man (1896) and his songs/hymns include the above “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (sung to the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony).

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Maltie Babcock – death, May 18, 1901

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

 This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

 This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

 This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

 This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

 This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

 Maltie Davenport Babcock died this date (5/18/1901) at Naples, Italy,

 Babcock attended both Syracuse University and Auburn Theological Seminary.

He pastored a Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York, Brown Memorial Church, in Baltimore, Maryland, and followed Henry Van Dyke at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City.

 Babcock published nothing in his lifetime; his wife, Catherine, collected and published many of his writings after his death. This Is My Father’s World is thought to be associated with the area Babcock liked to hike in NY with a view of farms, orchards, and Lake Ontario.  He was born 8/3/1858 at Syracuse, NY.

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Henry Van Dyke – death, Apr. 10, 1933

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

 

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

 

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

 

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

 

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

 

Henry Van Dyke died this date (4/10/1933) at Princeton, NJ. He was President Wilson’s Minister to Holland and Luxemborg.  He wrote The Gospel in an Age of Doubt and a Christmas classic, The Story of the Other Wise Man.

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