This DATE – Dwight born

 

ON-this-DATE   

5/14/1752, Timothy Dwight was born at Northampton,

Massachusetts.  He was a Congregationalist and a grandson

of the famous Jonathan Edwards.  Dwight was a state legislator,

a chaplain in the Continental Army, and a minister of the

Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In 1795 (when he was 43) he became

the president of Yale University.  He remained in this position

until his death at age 64.  In 1800 he wrote the hymn “I Love

Thy Kingdom, Lord.”  Dwight published a revision of Watts

Psalms and added 33 of his own hymns. He helped lead a revival

at Yale, in which he saw 75 of their 230 students converted to Christ. 

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John Eliot – founded, Aug. 22, 1670

“Christ is the only right Heir of the Crown of England”

 

His last words were “welcome joy!”

 

John Eliot a Puritan “missionary” to the American Indians on this date,8/22/1670, founded a church for Indians atMartha’s Vineyard,Massachusetts, and became known as “the Indian apostle.”

 

Earlier he had published The Christian Commonwealth: or, The Civil Policy Of The Rising Kingdom of Jesus Christ.   This was the first book on politics penned by an American.  It also became the first book an American government had banned.

 

Eliot was born in 1604 at Widford, Hertfordshire, England, attended Jesus College, Cambridge, became assistant to Thomas Hooker at a school in Little Baddow, Essex.  Eliot emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving 11/3/1631.  He died 5/21/1690.

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James Russell Lowell – death, Aug. 8, 1891

Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. – James Russell Lowell (exact source unknown)

Children are God’s Apostles, sent forth, day by day, to preach of love, and hope, and peace. – James Russell Lowell (exact source unknown)

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof; it is temporary expedient, often wise in party politics, almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship. – James Russell Lowell (exact source unknown)

Creativity is not the finding of a thing, but the making something out of it after it is found.             – James Russell Lowell (exact source unknown)

James Russell Lowell died this date,8/12/1891, atCambridge,Massachusetts, where he was born2/22/1819).  He was both a Poet and a Statesman.

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John Quincy Adams – birth, July 11, 1767

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States wrote a metrical version of the Psalms, as well as several hymns.

His diary entry for June 29, 1845, reads: Mr. Lunt preached this morning from Ecclesiastes 3.1, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.”  He had given out as the first hymn to be sung the 138th of the Christian Psalter—his compilation, and the hymn-book now used in our church. It was my version of the 65th Psalm; and no words can express the sensations with which I heard it sung. Were it possible to compress into one pulsation of the heart the pleasure which, in the whole period of my life, I have enjoyed in praise from the lips of mortal man, it would not weigh a straw to balance the ecstasy of delight which streamed from my eyes as the organ pealed and the choir of voices sung the praise of Almighty God from the soul of David, adapted to my native tongue by me.      

 

John Quincy Adams was born 7/11/1767, Braintree, Massachusetts.

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Randolph S. Foster – death, May 1, 1903

The most perfect and holy men are always subject…to imperfections…false conclusions…unfaithful memory…incorrect and even absurd opinions.                                       

– Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith (NY: Eaton & Mains, 1897), 63.

                                                                                                                                               

Anything to be a temptation must have a natural power to awaken impulse toward it and sin does not reside in a mere impulse of nature.

– Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith (NY: Eaton & Mains, 1897), 73.

 

Sin committed and depravity felt are very different.

– Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith (NY: Eaton & Mains, 1897), 111.

 

[Holiness] breathes in the prophecy, thunders in the law, murmurs in the narrative, whispers in the promises, supplicates in the prayers, resounds in the songs, sparkles in the poetry, shines in the types, glows in the imagery and burns in the spirit of the whole scheme from alpha to omega.     

– Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith (NY: Eaton & Mains, 1897), 131.

 

It is both his most sacred duty and his most exalted privilege to be a completely holy man.           

– Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith (NY: Eaton & Mains, 1897), 149.

 

 

Randolph S. Foster died this date, 5/1/1903, at Newton Center, Massachusetts.  He was born 2/22/1820, at Williamsburg, Ohio.  He authored Christian Purity, Heritage of Faith 

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David Brainerd – wrote, Feb. 20, 1743

“Selfish religion loves Christ for His benefits, but not for Himself.”

David Brainerd, on this date, 2/20/1743, is said to have written the above in his journal.  He was, of course, a Colonial area missionary to our American Indians.  Brainerd was born 4/20/1718, at Haddam, Connecticut, and passed from this life, 10/9/1747 at Northampton, Massachusetts.

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Lowell Mason – birth, Jan. 8, 1792

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

Lowell Mason born this date, 1/8/1792 at Medford, Massachusetts.  He has been called “Father of American Church Music” writing or arranged more than 1,000 hymn tunes, among which are found “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” “Nearer My God to Thee” “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

Mason died 8/11/1872 at Or­ange, New Jer­sey.

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William Orcutt Cushing

Ring the bells of Heaven! There is joy today,
For a soul, returning from the wild!
See, the Father meets him out upon the way,
Welcoming His weary, wandering child.

Refrain

Glory! Glory! How the angels sing:
Glory! Glory! How the loud harps ring!
’Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free.

Ring the bells of Heaven! There is joy today,
For the wanderer now is reconciled;
Yes, a soul is rescued from his sinful way,
And is born anew a ransomed child.

Ring the bells of Heaven! Spread the feast today!
Angels, swell the glad triumphant strain!
Tell the joyful tidings, bear it far away!
For a precious soul is born again.

William Orcutt Cushing was born this date 12/31/1823, Hingham, Massachusetts.   He penned some 300 or more hymns and/or Gospel Songs.  These include “When He Cometh” “Under His Wings” and “Hiding in Thee.”  Cushing died 10/19/1902, at Lis­bon Cen­ter, New York.

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Jeremiah Eames Rankin – death, Nov. 28, 1904

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

Refrain

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

 

Jeremiah Eames Rankin died this date, 11/28/1904, at Cleveland, Ohio.  He was a  Congregationalist who wrote “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”  He pastored in Potsdam, New York, St. Albans, Vermont, Lowell, Massachusetts, Charlestown, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Orange, New Jersey.  Rankin also was a professor of homiletics and pastoral theology (1878-’84) and from 1889 til his death was president of Howard University.  He was born 1/2/1828, at Thornton, New Hampshire.

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Michael Wigglesworth – birth, Oct. 18, 1631

The Day of Doom

Still was the night, Serene & Bright,
when all Men sleeping lay;
Calm was the season, & carnal reason
thought so ‘twould last for ay.
Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease,
much good thou hast in store:
This was their Song, their Cups among,
the Evening before.                   (stanza 1)

Michael Wigglesworth was born this date, 10/18/1631, at Wrawby, Lincolnshire  England.  He died 6/10/1705 at Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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