Hannah Whitall Smith – birth, Feb. 7, 1832

The lump of clay, from the moment it comes under the transforming hand of the potter, is, during each day and each hour of the process, just what the potter wants it to be at that hour or on that day, and therefore pleases him. But it is very far from being matured into the vessel he intends in the future to make it.

            – Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (Westwood, NJ:                                Fleming Revell Co., 1952), 33.

Hannah Whitall Smith was born this date, 2/7/1832, at Philadelphia, PA.  She was a daughter of well-to-do Quaker parents.  After she married Robert Piersall Smith they converted to the group called Plymouth Brethren.  They were said to have a “new experience” (1867) and began a speaking tour of the United States and Europe. Their “Higher Christian Life” meetings in England were popular.  In 1875 she published, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life a book which has been printed in several languages.

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John Thomas McFarland – death, Dec. 22, 1913

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

John Thomas McFarland died this date 12/22/1913, at his home in Ma­ple­wood, NJ.  He was born 1/2/1851, at Mount Ver­non, IN.

McFarland attended Simp­son Coll­ege and Io­wa Wes­ley­an Un­i­ver­si­ty.  He also attended Bos­ton Un­i­ver­si­ty’s School of The­ol­o­gy.  His pas­torates where in the following states: Io­wa, Il­li­nois, Rhode Is­land, New York, and Kan­sas.

It seems there is some disagreement about who wrote “Away in a Manger.”  Many believe Martin Luther wrote the first two verses.  Some think those two were/are anon­y­mous.  Though verses one and two may be in question McFarland is the acknowledged author of the third verse.

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Mary A Lathbury – death, Oct. 20, 1913

“Break Thou the Bread of Life.”

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
And I shall find my peace, my all in all.

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes, and make me see:
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.

Mary A Lathbury died this date, 10/20/1913, at East Orange, NJ.  She was the daughter of a Methodist minister who studied art in Worcester, MA, and taught art and French in  VT and NY. She coauthored Woman and Temperance; or, the Work and Workers of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union with Frances Elizabeth Willard. Mary had been born 8/10/1841, at Manchester, NY.

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John Woolman – birth, Oct. 19, 1720

…Wherever there are true ministers of Jesus Christ, it is from the operation of his Spirit upon their hearts, first purifying them, and thus giving them a just sense of the conditions of others.

                – John Woolman, Journal (London: Edward Marsh, 1857), 11.

…We have found it to be our duty to cease from these national contests [referring to “a disagreement between” England and France] which are productive of misery and bloodshed…  

                – John Woolman, Journal (London: Edward Marsh, 1857), 31.

 Things that served chiefly to please the vain mind in people, I was not easy to trade in; seldom did it; and whenever I did, I found it weaken[ed] me as a Christian.

                – John Woolman, Journal (London: Edward Marsh, 1857), 38.

John Woolman was born this date 10/19/1720, Northampton, Burlington Co. NJ.  He was a Quaker preacher and also ran a shop using part of his profits to support abolitionist work.  He produced his Journal (written 1756-72) which influenced 19th century abolitionists.  He died in England where he was presenting his beliefs, 10/7/1772.

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George Duffield, Jr. – birth, Sep. 12, 1818

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.

George Duffield, Jr. was born this date, 9/12/1818, at Carlisle, PA.  He was a Presbyterian minister (as were his father and grandfather)  He ministered 44 years in NY, NJ, PA, IL and MI.  In 1858 he composed the words of the hymn “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus.”

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Henry Gilmour – death, May 20, 1920

My soul today is thirsting for living streams divine,
To sweep from highest Heaven to this poor heart of mine;
I stand upon the promise, in Jesus’ Name I plead;
O send the gracious current to satisfy my need.

Refrain

Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the shouts I can’t control;
Comes the love Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.

2.

I see the clouds arising, the mercy clouds of love,
That come to bring refreshing down from the throne above,
The earnest of the shower, just now to us is giv’n,
And now we wait, expecting the floods of grace from Heav’n.

3.

The show’rs of grace are falling, the tide is rolling in,
The floodtide of salvation, with power to cleanse from sin;
It’s surging through my being and takes my sin away,
It keeps me shouting glory! through all the happy day.

4.

It’s coming, yes, it’s coming, it’s coming down this hour,
A torrent of salvation in saving, cleansing power:
I hear the billows surging, I see them mount and roll;
O glory, hallelujah! they’re sweeping through my soul.

 

Henry Lake Gilmour died this date (5/20 1920) in New Jer­sey.  He was a dentist who composed a number of gospel song tunes including the above.  An active Methodist (the Wenonah Methodist Church, NJ was started in his home), Gilmour had come from Ireland where he was born (Londonderry) on 1/19/1836.

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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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Henry Zelley – death, Mar. 16, 1942

When Israel out of bondage came,
A sea before them lay;
My Lord reached down His mighty hand,
And rolled the sea away.

 

Refrain:

Then forward still—’tis Jehovah’s will,
Though the billows dash and spray.
With a conq’ring tread we will push ahead;
He’ll roll the sea away.

 

2.

Before me was a sea of sin,
So great I feared to pray;
My heart’s desire the Savior read,
And rolled the sea away.

 

3.

When sorrows dark, like stormy waves,
Were dashing o’er my way,
Again the Lord in mercy came,
And rolled the sea away.

 

4.

And when I reach the sea of death,
For needed grace I’ll pray;
I know the Lord will quickly come,
And roll the sea away.

 

Henry Jeffreys Zelley, PhD, died this date (3/16/1942) in Trenton, NJ,  He was an ordained Methodist minister, who wrote some 1500 poems or songs among which were “Heavenly Sunlight”and “He Brought Me Out.”

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William Merrill – published, Feb. 16, 1911

“Rise Up, O Men of God”

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

William Pierson Merrill published this date (2/16/1911) his “Rise Up O Men of God” song.  Merrill was born 1/10/1867, Orange, NJ and died 6/19/1954, NYC.

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Henry Gilmour – birth, Jan. 19, 1836

“Haven of Rest”

My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying,
“Make Me your choice”;
And I entered the “Haven of Rest”!

Refrain

I’ve anchored my soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.

I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The “Haven of Rest” is my Lord.

3.

The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have
A home in the “Haven of Rest.”

4.

How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the belovèd so blest,
On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the “Haven of Rest.”

5.

O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
And say, “My Belovèd is mine.”

Henry Lake Gilmour was born this date (1/19/1836 in Londonderry, Ireland.  He came to the US (sometime before the uncivil war).  He was a dentist and was active in the Methodist church. His death in NJ was the result of a buggy accident. 

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