Stuart Hamblen – birth, Oct. 20, 1908

When my eyes behold the stars
This heart of mine is filled with wonder,
My poor mind cannot grasp their array
But the hand that spilled them there,
All across the wide heaven
Had a plan when He placed them that way.

Known only to Him
Are the great hidden secrets.
I’ll fear not the darkness when my flame shall dim.
I know not what the future holds,
But I know who holds the future.
It’s a secret known only to Him.

In this world of fear and doubt
On my knees I ask the question,
Why a lonely heavy cross I must bear?
Then He tells me in my prayer,
It’s because I am trust worthy,
He gives me strength far more than my share.

Stuart Hamblen was born this date 10/20/1908 in Kellyville, Texas to a father who was a Methodist minister.  Western song enthusiasts may remember Hamblen for his several cowboy songs: “Texas Plains,” “My Mary,” “Golden River,” “Walkin’ My Fortune,” and “Ridin’ Old Paint.” But more of us remember him for his greatest song classic “It Is No Secret” (It is said that the original manuscript of this is buried in the cornerstone of one of the Copyright Buildings of the Library of Congress in Washington,D.C., and which has been translated into over 50 languages.)

 

In 1949, he gave up radio and film and publicly announced he was devoting his life to Christ.  Some other Christian songs are “Teach Me, Lord, To Wait,” “Until Then,” “Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In),” “How Big Is God,” “His Hands,” “Beyond the Sunset,” and the above song.

 

He was married to his wife, Suzy, for 55(+) years living with her on their horse ranch in Canyon Country,California.  Stuart Hamblen died onMarch 8, 1989.

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Harriett Eugenia Peck Buell – birth, Nov. 2, 1834

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

Refrain

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

Harriett Eugenia Peck Buell was born this date, 11/2/1834 at Cozenovia, New York.  She is said to have contributed articles to “Northern Christian Advocate” for fifty years.  Harriett was an active member of Methodist Church in Manlius, New York.  This song writer died 2/6/1910 in Washington D.C.

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