Through The Hymnbook

Guest (Male): Welcome, welcome to the organ loft to enjoy a special time of music. And this time, it's going to be Tabernacle Hymns number five. This was from a book from 1960. There's some lovely, lovely songs, a lot of favorites, and you can sing right along as Bert plays.

Reverend Bert Jones: Song number one, it's the great hymn "Come Thou Almighty King." Help us thy praise to sing.

Song number two in Tabernacle Hymns number five, "Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart." Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move. Stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love.

Song number three, "This Is My Father's World." Oh let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This beautiful song was written by Maltbie D. Babcock, a minister who was inspired to write these words one day while walking along the shores of Lake Ontario. Singing the beauties of the lake and the wind and the sky and the clouds and the gulls, he wrote "This Is My Father's World."

Stanza two says, "This Is My Father's World, even the birds their carols raise. The morning light, the lily white, declare their maker's praise." And there you heard some bird calls on the organ reminding you "This is my Father's world, the birds their carols proclaim."

I had to do the bird calls on the organ because the real canary is sitting very silently right at the moment. But maybe inspiration will be inspired. Sometimes people say, "Is the bird real?" Yes, he's very real. And the way you know he is real is that sometimes he doesn't sing. Now if I had a machine, you see, I would have turned on the machine at that point, but I had to wait until he's inspired.

I'll dedicate these songs especially to the donors of this hymnbook. This lovely hymnbook, Tabernacle Hymns number five, published in 1960 by the Tabernacle Publishing Company, comes to our Through the Hymnbook library as the gift of Diane and Suzanne Baker of Clarence Center, New York.

They hear Through the Hymnbook over their local Buffalo radio station, and they've given it in memory of their mother, Anita Baker, and also in memory of their grandmother, Ethel Milgate. They did not give just one book, but the Bakers have given quite a box of books. And sooner or later, I'll get to many of the songs and the songbooks that they've given.

Here is a beautiful old hymn. The music is by the Reverend A. J. Gordon, who wrote "My Jesus, I Love Thee." It says, "In tenderness he sought me, weary and sick with sin, and on his shoulders brought me back to his fold again. While angels in his presence sang until the courts of heaven rang, oh the love that sought me, oh the blood that bought me, oh the grace that brought me to the fold, wondrous grace that brought me to the fold." The title of the hymn is "In Tenderness He Sought Me."

And I'll take the solo on the lovely piano here on the organ. It's quite an authentic piano, isn't it? And there you had the beautiful flutes on the organ playing the two parts and the authentic harp on the organ playing the accompaniment.

Guest (Male): We're just pausing to let you know that you're enjoying that special time of music entitled Through The Hymnbook. And it's always interesting each time to just see what book the Reverend Bert Jones has chosen and what songs are played.

Now, remember that if you'd like to be in touch with us by mail, the mailing address is Through the Hymnbook, Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, and the zip code 16512. We'd love to hear from you.

Reverend Bert Jones: Here's a song written in 1925 that has very special meaning, but it's hard to find. "Teach Me to Pray, Lord, Teach Me to Pray." This is my heart cry day unto day. I long to know thy will and thy way. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

This song has a very beautiful alto and soprano part. It makes a delightful duet, so I'm going to use the violin on the organ. And we'll have the violin even play two parts sometimes, so you'll hear those two parts.

Turning the page, it's the great hymn "Lead On, O King Eternal, Lead On." Now playing it on the Deagan Memorial Chimes. We will imagine that we're climbing way up into the belfry as we hear the bells ring. And Singspiration the canary finally decided to sing.

Here's a very special favorite of mine found in Tabernacle Hymns number five. I guess this is a special favorite written in 1921 because my mother used to sing this many, many times. Not only in services, but she would often sing this around the house.

"There is never a day so dreary, there is never a night so long, but the soul that is trusting Jesus will somewhere find a song." And what is that song? "Wonderful, wonderful Jesus, in the heart he implanteth a song. A song of deliverance, of courage and strength, in the heart he implanteth a song."

A beautiful song about Calvary comes next. Music by Lantz Latham, the famed evangelist. Words by Christian Anson. "I look at the cross upon Calvary and oh what a wonder divine, to think of the wells it holds for me, the riches of heaven divine, and they're mine. Blessed Calvary, blessed Calvary, precious Calvary, 'neath thy shadow I'll ever abide. Blessed Calvary, precious Calvary, 'twas there Jesus suffered and died."

"Living in thee, dear Lord, and thou in me. Constant abiding, this is my plea. Grant me thy power, boundless and free. Power with men and power with thee."

The song I learned as a young boy because it was sung at the funeral of a young friend who had died. He was drowned in a boating accident, and I've never forgotten the song from the year 1913. "There are days so dark that I seek in vain for the face of my friend divine. But though darkness hide, he is there to guide by the touch of his hand on mine."

Strangely, it was a very special favorite of this young man who had died. And what better prayer could a young man make than that the Lord would have his hand on him? "The touch of his hand on mine. There is grace and power in the trying hour through the touch of his hand on mine."

With this beautiful gospel song from 1913, we have to close the hymnbook once again. I hope it has gone as quickly for you as it has for me. It's been a delightful time playing songs from Tabernacle Hymns number five. Until the next time, this is Bert Jones at the organ console saying goodbye and you keep singing.