Through The Hymnbook

Bert Jones: The canary is singing and you have been enjoying the song Old Hundred or the Doxology. What great sounds of praise. And so we invite you to come in. The late Reverend Bert Jones will be playing from two great old books from 1875 and 1876. You won't want to miss a note.

And Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs Number One. This is song number one, Old Hundred. All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell, come ye before Him and rejoice. And that it ends with the great Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Old Hundred.

This goes back to at least 1697.

This book now yellowed with age from 1875, Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs, contains some 120 songs edited by Philip P. Bliss, P. Bliss, and Ira D. Sankey. Two men from Pennsylvania who got together and edited this great collection called Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs. And this is book number one.

It says here in the preface, which is signed by Philip P. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey: A large number of the hymns were used in the late special services in Great Britain, and it is hoped that a like blessing will accompany the use of them in this land of America together with the new hymns that are found in this collection.

Interestingly enough, at the bottom of the preface sheet is this little note way back in 1875: No one will be allowed to print or publish any of the copyrighted hymns or tunes contained in this book without the written permission of the publisher. All right. I'm interested in going through the book finding songs that we still sing a great deal today, and they were popular songs sung in 1875.

For instance, what a blessing this song by Mrs. Annie Hawks has been, written from her own personal testimony in life: I Need Thee Every Hour. Most gracious Lord. A pastor friend, Reverend Robert Lowry, set it to music, and we still sing it today. I wouldn't want to live many days without the knowledge of this great hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour.

These two books I'm using in the organ loft right now have been given to the Through The Hymnbook library by Glenola M. Shero of Fredonia, New York. I appreciate them so much, and it was nice when Glenola brought these to one of my services of recent date.

This book from 1875, as I'm looking for songs that we still sing today, and here's one that wasn't very old in 1875. It was just written in 1868. Words by Elizabeth Clephane and the music by Ira D. Sankey, who is one of the editors of this book. And it's the song There Were Ninety and Nine safely lay in the shelter of the fold.

Next we come to the song I Have a Savior, He's pleading in glory, a dear loving Savior. For you I am praying, for you I am praying, I'm praying for you. And so the message of the song is that even as Jesus Christ, now the resurrected Christ, intercedes at the right hand of God the Father Almighty for you and me, so you and I must pray for each other as we present our needs to the Father's throne.

Not only was the year 1876 the centennial, the 100th anniversary of the United States of America, but in the area of gospel music, it was a very important year to remember because in that year at age 36 to 37, Philip Bliss, the editor of this book and famed gospel songwriter, was called home to be with the Lord.

He died tragically in a train accident at Ashtabula, Ohio, and you have heard me tell about that in other radio visits, of course. So I won't repeat the story in detail now. But this means that this book from which I am playing now, Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs Number Two, was some of the last work which Philip Bliss did because the book was copyrighted in 1876 and he died in December of 1876.

Here's one of his greatest hymns: Man of Sorrows, what a name! Hallelujah! What a Savior. And we all say it over and over again, Hallelujah! What a Savior.

Another great Philip Bliss song right here it is, and it's in this book from 1875. And it's Whosoever Will may come. And the scripture verse given under the title—incidentally, every title in the book has a scripture verse given with it—the scripture verse is Revelation 20: Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. What a great promise.

And now we set aside Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs Number One from the year 1875 as given to the Through The Hymnbook library by Glenola Shero of Fredonia, New York. And I take up the second book which she has also given to us, and it's Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs Number Two. And it was published just one year later, the year 1876.

Also it says in the preface to be used in gospel meetings and also edited by P. P. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey. Two men from Pennsylvania. P. P. Bliss was born in the area of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and Ira Sankey in the area of New Castle, Pennsylvania. The exact town was Edinburg.

And interesting how they both worked with Dwight L. Moody in the Moody revivals and they both became very well known in the field of gospel music. And here a very beautiful song: More Love to Thee, O Christ, More Love to Thee, More Love to Thee.

This time playing from Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs Number Two, printed in the year 1876. Keep that year in your mind. It's quite an important year. The song: More Love to Thee, O Christ.

It's nice to know that in Fredonia, New York, Glenola Shero and her friends hear Through The Hymnbook over the Buffalo radio station. And therefore, she wanted me to have these special books.

Here's one by Fanny Crosby that says Only a Step to Jesus, then why not take it now? Come in thy sin confessing, to Him thy Savior bow. Only a step, only a step. Come, He waits for thee. Come in thy sin confessing, thou shalt receive a blessing. Do not reject the mercy that He freely offers thee. Music by Fanny Crosby's friend, W. H. Doane, who wrote so much of the music for her songs.

The song reminds us very sadly with the scripture verse underneath, 1 Samuel 20:21: Then come thou for there is peace. That so many people live and die really very near to the Lord but without Him. Many people live and die only one step from accepting Him.

Well, I'm leafing through songs Gospel Songs and Hymns Number Two, which was first copyrighted and printed in the year 1876 by Philip Bliss and Ira Sankey. And this, of course, was the year of the death of Philip Bliss. Some of his last work is found here. Some of his last choice songs found here.

Here beautiful melody and harmony by Philip Bliss, but words by Nathaniel Niles, speaking of the promises of God's word as it says: Precious promise God hath given to the weary passerby on the way from earth to heaven: I will guide thee with mine eye. What a precious promise to know as we journey from earth to heaven that God promises to guide His own.

And I wonder if as he selected songs for the book, I wonder if Philip Bliss realized how near he was to the end of life when he chose that it should be here in the book, the song that says: One sweetly solemn thought comes to me o'er and o'er. I am nearer home today than I've ever been before. Well, it is a solemn thought and we need to remember it often.

And we have to close the book all too soon. But someday we'll come back, and thanks to Glenola M. Shero of Fredonia, New York, for sharing this book with us. Next time, keep singing and remember, we're all nearer home today than we ever have been before.