Through The Hymnbook

Reverend Bert Jones: The happy chimes are ringing and I welcome you into the Organ Loft for a special time of music that we call Through the Hymnbook. In this edition of Through the Hymnbook, it's going to be a very interesting category, but before you hear about the category, the first hymn that Bert will be playing is that beautiful morning song, "When Morning Gilds the Skies, my heart awaking cries, May Jesus Christ be praised." You sing right along as he plays.

In this edition of Through the Hymnbook, we're going to do something very different. We're going to go through the hymnbook looking for songs in which the first opening line of the song begins with "When," W-H-E-N. Now, I'm not talking about the title. I'm talking about the first opening line begins with "When." For instance, here's a good one: "When morning gilds the skies, may Jesus Christ be praised." So we'll pull out all the Sunday morning stops on full organ for "When Morning Gilds the Skies."

It was Sunday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. And the Sunday school teacher at the First Methodist Church, downtown Williamsport, right across from City Hall, in the year 1893, took the roll as all good Sunday school teachers should do. And everybody was there in the junior class when James Black, the teacher, took that roll. Now, I've always found it interesting that in 1893 men were teaching juniors. We thought that was sort of a new introduction in Christian education when men could teach junior classes, but here it was happening in 1893.

I think it's a good idea. I think juniors especially tend to listen better to a man teacher than to a woman in Sunday school. It doesn't have some of the disciplinary problems. Well, he took the roll, but one little girl was missing. One little girl was missing.

And where is she? The one little girl volunteered the information that when that little girl's father came home on Saturday night, he was frequently drunk and then he wouldn't allow her to go to Sunday school on Sunday morning. And somebody else said, "Well, I heard that her mommy's real sick." And somebody else said, "Well, I think maybe she's missing today because she is real sick."

Why was that little girl missing from Sunday school that morning? All through the lesson and all through morning church, Mr. James Black asked himself the question. He realized there are times in life when we have to be absent when the roll is taken.

But he also realized that when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, when the roll is called up yonder, nobody needs to be missing because through Jesus Christ our Lord we can be present when the roll is taken over there.

And so, before he went to visit at the little girl's house on Sunday afternoon, while his wife was preparing Sunday dinner, James Black wrote a song that begins with "When": "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more." Listen for one trumpet, for two trumpets, and then for three trumpets on "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."

Here's a delightful gospel song that begins with "When": "When all my trials and labors are o'er, when we shall meet on that beautiful shore, then 'twill be glory for me."

Here's a great hymn: "When all Thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys, then in adoration say, what a great God we serve." "When all Thy mercies." We're looking through the hymnbook, looking for songs in which the first opening line begins with "When," W-H-E-N. I think they call that an adverbial conjunction. That's what an English teacher told me.

Here's a favorite gospel song that begins with the word "When": "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way while we do His good will; He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey."

We could not go through a hymnbook looking for songs that begin with "When" without finding the great song considered by many hymnologists the greatest hymn in the English language: "When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died." All I can do is say, here's my life, my soul, my all. Hear the beautiful strings on the synthesizer as they play for us "When I Survey."

I hope that you are enjoying this very special, interesting category of songs that Bert is sharing with you in this edition of Through the Hymnbook. Don't forget that it's such a joy to hear from you, letting us know that the music is a blessing. When you're writing, the address is Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, zip code 16512, or the email address organhymns@aol.com. Do write and let us know.

Here's a great old American folk song. At least that's what they currently think it is. It says "When I"—notice "When"—"When I can read my title clear to mansions in the sky." Did you ever buy a house? You know what a thrill it is to get that title when it finally is delivered.

Well, this says, "When I can read my title clear to mansions in the sky." Oh my, it will just thrill me beyond all claims of this old earth. I'm going to play it on the classic guitar for you here on the synthesizer. I think you'll enjoy this sound of classic guitar with some organ tones in the background.

Thank God that through the Lord Jesus Christ, we can read our title clear to those mansions in the sky.

Here's a song that everybody learns very early in Sunday school. I wouldn't be a bit surprised you learned it, too. "When He cometh, when He cometh, to make up His jewels, precious jewels." A lovely song for boys and girls. We'll have to find sort of a music box sound on the organ for "Precious Jewels."

It's quite a new song, a contemporary song. "When in the spring the flowers are blooming bright and fair, then I pray, Lord, even as springtime is coming to nature, bring back the springtime in my heart and in my life." It begins with "When": "When in the springtime."

"When my life's work is ended and I cross the chilling tide, I shall know Him by the nail prints in His side."

With the sound of marimba playing the song for us, I have to close the hymnbook for another time. It's gone awfully fast for me. I hope it has for you. Until then, this is Bert at the organ console reminding you: you keep singing.