Through The Hymnbook

Guest (Male): Welcome, welcome to the Organ Loft to enjoy that special time of organ music entitled Through the Hymnbook. We’re so glad that you have joined us for this edition because it’s going to be a very, very different title. In this edition of Through the Hymnbook, Bert will be going through various hymnbooks and looking for songs in which the titles are the names of places.

Now isn't that a unique idea? And maybe as Bert is playing, you will want to be thinking in your mind, see if you can think of some of the songs that he will be playing and the titles will all be the names of places. Get out a paper and pen.

Bert Jones: And here's a great anthem that refers to the spacious firmament on high. Anthem by Haydn.

Don't forget to look often into the spacious firmament on high and let the sun and the moon and the stars all declare the glory of God. A favorite gospel song, and it refers to a place. At Calvary, At Calvary.

This time going through the hymnbook looking for hymns or gospel songs which refer to a place. Now after I've played a few of these songs, pretty soon we will be able to categorize the places quite well, but there are lots of places mentioned in gospel songs and hymns of the church, some of them that are woven together very, very well.

I want to thank my sister Carol Joanne Jones for compiling these beautiful songs that refer to places. This was her suggestion that I should have this edition of Through the Hymnbook. Thank you, Carol. And here is a great missionary hymn that speaks of a place, several places. From Greenland's Icy Mountains to India's Coral Strands.

My, that speaks of many places. And the message of the song is that no matter where the place, we are to carry the good news of the gospel to these places. Well, there we had some of the sound of distant places all right in this great missionary hymn of the church.

And here is a place mentioned in the hymnbook. It's called Beulah Land and somebody says, well, what does Beulah Land refer to? Why Beulah Land refers to Heaven. It was another name for Heaven.

There are many, many hymns and gospel songs which refer to the place called Heaven. Here's a beautiful one called The Pearly White City. The John saw coming down, that's what the song says in the words. Oh, I saw the Pearly White City. Oh, that White City that John saw coming down.

And I shall dedicate this song about Heaven, referring to a place called Heaven, to a dear great aunt of mine now gone on to be with the Lord. Whenever she would come to visit, Aunt Lida Diffenbacher would always ask me to play for her and the members of the Hild family, The Pearly White City.

Of course, you see to understand most of these hymns and gospel songs referring to places and to catch the imagery of these hymns, you have to be familiar with your Bible too. What's that Pearly White City that John saw coming down? Well, just read in Revelation and you'll know all about it.

And read in John 14 and you'll know all about this city and you'll know why Ira Stanphill wrote about a mansion over the hilltop, remembering that Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again. And he spoke, translated in the King James, of that mansion that he has gone to prepare.

And so Ira Stanphill wrote the lovely southern gospel song that people enjoy so very, very much, and I play it for you now. It's the song that says Mansion Over the Hilltop. And since it's a southern song, it would be nice to hear it on a southern instrument. How about the accordion? I think the first time I ever heard Mansion Over the Hilltop, it was by a group of singers who sang lots of southern gospel music and they used an accordion.

Guest (Male): Just pausing to let you know that you are enjoying that special program we call Through the Hymnbook. And this is such an interesting category this time as Bert has been playing hymns and gospel songs that are places. I hope you've been trying to think of some and maybe he’s played some that you've already thought of.

Let me mention that it would be a joy to hear from you and to know that Through the Hymnbook is a blessing. When you're writing, the address is Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, zip code 16512. Or you can use an email address which is organhymns@aol.com. It would just be great to know where you are as you are enjoying Through the Hymnbook.

Bert Jones: Most hymnbooks have a patriotic section and that means that as we're looking for songs of places in most hymnals, we will find certainly a song that is called America or My Country, 'Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty.

And in that same section of the hymnbook, we usually find another song that refers to a place, a place that's called America the Beautiful.

It's been a joy to play these songs that refer to places. And you can be sure sometime again we will return to going through the hymnbook looking for songs that speak of places. Until then, keep the song coming out of your heart because Jesus has placed it there. Bye, you keep singing.