There Is a Fountain
Author: William Cowper, 1731-1800
Music: American Melody
William Cowper (pronounced “Kooper”) is a name highly respected in English classic literary circles. He is the most honored poet between Pope and Shelley and is viewed by some as one of the finest of all English writers. Several of his best known secular works include a [...]
The Star-Spangled Banner
Author: Francis Scott Key, 1779-1843
Composer Attributed to John Stafford Smith, 1750-1836
Francis Scoot Key, author of our national anthem, was born on August 1, 1779, in Frederick, Maryland. He was the son of a distinguished Revolutionary War officer. He was trained in law and later served as the District Attorney at Georgetown, District of [...]
Softly and Tenderly
Author: Will L. Thompson, 1847-1909
Composer: Will L. Thompson, 1847-1909
Will L. Thompson was born at East Liverpool, Ohio, on November 7, 1847. His father, Josiah Thompson, was a member of the Ohio State Legislature for two terms. Young Thompson attended the Boston Music School from 1870-73. Later he did additional musical study in Germany. [...]
Silent Night
Author: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848
Composer: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863
Joseph Mohr was born in the lovely city of Salzburg, Austria, in 1792. As a boy he was an active chorister in the Cathedral of Salzburg. In 1815 Mohr was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. Following his ordination, he served various parishes in the [...]
Jesus Loves Me
Author: Anna B. Warner, 1820-1915
Composer: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868
Without doubt the hymn that has influenced children for Christ more than any other is this simply stated one, written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner. Miss Warner wrote this text in collaboration with her sister Susan as a part of one of the best-selling [...]
On Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m., we will be having our Ladies’ Christmas Dinner on the Lower Level. This is always an enjoyable time for our ladies. We will be revealing our Secret Prayer Sisters from the previous year on this night. We will also be drawing names for the new year. If you [...]
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
Author: Francis H. Rowley, 1854-1952
Composer: Peter P. Bilhorn, 1865-1936
Francis H. Rowley was born in Hilton, New York, on July 25, 1854. Later he became a Baptist minister and served churches in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois. He has given the following account for the writing of this hymn:
I was minister of [...]
Holy, Holy, Holy
Author: Reginald Heber, 1783-1826
Composer: John B. Dykes, 1823-1876
Reginald Heber was born in the area of Cheshire, England, on April 21, 1783, of scholarly and well-to-do parents. At the age of seventeen he entered Oxford University, where his scholarship and literary abilities received much attention. Following his ordination to the ministry of the Anglican [...]
Hold the Fort
Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876
Composer: Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876
As was true of so many of P. P. Bliss’s gospel songs, this stirring hymn was inspired by an illustration used by Major Whittle, an officer in the American Civil War, while addressing a YMCA meeting on the text from Revelation 2:25. Major Whittle’s illustration [...]
