Hymns Old and New  Written by the 2x2s workers and the friends   

A hymn might be briefly described as "The poetic echo of out hearts in praise or prayer to God, Blended with the melody that pours forth from our lips." So, someone once wrote, "It is a voice that spreads from the soul a few words that may represent a life."  The Composition of a good hymn represents, or entails much more than can be considered here, as also does the composing of a hymn that will meet the requirements of filling a useful place in a hymn book.  A Hymn can sometimes be the product of perspiration almost as much as inspiration.

(These lines are slightly altered from the original.)

Hymns have apparently been sung from the earliest days in some form or another, judging by the many psalms and allusions to singing in the Scriptures.  Musical instruments are also referred to as having been in use before the flood.

Our hymn book (Music Edition) was first issued in 1914 with 256 hymns; then, about 1922, a supplement of 27 hymns was added. The next edition was in 1928, with 301 hymns and an appendix of 12 additional tunes. In 1955 another supplement of 73 hymns was added.

In 1952, a complete revision was made because the type had become so worn and the book so bulky.  This necessitated many old favorite's being left out so that room might be found for new ones.  Of the many hymns submitted, few were considered suitable, as most of them were lacking in poetic value, character, and rhythm, or were merely repetitions of thoughts already far better expressed by those who knew something of the 3 "R"s" of poetry: "Rhythm, Rhyme, and Reason."  When writing a hymn, one looks for a theme, a thought, of text as a background to give it body and character, and then a suitable tune to express the sentiment. Unfortunately, many of the hymns in our present edition, instead of being "tailor made" have had to be set to ready made tunes.  What would be welcomed for future editions would be soul stirring tunes set to similarly inspired music.

Again, quite a few good hymns have had to be left out as they were only suitable for solo singing, whereas the need of our book is for hymns that can be sung by all the congregation, in either fellowship or Gospel meetings. One often notices hymns that are seldom sung because of a tune that does not take,  and vice-versa.  A suitable tune considerably enhances the value of a hymn.

For the purpose of our study, we will divide the writers into two groups-those written by our friends and those written by people who are unknown to us. We will consider first the hymn set to tunes composed by the author or authoress, taking our friends first.

The first on the list is Glen Smith, who wrote nine hymns all to his own music: Nos. 104, 218, 227, 228, 230, 251.  Then Sam Jones, a worker wrote a few tunes to some of his numerous hymns: Nos. 126, 225, 250, and 266.  Hugh Roberts, a Canadian worker from Enniskillan, wrote No. 198, and Geoffrey Bowdler, a worker of Wolverhampton wrote No. 155.

We will next consider hymns written by our friends, taking their names in Alphabetical order.

Winnie Adams wrote No. 224. She was a worker in the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and later became Mrs. W. Crosswell, and lived on Prince Edward Isle until her death.

Jack Annand wrote Nos. 164, 241, 283, 316, and 321. There is some nice poetry in most of them.

Mrs. Rene Beattie, a worker in New Zealand, wrote Nos. 36, 50, 77, and 264. No. 36 was written after she and her husband were out walking some time on the road looking for a place in which to hold gospel meetings. At last they got the use of a barn, and it was there that Mrs. Beattlie sat down and penned the first two verses.  She afterwards added a third and later on another verse, (not included in the hymn that reached us) which is as follows:

"Come follow! Him to Mountain height

And learn His way and will for thee:

Look past the world and keep in view

Eternity, Eternity."

H.C. Barrett, a friend in Australia, wrote No. 165.

Robert Blair, who also labored in New Zealand, was born at Otokia, near Dunedin in 1874 and died in 1942.  After selling some property left to him in Scotland, he started out in the work in England and remained about two years before going on to New Zealand, where he was for several years.  He spent a time in Fiji, Samoa, and Norfolk Isles.  Then he returned to Queensland where he died, after eleven years. He wrote Nos. 185, 195, 235, 274, and 277.  When he was in Exeter on one occasion, he pulled out a scrap of paper from his waistband pocket and asked another worker he met there if the verses that he had written on it would do for a hymn.  It was No. 274.

William C. Carroll, a worker (born 1876 - died 1953 went forth into the Harvest field in 1903. He spent the latter years of his life lived in Australia.  He wrote Nos. 140, and 142.

Blanche Chappel, a worker from Degerham, Suffolk, who labored for quite a time in Eastern Canada, wrote Nos. 232, and 284. Both are inspiring hymns.

James Craig, (brother of Jack Craig a worker) wrote, Nos. 17, 263, and 334.  He was a chiropractor in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was an intense sufferer himself towards the end of his life.  The first verse of 263 was borrowed from R.S. 457, which was composed by Eli G. Christy.

James Fawcett,  from Fernanagh, Who has been a number of years in the U.S., wrote Nos.173, 215, 221, 239, and 326.

Harry Fleming, another U.S.A. worker wrote No. 63.

Tom Holmes, (born 1877 - died 1930 ) wrote a number of hymns but he never cared to show them,  No. 15 is one of them.  He lived near the Niagara Falls.  He died in the home of one of the friends soon after a meeting.

Charlie Hultgren, now dead, was a chiropractor in Calgary, Alberta. He wrote No. 20.

Willie Hughes, a worker who labors in New Zealand, and went there in 1906, wrote Nos. 62, 66, 114, and 116.

Adam Hutchinson, a woker was born in Lauder, Berwickshire.  For a time he worked with his father as a blacksmith and then he went as a colporteur under the Faith Mission till he met George Walker and his companion.  He came to Carnteel in 1903 and was a pioneer of the work in India, Where he died of small pox in 1924. He wrote Nos. 199, 237, and 330.

James Jardine, went into the work in 1905.  He labored for sometime in Germany, but for a number of years now, has been in the U.S.  He has quite a few hymns to his credit: the following are in this latest issue: Nos.3, 6, 27, 28, 51, 61, 76, 98, 105, 128, 161, 184, 222, 233, 244, 269, 279, 315, 319, 324, 333.

Sam Jones, is an old and esteemed friend who was born in Portsdown, North Ireland in 1877. He went forth to preach in 1902, and in 1908 went to South Australia.  He went to Western Australia about 1909, and from there to Tasmania, where he spent about 20 years.

       He had not been home for about 30 years when he came back to the first village he set foot on after landing, at Fremantle, and where soon  after his companion left him, being discouraged.  Sam let him have what little money he had and went on alone. Getting worn out with the journey, he took shelter in an empty house.  The next day he found himself so weak that he could not walk, and he stayed there for 18 days. He might have died there, but some gypsies found him, and gave him some food

       It was about this time he wrote the hymn, "I Cannot Now Go Back." He loved to study nature, as well as the Scriptures, and it was on Sunday, April 14, 1946 that he went out for his usual morning walk and did not return, having collapsed and died of heart failure. He had suffered from heart trouble for a long time. 

     Sam Jones might well be called "The Sweet Psalmist of Israel" in out day, because of the number of hymns he wrote and their fragrance and spiritual thought.  He wrote on a variety of subjects and loved to dwell much on the theme of redemption and God's will and purpose to conform us to His image. 

      We surely are indebted to him, and yet even more to the Lord, who moved him to write such inspiring hymns. The following is a list of hymns found in our present book: Nos. 16, 18, 19, 21, 30, 34, 39, 41, 46, 47, 49, 52, 53, 55, 57, 60, 65, 71, 74, 75, 79, 84, 85, 87, 89, 93, 97, 99, 106, 107, 117, 124, 126, 129, 130, 135, 136, 138, 141, 146, 147, 150, 151, 157, 159, 166, 168, 170, 171, 179, 182, 186, 190, 192, 196, 197, 201, 207, 216, 220, 225, 226, 234, 238, 243, 247, 248, 250, 254, 255, 257, 266, 267, 271, 273, 292, 295, 300, 301, 302, 303, 314, 325, 331.  The four numbers highlighted have been referred to in the section dealing with hymns with words and tunes combined.

Jack Leach, Who lived in Shropshire, wrote No. 110.

Mary Lindley, Professed in some of Willie Webb's meetings in his early days in the States, and was herself in the work for a number of years there. She wrote Nos. 306, and 307.

Robert Marshall, was born in County Antria and after a short time in the work in Ireland, went to several countries in Europe.  He wrote No. 191 while in Italy.

John Martin, is an old friend and brother who went forth in 1916 from his home County Shigo for a few years was in the work in Ireland before going to Scotland. He was writing hymns before he went into the work.  Although we have only two of his in this issue, No 149, and 328, yet No. 149 is considered by many to be best and one of the most useful hymns in the book, because it embraces so much that is dear to the heart of all God's children.

Charles Morgan,  who died a few tears ago in the States, came from England.  He wrote no. 278.

Mary McGregor, came from Bonnie Scotland.  She wrote a number of helpful hymns: Nos.153, 210, 258, 285, 310, 329.   No. 153 was written to help a young couple who had newly professed.  She wrote No. 258 when she heard she was to go to the States. Originally, the hymn began,  "I've opened my mouth to Jesus."  The thought of the years passing prompted No. 310, and 329 was written at the suggestion of a sister worker who asked for a hymn on "Going On."

     

     James Patrick wrote No. 148.

Gladys Porteous, a worker in the States, wrote Nos.82, 90.  The former is a useful hymn in missions.  It was written before she went in the work in 1923 on the thought of Jack Carroll, who spoke of Jesus. living, dying, and interceding and coming again for us.  Some years later, while laid aside with illness, she wrote No. 90 on a message of Jack Carroll's on the Kingdom of God.

Mabel Pryer, a USA worker, wrote No. 33.

Eustance Bradford, wrote No, 262 after the death of his beloved wife.  Conventions have been held at his home in Australia for a number of years.

Tom Roberts, an Irishman, Laboring in the States, wrote No. 287.

Mrs. Schultz,  (Mae Carroll), of Melbourne, has written a great many hymns.  From her collection we have the following: Nos, 203, 219, 280, and 290.  Some of her hymns make very nice solos, but as already mentioned these are not included.

Sandy Scott, has also written a number of hymns besides those in the book.  We are indebted to him for the following:  Nos. 68, 73, 101, 127, 167, 188, 242, 245, 304, 323, 327, and 335.  No. 245 has been sometimes mistaken for a similar hymn that was written by John Oxenhau.

Robert Skerritt was in the work in the early days and wrote No. 80.

Mrs. Reid Smith, was also for a time in the work.  She wrote Nos. 286 and 332.  A worker in a little meeting after the funeral of a sister worker wondered if that person could speak from Eternity, what message she would give them and suggested it would be "Fight On, 'Tis Not in Vain."  This was the thought that prompted No. 286 which is even more conspicuous in the chorus.  The Chorus is omitted in the present edition to shorten the hymn.  No. 332 was written in hope of helping one that she heard was fighting a losing battle, and that hymn, no doubt, has helped many others since.

Milne Stauffer wrote No. 123 and 183. He was born and lived in Ontario, Canada, and in his early days was a shoemaker, during which time he decided.  He later went into the work and continued for several years in Canada and the U.S. Later, his health failed and for a time he worked with his hands in Wisconsin, hoping to regain his health.  Later he came to his father's home in Ontario.

       After sometime, went with him to the extreme North on a trapping expedition.  He had to make the rounds of these traps, which are often set on the banks of rivers and streams.  It was thought that while doing this he had crossed a river and fallen through the ice at some soft spot, as it was near spring, and as far known, his body was never found.

       He had a poetic nature and loved to get away alone.  As well as having written these hymns, he also wrote a poem entitled, "The Two Ways", following this thought throughout the entire Bible.  It is told that Milne and his companion once had been a long time looking for an opening for a mission, and then were told of a very religious man whom they went to see, but he would have nothing to do with them. They went back on the road, and took off their boots to ease their f feet, and found that they were bleeding.  It was soon afterwards that he wrote No. 183.

John Sullivan, was born in Dunmaway, County Cork, in 1875.  He died in Australia in 1924. For a time he was a school teacher in County Tipperary, when he heard and readily embraced the Truth. He soon afterwards went forth into the work (1900). He is the author of one of our special favorites, No 13.  The story is told of his sister, whose husband died leaving her in distress.  John felt he ought to help her, so with the work of his hands, he built her a house and put her on her feet.  Then the thought came, if he could do this for another, he could do it for himself.  A battle went on in his heart and mind till one day he set out to meditate and pray under a bush, which was opposite the home, and there got the thoughts for this hymn.  He finally put them into hymn from on the ship on his way home to his native shores.

Roy Taylor, was quite a young worker in the USA when he wrote No. 181, which has since become a favorite with many.

Thomas N. Turner, came from Northern Ireland.  He was a school teacher in County Calway when he heard the Truth.  He went forth to preach in 1900, for a time in Ireland, and then was one of the first to go to Australia.  He wrote Nos. 202, 236, and 265.  With regard to No. 236, at one convention someone said that "The Approval of God" would be a good subject for a hymn.  Within a short time, during the convention the hymn was produced and sung.

Alec Walker, who married Queenie Higgins of Avoca, wrote No. 72. He was for a time in the work in New South Wales and is now living in New Zealand, and has a daughter in the work in Malaya.

Mrs. Violet Webster, one of the friends in Melbourne, wrote No. 32.

William Weir wrote No. 152.  He came from Scotland, and has been for a number of years in Sweden.  He went into the work in 1903.

Elma Wiebe,  a worker in the States, wrote Nos. 81, 160,  and 288.  No 81 was written after her mother's death, when she was home for a short time and was anxious for her younger sister who was still in her teens and professing, knowing when she left the home, her sister would have to face life's battles on her own.  She wrote this hymn to be a help to her sister.  Owing to copyright difficulties we were unfortunately unable to print the tune of No. 286 from the Alexander Hymn Book.

James Wright, a worker came from a village near Debenham, Suffolk.  He was a number of years in England and then he went to Canada.  He wrote No. 156 and 193. Then last, but by no means least, we also have Hymn 131, which is a paraphrase of Psalm 61, and which was written by King David.

We now come to the composers of tunes, which will possibly be more interesting especially to musicians.  It is unfortunate that we come so very short in music and have to depend so largely upon other people's tunes to supply the need.  We have only 31 composed by friends.

It will be noticed in going thru the list, that many of the best tunes were written by Doctors of Music.  It is surprising how many were originally some tune, and some tunes, like songs, and apt to be "sung to death." Many hymns find an early grave because of unsuitable tunes.

We were unable to obtain some tunes because of copyright difficulties.  The owner of the copyrights for some hymns wrote: "These tunes are married to the words and cannot be divorced."  Some composers also arranged with their publishers, forbidding them to use the tune to other words than those they were written to.  In some cases we were informed  "This copyright remains in force for 50 years after the death of the writer." "The difficulty will be more appreciated when considering that there are about 180 tunes in the book that have been copyrighted, although many are now free because of the time limit's expiring.  Some owners were very liberal in granting free permission, while a number charged for them. It may be mentioned, however, that our publishers were very fortunate in getting a number of U.S.A. copyrights by trading in exchange, some of their hymn tunes and they readily gave us permission to use any of theirs, whether brought or exchanged.

We will now consider the names of various composers and the origin of tunes as far as have been traced, dealing first with the tunes by our friends in Alphabetical order, with the exception of those we have already mentioned who write both words and music: namely;

G. Bowdler No. 155

S. Jones      Nos. 126, 225, 250, and 266

H. Roberts  No. 198

G. Smith      Nos. 104, 212, 214, 218, 227, 228, 229, 230, and 251

Mrs. Anderson of Durbon, South Africa, wrote No. 73

Frank Bruce wrote No. 192.  He was born in 1878 at Banff in Scotland.  He professed through Alex Pearce in Durban in 1918, where he was working as a fitter and turner for the So. Africa Railways and later for BOAC.  He died in 1949.

Mrs. Chas. Coombs  (Nee L. Middleton), Living in Australia, wrote No. 216.

F.H. Gene, who is an Australian, Wrote No. 197.

Arthur Heselwood, who wrote No. 166, was born in York in 1872.  He heard the Truth in Lincolnshire, when he was a schoolmaster.  Soon after he and his wife went forth in the work and he continued till a year or two before his death in 1953.

Joe Macadam, our old friend, wrote No. 310  He was born in Cockermouth. Cumberland in 1870.  He was apprenticed to carpentry and came to London in 1895.  Later he went to Durban, South Africa to build government houses, and there met Frank Bruce in a Philharmonic Orchestra.  As a young man he was very musical, and formed a band and toured the country.  Both Frank and he had great talent in music and harmony as we see in the tunes they composed.

     Joe heard the Truth in an open air meeting in Durban, but did not profess until he and his wife returned to England in 1908.  His last days were spent in the Canary Isles, where he died in 1947.  His wife was living there when the tidal floods came in 1953 and was rescued.  She died in 1954.

Lucy Manning, who has been in the work in Tasmania and Australia a number of years, wrote tunes No. 186 and 217.  Her father, James Manning, went out to New Zealand from Co. Wickow about 1917 with his brother Ned, who had been for a time in the work in Ireland and then in New Zealand.

Mrs. F. Lloyd, Catarimen Rhodesia, is a sister of Mrs. Anderson, the first composer we referred to.   She wrote the tune for No. 174.

I will now tell you a little of my own effort.   My first attempt was for John Martin's hymn 149, which he wrote to the tune of "Rowan Tree."  When I first saw it, I did not care for the setting and the time.  At one convention John told us we should have the cheek of a spider who gets into King's palaces so I had the cheek to send my effort to John.  He replied, "your tune doesn't come within a Sabbath Day's journey of the "Rowan Tree".  However, I kept on, like Bruce's spider, in spite of failures, and had the cheek again to write a few that found their way into the book.  The following are the Nos. 160, 164, 193, and 279.

D.R. Roberts, an Welshman, who was in the work for some time, wrote the other tune which is included in out book for No. 149.

Andrew Robb, our esteemed brother and helper, is the writer of No. 163.

Ethel Roehl, a worker in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. wrote No. 120.  Some prefer the old tune as found in R.S. 384, but in Great Britain it was considered unsuitable.

Glen Smith, besides writing music for most of his own hymns, wrote the tune for J. Fawcett's No. 215 also.