The Stories
Behind the Hymns
by Fred HoenzschSince 1984, the radio program "Hymns to Live By" has brought many listeners great "stories behind the hymns". As I look back through the years of telling these stories, it seems that the hymns with the greatest impact were borne out of great tragedies in people's lives. Some hymns were written in a time of evangelistic fervor such as: "Whosoever Will", written by Phillip B. Bliss after he experienced a week of hearing sermons preached every night on John 3:16. Some hymns had rather unusual beginnings. For example, Mabel J. Camp wrote a tune around 1915. She didn't like it. She tore the music up and threw it in the basket. But her husband, Rev. Norman Camp, happened to discover these scraps of paper in the basket and patiently fit the pieces together. He realized what a beautiful song his wife had written and encouraged her to publish what became the tune for "That Beautiful Name".
Sometimes hymn writers were inspired at least partly, by humorous anecdotes. In 1958 John W. Peterson and Alfred B. Smith together wrote "Surely Goodness and Mercy", based on the 23rd Psalm. They wrote it shortly after hearing a story about young Phillip B. Bliss, who as a child in a country school was required to memorize the 23rd Psalm (before he could read or write). Young Phillip Bliss loved his teacher, "Miss Murphy". In his reciting "Surely Goodness and Mercy", became "Surely Good Miss Murphy Shall Follow Me All the Days of My Life." This humorous, true story helped to inspire the writing of this hymn.
As was mentioned earlier, many of the great hymns were written as a result of great personal misfortunes. They were written by saints in anguish, relying totally on the Lord. These hymns still speak to us today as we go through our own trials. They are indeed, timeless reflections of the Holy Spirit.
There were many different kinds of true life trials that inspired these hymns: Charles Wesley suffered Satanic attacks of doubt as he struggled to complete "And Can It Be That I Should Gain". After Carolina Sindell lost her earthly father in a drowning accident, she found solace writing hymns to her heavenly father such as "Children of the Heavenly Father". Ida Smith, a lonely, bed-ridden woman of faith wrote "I Belong to the King." Louisa M.D. Stead is believed to have written "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" out of the sorrow of the death of her husband. Rev. C.B. McAfee of Chicago, wrote "Near To the Heart of God" following the tragic deaths of two nieces from diphtheria. Frank E. Graeff wrote a classic hymn following a period in his life, where he was tortured by depression, doubts and physical trials. He found great comfort in Jesus Christ and His Word, particularly I Peter 5:7. The words of this verse "He Careth For You" inspired him to write "Does Jesus Care?"
The greatest story behind a hymn concerns how "It Is Well With My Soul" came to be written. Horatio G. Spafford, along with his wife and four daughters were scheduled to travel to Europe on an ocean liner in November, 1873. Due to a last minute business development Spafford had to send his family on ahead while he remained in America. In mid-ocean, Spafford's wife and four daughters were involved in a collision of their ship with another ocean liner. Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband "Saved Alone". Spafford immediately left for Europe. When his ship came near the scene on the high seas where his four daughters had drowned, he wrote "It is Well With My Soul".
If you are interested in learning more histories of the hymns, you are invited to tune in to my weekly program, "Hymns to Live By". Each show includes hymns, old gospel songs, spirituals, hymn instrumentals, choruses, and of course, the story behind the hymn. Hymns to Live By is broadcast Sundays, at 2:00PM EST over the WHAZ Alive Radio Network and can be heard online at www.whaz.com.