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W. Stillman Martin

1862 - 1935 Person Name: W. S. Martin Hymnal Number: 35 Composer of "[Be not dismayed whate’er betide]" in Favorites Number 1 Born: March 8, 1862, Rowley, Massachusetts. Died: December 16, 1935, Atlanta, Georgia. Buried: Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia. Husband of hymnist Civilla Martin, Stillman attended Harvard University and was ordained a Baptist minister, though he later switched to the Disciples of Christ denomination. In 1916, he became a professor of Bible studies at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, North Carolina. Three years later, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. It was from there he went all over America to run Bible conferences and evangelistic meetings. Sources: Hustad, p. 282 http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/r/t/martin_ws.htm

Hattie E. Buell

1834 - 1910 Person Name: Harriet E. Buell Hymnal Number: 55 Author of "A Child of the King" in Favorites Number 1 Hattie (Katie) Eugenia Peck Buell USA 1834-1910. Born in Cazenovia, NY, she lived in Manlius, NY, until 1898, then moved to Washington, D.C., but maintained a summer residence at Thousand Island Park, NY. She married Willard Barnes Buell, and they had two sons. Her husband died in 1905. She wrote poems to the Northern Christian Advocate in Syracuse, NY. John Perry

Harry Dixon Loes

1895 - 1965 Person Name: H. D. L. Hymnal Number: 33 Author of "All Things in Jesus" in Favorites Number 1 Pseudonyms: Deal Bartells Born Harold Loes, the American gospel song writer took the middle name Dixon in honour of A. C. Dixon, the pastor of Moody Church at the time. Harry Dixon Loes studied at Moody Bible Institute, and after extensive training in music he served a number of churches with a ministry of music. From 1939 until his retirement he was a member of the music faculty of Moody Bible Institute. He wrote the lyrics for 1,500 gospel songs, and composed 3,000 tunes. One day in 1915, Paul Rader preached a sermon in Moody Church, in Chicago. His theme was, “All that I want is in Jesus.” In the congregation was young Harry Dixon Loes, then a senior at Moody Bible Institute, where he would eventually teach. Inspired by Dr. Rader’s message, Harry Loes wrote the words and music for a song he called "All Things in Jesus." It was first sung by the church’s youth group. Friends all around me are trying to find What the heart yearns for, by sin undermined; I have the secret, I know where ’tis found: Only true pleasures in Jesus abound. All that I want is in Jesus. He satisfies, joy He supplies; Life would be worthless without Him; All things in Jesus I find. Some carry burdens whose weight has for years Crushed them with sorrow and blinded with tears. Yet One stands ready to help them just now, If they will humbly in penitence bow. --http://wordwisehymns.com/2010/02/09/ ================== Harry Dixon Loes was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 20, 1892. After serving several churches as music director and later being active for more than twelve years in evangelist work, he joined the music faculty of Moody Bible Institute, in 1939, where he remained as a popular music teacher until his death in 1965. Mr. Loes was the writer of numerous gospel songs and choruses. One day, while listening to a sermon on the subject of Christ's atonement entitled “Blessed Redeemer,” Mr. Loes was inspired to compose this tune. He then sent the melody with the suggested title to Mrs. Christiansen, a friend for many years, asking her to write the text. The hymn first appeared in Songs of Redemption, compiled by Marin and Jelks, in 1920, and published by the Baptist Home Mission Board, Atlanta, Georgia. --http://www.gracecommunitycog.org/

Robert Harkness

1880 - 1961 Hymnal Number: 71 Composer of "[I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways]" in Favorites Number 1 After attending a revival meeting by Reuben Torrey and Charles M. Alexander, Harkness became Alexander’s pianist. He came to Christ shortly thereafter (on a bicycle, he said), and made several round the world tours with Torrey and Alexander. Harkness was especially well known for his program The Music of the Cross, and as the author of correspondence courses in hymn playing. He wrote over 2,000 hymns and Gospel songs in his lifetime. (hymntime.com/tch)

Johnson Oatman, Jr.

1856 - 1922 Person Name: Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr. Hymnal Number: 70 Author of "Holy, Holy, Is What the Angels Sing" in Favorites Number 1 Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert's Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton, N. J., under the firm name of Johnson Oatman & Son. Since the death of his father, he has for the past fifteen years been in the life insurance business, having charge of the business of one of the great companies in Mt. Holly, N. J., where he resides. He has written over three thousand hymns, and no gospel song book is considered as being complete unless it contains some of his hymns. In 1878 he married Wilhelmina Reid, of Lumberton, N.J. and had three children, Rachel, Miriam, and Percy. Excerpted from Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers by Jacob Henry Hall; Fleming H. Revell, Co. 1914

John R. Sweney

1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Hymnal Number: 70 Composer of "[There is singing up in Heaven]" in Favorites Number 1 John R. Sweney (1837-1899) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and exhibited musical abilities at an early age. At nineteen he was studying with a German music teacher, leading a choir and glee club, and performing at children’s entertainments. By twenty-two he was teaching at a school in Dover, Delaware. Soon thereafter, he was put in charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment of the Union Army for the duration of the Civil War. After the war, he became Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and director of Sweney’s Cornet Band. He eventually earned Bachelor and Doctor of Music degrees at the Academy. Sweney began composing church music in 1871 and became well-known as a leader of large congregations. His appreciators stated “Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing” and “He had great power in arousing multitudes.” He also became director of music for a large Sunday school at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia of which John Wanamaker was superintendent (Wanamaker was the founder of the first major department store in Philadelphia). In addition to his prolific output of hymn melodies and other compositions, Sweney edited or co-edited about sixty song collections, many in collaboration with William J. Kirkpatrick. Sweney died on April 10, 1899, and his memorial was widely attended and included a eulogy by Wanamaker. Joe Hickerson from "Joe's Jottings #9" used by permission

J. Wilbur Chapman

1859 - 1918 Hymnal Number: 36 Author of "'Tis Jesus" in Favorites Number 1 Rv John Wilbur Chapman DD LLD USA 1859-1918. Born in Richmond, IN, he attended Quaker Day School and Methodist Sunday school. At age 17 he made a public declaration of his Christian faith and joined the Richmond Presbyterian Church. He received his seminary degree from Lane Theoloical Seminary, Cincinnati, OH. He was later awarded a Doctorate in Divinity from the College of Wooster, and an LL.D. from Heidelberg University. In 1882 he married Irene Steddon. They had a daughter. His wife died in 1886. In 1888 he married Agnes Pruyn Strain, and they had four children. His second wife died in 1907. In 1910 he married Mabel Cornelia Moulton. He held six pastorates in OH, IN, NY, PA, NY, NY before becoming an evangelist, generally traveling with gospel singer, Charles Alexander. In 1893 he preached with D. L. Moody. Billy Sunday was one of his disciples on the circuit. In 1895 he was appointed Corresponding Secretary of the Presbyterian General Assembly's Committeee on Evangelism, overseeing activities of 51 evangelists in 470 cities. He developed campaign tactics to maximize evangelical successes, trying them first in Pittsburgh, then Syracuse. With funding from philanthropist, John H. Converse, a wealthy Presbyterian, Chapman joined with Alexander to launch evangelical campaigns in 1907. He assembled 21 evangelistic teams after that to cover 42 sections of Philadelphia, preaching for several weeks. 8000 conversions resulted. They repeated this in NC. In 1909 they started a worldwide campaign in Vancouver, BC, and took in cities in Australia, the Phillipines, China, Korea, and Japan. Chapman also held religious summer conferences at Winona Lake, IN, Montreat, NC, and Long Island, NY. Mass evangelism was losing favor in 1910, so he was back holding large revivals with Alexander in 1912. He was also elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church General Assembly, and under so much stress, he developed gall stones. The surgery was too much, and he died two days later. He was also a prolific writer of religious works and hymn lyrics. 19 works. John Perry

Annie Johnson Flint

1866 - 1932 Hymnal Number: 51 Author of "What God Hath Promised" in Favorites Number 1 Born: December 24, 1866, Vineland, New Jersey. Died: September 8, 1932, Clifton Springs, New York. Buried: Clifton Springs, New York. The biographical account of poetess/hymn-writer Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) is a story of both heartbreak and triumph. Born on Christmas Eve in the small town of Vineland, New Jersey, she was welcomed by Eldon and Jean Johnson as their greatest earthly gift. Three years later, little Annie would lose her mother, who died as she gave birth to Annie’s baby sister. Mr. Johnson, who himself was suffering from an incurable disease, willed the children to the Flint family who would bring them up in the Baptist faith. It was during a revival meeting at the age of 8 that the Spirit of God brought Annie's young heart to faith in Christ. She always believed that at that time, she was truly converted. Though she did not join the church until 10 years later, she never doubted that “the eternal work was then wrought.” She strongly opposed the idea that young children cannot comprehend spiritual truths. She felt that divine mysteries were often plainer to the simple faith of a child than to many adults, blinded by their own prejudices and intellectual doubts. Whether by nature or through her early Christian experience, Annie was generally disposed to be cheerful and optimistic. She looked on the bright side of life and was able to get much enjoyment out of life. Her forward-looking, lifted-up head was a characteristic attitude and was typical of the courage she was to manifest in later life. She certainly learned to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” After high school, she spent one year in teacher training and had a position offered to her, but felt that she was really needed at home. Later in her second year of teaching, arthritis began to show itself. She grew steadily worse until it became difficult for her to walk at all, and she was soon obliged to give up her work, followed by three years of increasing helplessness. The death of both of her adoptive parents within a few months of each other left Annie and her sister alone again. There was little money in the bank, and the twice-orphaned children had come to a real “Red Sea place” in their lives. Her verses provided a solace for her in the long hours of suffering. Then she began making hand-lettered cards and gift books, and decorating some of her own verses. Testimonies came from many directions of blessing received, so two card publishers printed some of her greetings and released the first little brochure of her poems. The publication of her booklets and the action of the Sunday School Times linked her up with a worldwide fellowship, and she carried most of the correspondence, though one wonders how she could get a pen through those poor twisted fingers. Her letters were as rich as her poems, always bringing a touch of humor that was refreshing. She loved to give to others, but was reluctant to receive, even though she suffered great times of trial and testing. Eventually she gained new understanding and learned how to share the hard moments of her life with others who could not understand the hardships of their lives. She put into poetry words that she titled, “What God Hath Promised.” And through those words and many others, she became convinced that God intended to glorify Himself through her in her weak, earthen vessel; and like Paul, she gained real assurance and could say with the apostle, the promise granted to him: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” She could also say with Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” She believed that God had laid her aside for a purpose, even though that purpose was obscure to her at times. The marvelous thing is that Annie’s faith never faltered, and that she was at all times able to say, “Thy will be done.” --www.homecomingmagazine.com/ (excerpts)

Mrs. C. H. Morris

1862 - 1929 Hymnal Number: 4 Author of "The Stranger of Galilee" in Favorites Number 1 Lelia (Mrs. C.H.) Morris (1862-1929) was born in Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio. When her family moved to Malta on the Muskingum River she and her sister and mother had a millinery shop in McConnelsville. She and her husband Charles H. Morris were active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and at the camp meetings in Sebring and Mt. Vernon. She wrote hymns as she did her housework. Although she became blind at age 52 she continued to write hymns on a 28-foot long blackboard that her family had built for her. She is said to have written 1000 texts and many tunes including "Sweeter as the years go by." Mary Louise VanDyke

James M. Gray

1851 - 1935 Hymnal Number: 74 Author of "I Find Thee So Precious" in Favorites Number 1 Born: May 11, 1851, New York City. Died: September 21, 1935, Passavant Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City. Gray accepted Christ at age 22. He was educated at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (Doctor of Divinity), and the University of Des Moines, Iowa (Doctor of Laws). In 1879 he became Rector of the First Reformed Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served 14 years. He then became dean (1904-25) and president (1925-34) of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, and directed publication of four editions (1921-28) of the Voice of Thanksgiving, official hymnal of the Institute. A conservative theologian, Gray was one of seven editors of the popular Scofield Reference Bible. He was a fine scholar and excellent Bible teacher, but his interests went beyond mere academics. He promoted the Sunday School, and took an interest in civic affairs and patriotic causes. He backed efforts at social betterment, supported Prohibition, and wrote about 20 books --www.hymntime.com/tch/