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John R. Clements

1868 - 1946 Hymnal Number: 129 Author of "No Night There" in Gospel Melodies New and Old John R. Clements was born in County Armagh, Ireland 28 November 1868 and was brought to the United States at the age of two years. He worked at the age of thirteen as a retail grocery clerk and had a successful wholesale grocery business. He began writing poetry when he was young. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916)

Oliver Holden

1765 - 1844 Hymnal Number: 109 Composer of "CORONATION" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Holden, Oliver, one of the pioneers of American psalmody, was born in 1765, and was brought up as a carpenter. Subsequently he became a teacher and music-seller. He died at Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1844. His published works are American Harmony, 1793; the Worcester Collection, 1797; and other Tune books. One of his most popular tunes is "Coronation." It is thought that he edited a small hymn-book, published at Boston before 1808, in which are 21 of his hymns with the signature "H." A single copy only of this book is known, and that is without title-page. Of his hymns the following are in common use:— 1. All those who seek a throne of grace. [God present where prayer is offered.] Was given in Peabody's Springfield Collection, 1835, No. 92, in a recast form as, “They who seek the throne of grace." This form is in extensive use in America, and is also in a few collections in Great Britain. 2. With conscious guilt, and bleeding heart. [Lent.] This, although one of the best of Holden's hymns, has passed out of use. It appeared, with two others, each bearing bis signature, in the Boston Collection (Baptist), 1808. 3. Within these doors assembled now. [Divine Worship.] [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

John Henry Yates

1837 - 1900 Person Name: John H. Yates Hymnal Number: 12 Author of "Faith Is the Victory" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Rev. John H. Yates, was born in Batavia, N. Y., November 31, 1837. He was educated at the Batavia Union School, but at the age of eighteen was forced to engage in business as a clerk to help maintain his aged parents. For several years he was with his brother, Thomas Yates, in the shoe business; afterwards, for seven years, salesman in G. B. Worthington's hardware store. In 1871 he took charge of the fancy goods department in E. L. & G. D. Kenyon's double store and remained there fifteen years. In 1886 he was called to be local editor of the Progressive Batavian, and filled the position nearly ten years. When twenty-one years of age Mr. Yates was licensed to preach in the Methodist church, but was not ordained until 1897. For nearly seven years now he has been pastor of the Free Will Baptist church at West Bethany. At about the age of twenty, Mr. Yates began writing poetry at the solicitation of his mother, and very soon his ballads and hymns were printed and sung all over the land. In 1891, Ira D. Sankey, the famous singer, engaged Mr. Yates to write gospel hymns for him, solely; he was led to do this because of the wonderful success of Mr. Yates's old man ballad, the "Model Church," which has been sung all over the world. After the contract with Mr. Sankey. the following hymns soon appeared from the pen of Mr. Yates: "Harbor Bell," "Faith is the Victory," "Beautiful Hills," "Our Name's in Heaven," and about twenty others. In December, 1897, Mr. Yates issued a volume of ballads and poems, a book of 117 poems and 226 pages, which are now nearly all sold. On the occasion of the dedication of the old land office in 1894, Mr. Yates wrote the dedicatory poem, "Our Ancient Landmark," a production of unusual merit. From Our County and it's people: descriptive work on Genesee County, New York, edited by: F. W. Beers (J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890)

William W. Walford

1772 - 1850 Person Name: Rev. W. W. Walford Hymnal Number: 29 Author of "Sweet Hour of Prayer" in Gospel Melodies New and Old William W. Walford, a blind preacher of England, is the author of the hymn beginning "Sweet hour of prayer." This hymn first appeared in print in the New York Observer September 13, 1845. The contributor who furnished the hymn says: "During my residence at Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, I became acquainted with W. W. Walford, the blind preacher, a man of obscure birth and connections and no education, but of strong mind and most retentive memory. In the pulpit he never failed to select a lesson well adapted to his subject, giving chapter and verse with unerring precision, and scarcely ever misplacing a word in his repetition of the Psalms, every part of the New Testament, the prophecies, and some of the histories, so as to have the reputation of knowing the whole Bible by heart." Rev. Thomas Salmon, who was settled as the pastor of the Congregational Church at Coleshill in 1838, remained until 1842, and then removed to the United States, is believed to have been the contributor who says of the hymn: "I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil as he uttered them, and send them for insertion in the Observer if you think them worthy of preservation." From: Nutter, C. S., & Tillett, W. F. (1911). The hymns and hymn writers of the church, an annotated edition of The Methodist hymnal. New York: Methodist Book Concern.

W. O. Cushing

1823 - 1902 Person Name: Rev. William O Cushing Hymnal Number: 32 Author of "Hiding in Thee" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Rv William Orcutt Cushing USA 1823-1902. Born at Hingham, MA, he read the Bible as a teenager and became a follower of the Orthodox Christian school of thought. At age 18 he decided to become a minister, following in his parents theology. His first pastorate was at the Christian Church, Searsburg, NY. He married Hena Proper in 1854. She was a great help to him throughout his ministry. He ministered at several NY locations over the years, including Searsburg, Auburn, Brookley, Buffalo, and Sparta. Hena died in 1870, and he returned to Searsburg, again serving as pastor there. Working diligently with the Sunday school, he was dearly beloved by young and old. Soon after, he developed a creeping paralysis that caused him to lose his voice. He retired from ministry after 27 years. He once gave all his savings ($1000) to help a blind girl receive an education. He was instrumental in the erection of the Seminary at Starkey, NY. He gave material aid to the school for the blind at Batavia. He was mindful of the suffering of others, but oblivious to his own. After retiring, he asked God to give him something to do. He discovered he had a talent for writing and kept busy doing that. He authored about 300 hymn lyrics. The last 13 years of his life he lived with Rev. and Mrs. E. E Curtis at Lisbon Center, NY, and joined with the Wesleyan Methodist Church there. He died at Searsburg, NY. John Perry ================== Cushing, William Orcutt , born at Hingham, Massachusetts, Dec. 31, 1823, is the author of the following hymns which appear in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos:— 1. Beautiful valley of Eden. Heaven. 2. Down in the valley with my Saviour I would go. Trusting to Jesus. 3. Fair is the morning land. Heaven. 4. I am resting so sweetly in Jesus now. Rest and Peace in Jesus. 5. I have heard of a land far away. Heaven. 6. O safe to the Rock that is higher than I. The Rock of Ages. 1. Ring the bells of heaven, there is joy today. Heavenly Joy over repenting Sinners. 8. We are watching, we are waiting. Second Advent anticipated. Mr. Cushing has also several additional hymns in some American Sunday School collections, and collections of Sacred Songs. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology ================= Cushing, W. 0., p. 274, i. Other hymns are:— 1. O I love to think of Jesus . Thinking of Jesus. 2. There is joy in heaven! there is joy to-day. Angels joy over returning Sinners. 3. When He cometh, when He cometh. Advent. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Kate Hankey

1834 - 1911 Person Name: Miss Kate Hankey Hymnal Number: 34 Author of "I Love to Tell the Story" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Arabella Katherine Hankey (b. Clapham, England, 1834; d. Westminster, London, England, 1911) was the daughter of a wealthy banker and was associated with the Clapham sect of William Wilberforce, a group of prominent evangelical Anglicans from the Clapham area. This group helped to establish the British and Foreign Bible Society, promoted the abolition of slavery, and was involved in improving the lot of England's working classes. Hankey taught Bible classes for shop girls in London, visited the sick in local hospitals, and used the proceeds of her writings to support various mission causes. Her publications include Heart to Heart (1870) and The Old, Old Story and Other Verses (1879). Bert Polman =============== Hankey, Katharine, has published several hymns of great beauty and simplicity which are included in her:— (1) The Old, Old Story, 1866; (2) The Old, Old Story, and other Verses, 1879; (3) Heart to Heart, 1870, enlarged in 1873 and 1876. In 1878 it was republished with music by the author. Miss Hankey's hymns which have come into common use are:— 1. Advent tells us, Christ is near. The Christian Seasons. Written for the Sunday School of St. Peter's, Eaton Square, London, and printed on a card with music by the author. 2. I love to tell the story Of unseen things above. The love of Jesus. This is a cento from No. 3, and is given in Bliss's Gospel Songs, Cincinnati, 1874, and other American collections. 3. I saw Him leave His Father's throne. Lovest than Me? Written in 1868. It is No. 33 of the Old, Old Story, and other Verses, 1879. 4. Tell me the old, old story. This Life of Jesus in verse was written in two parts. Pt. i., "The Story Wanted," Jan. 29; and Pt. ii., "The Story Told," Nov. 18, 1866. It has since been published in several forms, and sometimes with expressive music by the author, and has also been translated into various languages, including Welsh, German, Italian, Spanish, &c. The form in which it is usually known is that in I. P. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos. This is Part i. slightly altered. Miss Hankey's works contain many suitable hymns for Mission Services and Sunday Schools, and may be consulted both for words and music with advantage. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Charles W. Fry

1837 - 1882 Person Name: C. W. Fry Hymnal Number: 58 Author of "The Lily of the Valley" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Charles William Fry United Kingdom 1837-1882. Born at Alderbury, Wiltshire, England, he was a bricklayer by trade, and was ultimately a successful building contractor, but also, like his father, a versatile musician, playing the violin, cello, piano, cornet, and harmonium. He lead and orchestra and band at the Wesleyan chapel in Alderbury. A Methodist, he also helped the Christian Mission in Salisbury. When he witnessed the abuse heralded against the Salvation Army when they established their ministry in 1878, he offered to serve as bodyguard for the Salvation Army workers. The next day Fry and his three sons showed up with their weapons, consisting of two cornets, a trombone, and a small tuba, which they played, in between fighting off the trouble-makers. Their music attracted a crowd for the preachers. Thus the first Salvation Army brass band was formed, and his family band accompanied Salvation Army founder, William Booth, in evangelism campaigns. Other musicians soon accompanied the Salvation Army band, and then, when William Booth saw how effective band music was, encouraged formation of other Salvation Army bands. Fry died at Glasgow, Scotland, the year after writing his hymn. John Perry

George Frideric Handel

1685 - 1759 Person Name: G. F. Handel Hymnal Number: 1 Composer of "ST. THOMAS" in Gospel Melodies New and Old George Frideric Handel (b. Halle, Germany, 1685; d. London, England, 1759) became a musician and composer despite objections from his father, who wanted him to become a lawyer. Handel studied music with Zachau, organist at the Halle Cathedral, and became an accomplished violinist and keyboard performer. He traveled and studied in Italy for some time and then settled permanently in England in 1713. Although he wrote a large number of instrumental works, he is known mainly for his Italian operas, oratorios (including Messiah, 1741), various anthems for church and royal festivities, and organ concertos, which he interpolated into his oratorio performances. He composed only three hymn tunes, one of which (GOPSAL) still appears in some modern hymnals. A number of hymnal editors, including Lowell Mason, took themes from some of Handel's oratorios and turned them into hymn tunes; ANTIOCH is one example, long associated with “Joy to the World.” Bert Polman

P. P. Bilhorn

1865 - 1936 Person Name: Peter Bilhorn Hymnal Number: 30 Composer of "[I will sing the wond'rous story]" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Pseudonyms: W. Ferris Britcher, Irene Durfee; C. Ferris Holden, P. H. Roblin (a anagram of his name) ================ Peter Philip Bilhorn was born, in Mendota, IL. His father died in the Civil War 3 months before he was born. His early life was not easy. At age 8, he had to leave school to help support the family. At age 15, living in Chicago, he had a great singing voice and sang in German beer gardens there. At this time, he and his brother also formed the Eureka Wagon & Carriage Works in Chicago, IL. At 18 Peter became involved in gospel music, studying under George F. Root and George C. Stebbins. He traveled to the Dakotas and spent some time sharing the gospel with cowboys there. He traveled extensively with D. L. Moody, and was Billy Sunday's song leader on evangelistic endeavors. His evangelistic work took him into all the states of the Union, Great Britain, and other foreign countries. In London he conducted a 4000 voice choir in the Crystal Palace, and Queen Victoria invited him to sing in Buckinghm Palace. He wrote some 2000 gospel songs in his lifetime. He also invented a folding portable telescoping pump organ, weighing 16 lbs. It could be set up in about a minute. He used it at revivals in the late 19th century. He founded the Bilhorn Folding Organ Company in Chicago. IL, and his organ was so popular it was sold all over the world. He edited 10 hymnals and published 11 gospel songbooks. He died in Los Angeles, CA, in 1936. John Perry

Francis H. Rowley

1854 - 1952 Person Name: F. H. Rawley Hymnal Number: 30 Author of "I will Sing the Wondrous Story" in Gospel Melodies New and Old Rv Francis Harold Rowley DD USA 1854-1952. Born at Hilton, NH, the son of a doctor, he graduated from Rochester University in 1875 and Rochester Theological Seminary of NY in 1878. He married Ida Amelia Babcock in 1878, and they had four children: John, Alice, Charles, and Esmond. He became a Baptist minister, animal welfare campaigner, and hymn writer. He pastored for over 30 years at Titusville, PA, North Adams, MA (1884-1892), Oak Park, IL, Fall River, MA, and the First Baptist Church at Boston, MA, until 1910. He preached at Appleton Chapel, Harvard University. He was also a trustee of the University of Chicago Divinity School (1894-1896). While at North Adams, MA, Peter Bilhorn, a fine musician and his assistant minister, asked him to write a hymn for Bilhorn to set to music. He wrote the hymn text overnight. The hymn was presented to Ira Sankey and he altered the text some before publishing it. Visiting in London, he once heard a Salvation Army band playing his hymn. They had no idea he was nearby. Rowley became aware of dismemberment of animals in slaughter houses across the country and lobbied for the animals to be rendered unconscious before being cut open. From 1892-1900 he was Secretary of the American Humane Association. In 1915, through his influence, a building was made to house the MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was president of that organization and of the American Humane Education Society from 1908-1945, and the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. He was also Chairman of the Animal Protection Committee for the MA Committee on Public Safety and VP of the American Society for the Humane Regulation of Vivisection. In 1947 the Rowley School of Human Understanding was established in his honor. In 1948 the MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals named the Rowley Memorial Hospital in Springfield, MA, for him. A humanitarian, he also worked with hospitals: Robert Brigham Hospital (for incurables) and N E Baptist Hospital of Boston. He was a member of the advisory council at Yenching University, China; a member of the alumni committee, University of Rochester, NY; member Alpha Delta Phi, Phi Beta Kappa. Rochester University gave him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. He died at Boston, MA. Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA, named the Rowley School of Humanities after him. John Perry