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John R. Sweney

1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Composer of "[To thy cross, dear Christ, I'm clinging]" in Hymns of the Kingdom 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

Elizabeth Codner

1824 - 1919 Person Name: Mrs. E. Codner Author of "Oh, 'tis glory!" in The Silver Trumpet CODNER, Elizabeth (née Harris) was born in Dartmouth, Devon in 1823. Croydon, Surrey, 28 March 1919. She was interested in the mission field from an early age, and two of her early publications were entitled The Missionary Ship (1853) and The Missionary Farewell (1854) relating to the Patagonia Mission (later the South American Missionary Society). She married William Pennefather at the Mildmay Protestant Mission in London, and edited the mission’s monthly Woman’s Work in the Great Harvest Field. At age 17, she was editing a magazine for the Patagonia Mission, later the South American Missionary Society. She died in Croydon, Surrey on 28 March 1919. NN, Hymnary

F. B. Harris

1850 - 1909 Person Name: Flora L. Best Author of "Oh, 'tis Glory in my Soul" in The Great Awakening Birth: 1850, USA Death: Sep., 1909 Flora Lydia (Best) Harris was the daughter of Dr. David and Elizabeth (Lockart) Best. She was the 1st wife of Rev. Bishop Merriman Colbert Harris. He was a minister in the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a writer and wrote on Japanese themes. In 1891 she translated the 10th century classic 'Tosa Niki' ('Diary or Log of a Journey From Tosa to Kyoto'). Mary Jane Haight-Eckert on Find A Grave web site