Histories of Hymns

Delete

2009-11-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Since I have a Facebook, I don't really have time for Blogging now. So both of my blogs will be deleted.

Thank you to all who has read my blog.

All hail the power

2009-10-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Author: Edward Perronet, 1726-1792

This hymn is often called the "National anthem of Christendom." The hymn first appeared in the November, 1779, issue of the Gospel Magazine, edited by Augustus Toplady, author of "Rock of ages." This text has been translated into almost every language where Christianity is known; and wherever it is sung, it almost every, it communicates to the spiritual needs ogf human hearts. One writer has said "So long as there are Christians on earth , it will be sung; and after that in Heaven.:
Edward Perronet was born at Sundridge, Kent, England, in 1726. He was a descendant of a distinguished French Huguenot family who had fled to Switzerland and later to England because of the religeous persecusion in France. Edward's Father, a pastor in the State Church of England, was strongly sympathetic with the evangelical movment spearheaded by the Wesleys and George Whitefield. Edward, too, became a minister in the Anglican Church but was always critical of his ways. Once he wrote, "I was born and I am likely to die in the tottering communion of the Church of England, but I despised her nonesence." Soon, however, he broke from the Church and threw himslef strenuosly into evangelistic endevors of the Wesleys during their followers suffered much persucution and even from those who disagreed with their ministry. Concerning these expiriances, the Wesleys made the following notation in his diary:

From Rockdale we whent to Bolton, and soon found that the Rockdale lions were lambs in comparison with those of bolton. Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire. Stones were hurled and windows broken.

Another interesting account regarding the relationship between the Wesleys and Perronet concers the incident when John Wesley announced to a congregation that Edward Perronet would preach at the next service. Being eighteen years younger then Wesley, Perronet had always refused to preach in the elder statesman's presence. Desiring to avoid a public conflic with Wesley, perronet mounted the pulpit but quckly explained that he had never consented to preach. "However," he added, "I shall deliver the greatest sermon that has been preached on earth." He then read the sermon on the mount and sat down without comment.
Eventually, Perronet's strong-mindedness and free caused a break with the Weslys, espesially on the issue of whether the evangelists as well as the regular ministers could administer the sacraments. Perronet continued to the end of his days as the pastor of an independant church at Canterbury, England. His last words have also become classic:

Glory to God in the hight of his divinity!
Glory to God in the depth of his humanity!
Glory to God in his all-sufficiency!
Into His hands I commend my spirit.

No author portrait available.
Sorry, could not find a good youtube.

All creatures of our God and King

2009-08-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Author: Giovanni Bernardone, 1182-1226.

Jonathan: I'm sorry for being late, I'll try to do better.

This inspiring expression of praise found in nearly every hymnal was origanally written in 1225 by one of the most interesting figures in all of church history. Giovanni Bernardone, who was better known as the saint Francis of Assisi, was a mystic, medieval monk who was better known as an itinerant evangelist, preaching and helping the poor people of Italy.
Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1182. After an early indulgent life as a soldier, he reformed his ways dramatically, at the age of 25, and determined to serve God by imitating the selfless life of Christ in all that he did. Although his family were people of considerable means, Francis scorned the possessions of material goods, he denounced his inherited wealth, denied himself everything but the most meager necessities, and devoted himself completely to moving about his area as Christ's representative. At the age of 28 Francis founded the influential Franciscan order of friars, which developed into a large movment of young men and some women who adopted his religious beliefs and ascetics style of life.
Saint Francis was known as a great lover of nature, seeing the hand of God in all creation. One of the well-known master paintings from this time was done by the famouse Italian artist, Giotto, and shows Saint Francis feeding the birds.

The following well-known verse was written in tribute to this man:

Saint Francis came to preach-with smiles he met the friendless, fed the poor, freed a trapped bird, led home a child' although he spoke no word-his text, God's love, the town did not forget.

Another familiar verse that has become especially popular in recent years is the thoughtful prayer written by this medieval monk during the early years of his life:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, unity.
Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is error, truth.
Where there is despair, hope. Where there is sadness, joy. Where there is darkness, Light.
O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving, that we recieve. It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned. It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life.

"All creatures of our God and King" Is from one of many of Saint Francis's writings entilted "Canticles of the sun" Said to have been written one hot summer day in 1225, one year before his death. While Francis was very ill and suffering the loss of his eyesight. Throughout his life Saint Francis made much use of singing and believed strongly in the importance of Church music. In all he wrote more then sixty hymns for use in the monastery. This beautiful expression of praise is one that has survived the passing of these several hundred years.

Giovanni Bernardone

P.S- Please don't be offended by the "Jesus" Picture at the end of the Youtube video, it is a Catholic based song after all. LOL!

P.S.S- I unfortunately had to delete the post made before this one because I had written some of this one, saved it as a draft, written and posted the one titled "As the deer", then finished this one and then posted it. But blogger wouldn't let me put this post on the front page (Either that or I did not know how. LOL.) Anyway the only way to put it up was to delete it. Sorry. If that was hard to understand I'm sorry. LOL

Abide with me

2009-08-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Author: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847

Henry F. Lyte was a pastor in England. He wrote this hymn in 1847. He was born in Scotland on June 1, 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. He was also a member of the Church of England . He suffered with asthma and tuberculosis, however, he was a tireless worker and established himself a reputation as a poet, musician and minister.
Henry F. Lyte was the one who coined the phrase: "It is better to wear out then to rust out." And may we all learn to apply that to our lives using his powerful example.
He was loved everywhere he ministered.
For the last twenty years of his life Lyte pastored a poor parish Church among fishing people at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England. During these later years his health became progressivly worse so that he was forced to seek a warmer climate in Italy. For the last sermon with his poor parishioners on September 4, 1847, it is recorded that Lyte nearly had to crawl to the pulpit and his message came as from a dying man. His final words made a deep impact upon his people when he said that it was his desire to "Induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely appreciation and dependance on the death if Christ.
On his way to Rome, Italy, he was overtaken by death at Nice, France, and was buried there in the English Cemetary on November 20 1847.

Henry F. Lyte

Histories of Hymns

2009-08-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Greetings! My name is Jonathan. On the surface, my relationship with music is simple and humble; I'm an early student in the art of song and I have been taught to sing fairly well. But I have a legacy that I have chosen to follow, that of my father. My father is an experienced pianist, musician, and trumpeter, and I have been blessed with his passion, love, and natural gift for music.

This is a simple introduction of me, so now let me briefly disclose what my day to day posts will be. As you probably already guessed my posts will be of the histories of our favorite hymns.

I will be posting every Monday, so visit then.

This is Jonathan sighning out.