The Stories of the Hymns
Sunday August 20, 2017
Page numbers reference the blue Presbyterian Hymnal
#423 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
Written in 1719 by Isaac Watts and currently published in over 1528 Hymnals, "Jesus Shall Reign Where're the Sun" is considered by many to be the first great missionary hymn. The eldest of nine children, Isaac Watts (1674-1748) is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, Greek and Hebrew in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven despite delicate health that persisted throughout his life. Upon his death he was buried in a Puritan resting place, but a monument was erected to him in Westminster Abbey. The author or nearly 2000 hymns, Watts seems to envision in this one, a day when Jesus would reign throughout the world -- wherever the sun shines, from shore to shore. Christ calls only a few to be missionaries, but he calls each Christian to proclaim the Gospel. He calls each of us to care about each other -- and to care about people around the world. As we sing this hymn, let us consider all the Christians who have sacrificed comfort, safety -- even life itself -- to make Jesus known around the world. And let us ask ourselves what Christ is calling each of us to do. The sturdy tune DUKE STREET, first published anonymously in Henry Boyd's Select Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1793), was credited to Englishman John Warrington Hatton (1710-1793). Virtually nothing is known about Hatton, other than that he lived on Duke Street in St. Helen's and that his funeral was conducted at the Presbyterian chapel there.
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy #298
The author is Frederick William Faber (1814-1863), born in Yorkshire England. Raised Anglican, he converted to Roman Catholicism and took Holy Orders in 1837. Drawing inspiration from the hymns of John Newton, William Cowper and the Wesleys during his Anglican youth, he recognized that Roman Catholics lacked a tradition of more recent metrical hymnody in English. He took it upon himself to remedy this. By the time he died, he had contributed 150 hymns. Hymnologist Albert Bailey noted, “Father Faber was the moving and guiding spirit as long as he lived, a great preacher and a man of charming personality.” British hymnologist J. Richard Watson notes that, “Faber’s emotionalism, and his uninhibited use of imagery, demonstrate his love of a sentiment that comes close to sentimentality.
“But his sentiment, however excessive it may seem, touches a tender spot: Faber is cheering on the soul, recognizing the troubles of life, and holding out the promise of a final homecoming.” The ultimate theme of this hymn is based on the premise and paradox that a sovereign God, unlike earthly rulers, demonstrates welcome, kindness, grace and mercy. All we need to do is have a simple faith that “rest[s] upon God’s word.” IN BABILONE a Dutch melody arr. in our hymnal by Julius Röntgen (1855-1933)
Help Us Accept Each Other #358
The text is by Fred Kaan (1929-2009). He was known throughout the English speaking world as a hymn writer in the tradition of reformed ministers who wrote hymns to follow and sum up the sermons they preached. Having started to write hymns early in his ministry, his output grew steadily during his career. His hymns, which include both original work and translations from a variety of languages, address the modern challenges to faith, notably issues of peace and justice. Fred Kaan was born in the Netherlands. He lived through the Nazi occupation and witnessed the death of three grandparents from starvation. His parents were deeply involved in taking refugees into their home. Ordained in 1955 at the Windsor Road Congregational Church in Glamorgan, he ministered there until 1963 when he was called to Pilgrim Church in Plymouth and his hymn-writing began to take flight. In 1968 he moved to Geneva to become minister-secretary of the International Congregational Council. He claimed to have visited faith communities in 83 countries, some many times over. In retirement, he continued his steady output of hymns. Fred's last years were overshadowed by the onset of Alzheimer's disease and by cancer. A giant of a man with incalculable influence in many fields – literary, artistic, theological, ecclesiastical, ecumenical – he remained to the end essentially a humble man, a sensitive pastor, and a firm friend to a wide circle. The tune BARONITA is by Doreen Potter (1925-1980). She was born in Panama and received her primary and secondary education in Jamaica, where she studied piano and violin. She then moved to England where she trained as a teacher of music in Liverpool. She married Philip Potter, who served as general secretary of the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Through that connection she met Fred Kaan and began writing tunes for his texts. In 1975 they published Break Not the Circle which included twenty new hymns through the Agape division of Hope Publishing Company. "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ" is also one of her tunes.
Partial Bibliography for these Hymn Stories: primarily from http://www.hymnary.org,