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Here are some of my favorite Hymnals:
Presbyterian 1955 Hymnbook: http://amzn.to/2zSRdpL
Episcopal 1940 Hymnal: http://amzn.to/2DEOl1H
Broadman 1940 Hymnal: http://amzn.to/2C1WuwK
Methodist 1939 Hymnal: http://amzn.to/2CfJ1Wq
Pilgrim 1935 Hymnal: http://amzn.to/2DDvbJC
Now Sings My Soul, New Songs for the Lord by: Linda Bonney Olin: http://amzn.to/2DQ6gUy
Choice Hymns of the Faith 1945 http://amzn.to/2Dx97nA
Book of Psalms for Singing https://amzn.to/2ygM00b (1912 Psalter is unavailable)
Hymns Ancient and Modern https://amzn.to/3dfaHIY
Lutheran 1941 Hymnal: http://amzn.to/2zUmYi2
Here are my new projects:
Trinity Hymnal 1960 https://amzn.to/3ZU7esg
Lutheran 1909 Hymnal https://openlibrary.org/books/OL25240909M/Evangelical_Lutheran_hymn-book
J S Bach Riemenschneider 371 Harmonized Chorales http://amzn.to/2DSy5f9
References:
Dictionary of Hymnology: http://amzn.to/2BxPabk
American Hymns Old and New https://amzn.to/3fqkkVU
A Story Sweet and Wondrous, For God So Loved the World (John 3 16)
Text by: Eliza E. Hewitt, Refrain by Baylus B McKinney
Tune by: Baylus B McKinney
Source: Broadman 1940 Hymnal #324
https://youtube.com/shorts/hUfhs2McwAk
1. A story sweet and wondrous,
Like heav’nly music swells;
In chimings clear to all who will hear,
Ring out the Gospel bells.
Refrain
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That whosoever believeth in Him,
Whosoever believeth in Him
Should not perish,
Should not perish,
But have everlasting life.
2. When, grieving, brokenhearted,
Because of sin and shame,
We find a joy earth cannot destroy,
Believing on His name. [Refrain]
3. This love beyond all measure
Of earth or sea or sky,
Could only show its full overflow,
When Jesus came to die. [Refrain]
4. Come, brother, come to Jesus;
His Word was meant for you;
His grace receive, His promise believe,
And sing His praise anew. [Refrain]
Today’s hymn comes from the hands of two dear children of our Father who demonstrated their faithfulness in humble service within their respective communities. Eliza gave us the body of the poem. Baylus gave us the refrain and the music.
Eliza Hewitt, born in Philadelphia on June 28, 1851, was a precosious young lady, completing her primary and secondary education at a time most young girls did not. After her graduation she started to teach as well. However, she soon developed a spinal condition which forced her to stop. She was left largely an invalid, unable to even leave her home. But seeking to still contribute to her local church she began to write literature and poems for the children’s department. Eventually she became the superindendent of the primary department of the Calvin Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. This text is one of her poems.
Baylus McKinney’s education and activities were far broader than Eliza’s, but strongly focused upon education. He “attended Mount Lebanon Academy, Louisiana; Louisiana College, Pineville, Louisiana; the Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; the Siegel-Myers Correspondence School of Music, Chicago, Illinois (BM.1922); and the Bush Conservatory of Music, Chicago. Oklahoma Baptist University awarded him an honorary MusD degree in 1942.”
Through his varied career Baylus worked as a music editor, composer, publisher, teacher, and pastor mostly in the South.
I first came across the refrain for this hymn in the Broadman Hymnal 1939. Upon a little research I found the “rest of the story” so to speak. I recorded it in 2015 and for most of the time since it has had little interest. However, in the past couple of years its popularity has steadily risen and is now among the top 30 or so every month. I suspect the clear message between Eliza’s pain and Baylus’s answer has strongly contributed to this.
