history

I’m sitting here, watching Star Trek Enterprise with my sweetheart, as I try to recall the last time I sung In Christ there is no East or West.  It’s been quite a while.   I hope you take the time to get to know it, it’s a lovely hymn. I was so pleased to be reminded of it in the Lift Up Your Hearts hymnal. 

The Lyrics

In Christ there is no East or West,
In Him no South or North;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord,
Close binding humankind.

Join hands, then, members of the faith,
Whatever your race may be!
Who serves my Father as His child
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West,
In Him meet North and South;
All Christly souls are one in Him
Throughout the whole wide earth.

Author of In Christ there is no east or west

William A. Dun­ker­ley is the author of this hymn according to the Cyber Hymnal, other hymnals attribute authorship to John Oxenbaum.  Oxenbaum is one of Dunkerley’s pseudonyms.  So regardless of who it is attributed to, it’s the same person.  🙂

William A. Dun­ker­ley lived 1852-1941, an Englishman. 

Pondering Truth in a Hymn

Do you see it?  I know.. right now with people sequestering themselves away into homes and aways from fellowship with each other it might be hard to see.  BUT without Covid-19 interference, do you see that the church is one great fellowship of love?  We are all part of one body of believers, worshipping the same God.  Whether we are believers in China, Ghana, Europe, Australia or Canada.  One large body of believers. 

We are all gathered around Christ, he is our head, our connecting point.  So regardless of creed, nationality, or colour.  Let us remember that central truth.  We are all believers together. Let’s work together, proclaiming that Jesus is Lord!  Brothers and sisters, one and all, joined in faith. 

Lift up Your Hearts has brought me another wonderful song to share with you.  I love to tell the story can be an upbeat song or a quiet melody of praise remembering the truths we know. 

Lyrics

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Refrain

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

Refrain

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

Refrain

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

Refrain

History and Author

Did you know the words from this song come from an old poem called The Story Told?  That poem has some 42 verses, and I love to tell the story has only four so a lot was left out! 🙂   Katherine Hankey is the author.  This particular song comes from the second part of her poem, another song “Tell me the Old, Old Story” comes from the first part of her poem. 

Ms. Hankey was born in London, England in 1834.  Her dad was a wealthy banker.  Part of the “Clapham Sect” along with her father, Katherine wrote her poem during a lengthy illness. The first part is titled, The Story Wanted and was written in January, 1866. The second part, The Story Told, was written in the following November.

The Clapham Sect was a group of wealthy Christians who pushed for the abolition of slavery and promoted foreign and domestic mission work. 

Digging Deeper

Whenever I sing this song I do so with gutso.  I love the melody and the words are easy to remember.  In more serious moments it does cause me to question if I really do.  Do I love to tell the story of Christ, his love for me, and that message of salvation?  Too often I fear I don’t.  It’s just too easy to keep to my own way.   It’s a good reminder to actually push myself a bit.

For all the saints is another hymn from the Lift up Your hearts hymnal. I don’t recall singing this lovely hymn very often as I was growing up.  I’m trying to recall where I picked it up… perhaps in the Baptist church I attended for a while.  They had LOVELY hymn sings every month which were a whole lot of fun.  🙂

Lyrics

For all the saints,
Who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith
Before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus,
Be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock,
Their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain
In the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear,
Their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion,
Fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle,
They in glory shine;
All are one in Thee,
For all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife
Is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear
The distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave,
Again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

This Hymn has many stanzas, to see them all visit The Cyber Hymnal. 

History

Will­iam W. How is the author of For all the Saints.  He was the son of a lawyer and became an Anglican Priest.   He eventually became Bishop of Wakefield.  How was known as the ‘Poor Man’s” bishop.  Author of more than 50 hymns he is known to have said “A good hymn is something like a good prayer—simple, real, earnest, and reverent.” (source)

Thinking Deeper

Can you imagine writing a song with 11 stanzas?  What all would you say in such a song?  Author William How covers saints, evangelists, soldiers, apostles and martyrs. He not only shows the work they do, but the struggles they have. This reminder is given for all these hard-working folks: the King of glory is coming, a better day awaits.