The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-10-06
SWEET BY AND BIZ.
A TRUE HISTORY OF THIS EAvoRITE HYMN
BY MR DENNETr, ITS AUTHOR.

A short time since the CnlcdSO DauS
News published an interview between
one OF its reporters and myself relative tc
the origin and history of the Sweet BY
and By" This article has been copied
by various papers in the United States
It is 50 full of inaccuracies that | fee
compelled to take this public method o.
giving the history Of the gong, never be
fore written by ne, or any other person
properly authorized, no far as know
The News article contains more inaocu
racies in the same space than | ever saH
before. Dates were wrong, names were
wrong, . part was imaginative, and even
the words OF the hymn were misquoted
Many newspapers have published only
part Of the News article, altered SO as tc
make it appear like editorial matter. In
some of these currency is given to the
shameful story that Mr.. Webster was
drunk when he wrote the music, and one
excerpt sent me from Massachusetts has
it that we were both daunk. 1t pains me
to mention this mattcr, and to any rea-
sonabIe person tho history OF the origin
of the hymn here given should be suffi.
cient answer to the charge. But L am
thankful that | live to do justice to the
memory of man 1 lored-one of the
noblost men that ever lived, one of the
finest and purest natures l ever met.
And here put on record for this and
future generations the solemn and earn
est sseertion that the charge Of being
I drunk IL . false and shameful SANDER
upon the noble dead. And were the re-
port true, would it not have been more
generous in the public press to have
thrown the mantle of mercy over the
dead masters memory by remaining 81
lenti Fortunately one more living wit
ners rcnlsins, to whom tho curious have
permission to refer-R. r. Crosby, Rich
mond, keH.nry County, Ill.
Again. Mr.. Webster and myself are
claimed 10 be "Atheists" and "Infidels'
by sorso of the papers sent me. While
cisin that every mans religion is some
| thing sscre6 10 his own soul, and some
| thing no Other nan has right to per-
sonslly question. 1 feel compelled to
SAY that the hope and the longing Of
every immortal sonl, as expressed in the
Sweet BY sed By" WAS not to us a
painted lie," bat the firm conviction
and faith of both OF rs, and to both Gre
alton would have seemed farce unless
associated ~tttI . belief III supreme Be-
i1sx Of infinite love, and On immortal ex-
issence for m.n beyond the grave. l
shall feel greatly obliged if the papers
that hs~e republished that article will al
90 publish this correction.
In the yer 1861 became resident of
the vilAse of Elkhorn, Wis, the home of
tAe composer, J. P. Webster, and short
!. After becnme associated with him in
the production Of sheet music (songs)
snA other musical works. In the sum-
ner OF iAll OF the year 1867 We commenc-
ed xork on "The Sianst Ring," a new
Sabbath school boob; afterwards publish
ed by Hessrs. Lyon L H.aly, Chicago.
The ''Swaet BY end By" was one OF the
songs wriXea for that work.
Mr.. Eehaker, like many musicians,
was OF sn exceedingly nervous and sensi-
tive nsturs sud subject to periods OF de
preston, in which he looked upon the
dark side d oil things in life. l had
learned his peculiarities so we'll that on
meeting him could tell at glance if he
wss in enc OF his melancholy moods, and
had fosrd that I could rouse him from
them b, swing him new song or hymn
to vorA on On S1ch an occasion ht
rane into my place of business, and,
walking 70 the stoys, Turned bis back to
ne ~ithort speaking. I was at my desk
writing. Presently l turned to him and
said:
"Tsbstc-, what 10 the matter pov?"
at il no natter" he replied, sit will
ic all right by and BY"
Ths Idea OF tho hymn came 10 me like a
fash o, sunlight. and 1 replied: The
Sweet By and By Why would not that
make = good hymn?"
Maybe it would" said he indiHtr-
emily.
Turning 70 the dssk I penned the fol
loving vords - fast ~ / could write
Sweet By and By
In the nssntine two friends, n. Fl.
C.~vsn snd 8. z. Bright. had come in.
L handed me hymn 10 Mr.. Webster. As
he reed it his eye iindlsd, and his whole
&sssssnsr changed. Stepping to the desk
he began writing the nosss in q moment.
Presently he requested Mr.. Bright to
hand him his violin. and he played the
melody. In few noEsnts more he had
the rotse for ths four psris of the chorus
jot$~d down. I think it wss not over 80
minutes frona NE tims took my pen to
vria Shs words, before the two gentle
s,sn before named. myself aud Mr.. Webs
tsr, vsec singing the hymn, in the same
form in which it Afterxsrd appeared in
he "Sisnss Ring" While singing it,
Mr. 3. r. Crosby, now resident OF
Richmond, ILL.,, came in, and, after lis
tening awhils with tears in his eyes, ut
mortal" I think it YES sung in public
ahc-tlv after, FOR within two weeks al
mcss every child on the streets WIS sing
ing it.
TIE ''Sveet Fv end BY" wss publish
|; ad u III, "Siguet Rins" in 1896. Th'
= 27hl;ssc-s o' ths book E5easrs. Lyon 4
: HeeAy, Chicago, heTalde6 its advent B,
: : e-i2t-1octing very large number of CIR