Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-01-31
A FAMOUS HYMN.
"The Sweet By and By" Which
Millions Have Sung.

The writer of one immortal poem re-
verses the established axiom and
reaches the haven of ambition by a sim
gle bound. There have been golden
number thus signally fortunate. The
author of "Curfcw Shall Not Ring To-
night" scaled at one bound the steep
heights of Immortality. She who wrote
with pathetic pen the story of "A Sol
der of the Legion" inscribed her name
on the scroll of fame in letters of light.
The author of the BATTLE Hymn of the
Republic" will live with the nation,
and he who was inspired with patriotic
ardor to sing The Star Spangled Ban
ner" will be remembered 10y his words
while that banner continues to wave.
These are heroic poems struck to tri-
umphal or majestic notes. But there
is another poem which, like those Of
the sweet singer Of Israel, is nttuncd to
chords that live forever in the soul. OF
these are the songs, poems, hymns
they are all these and more-known in
the literature of song as Nearer, my
God, to Thee" and The Sweet by and
By" The first was written by wom-
an, the last by n man, and it is this
author the present paper concerns, and
the simple history of the words and
music that have been sung in every
quarter of the globe, in church, in con-
cert hall, ut home, by the dcathbed
and at the grave. Never can l forget
the sweet and comforting words us
first heard them sung on the occasion
of great calamity, whom many peo-
pie walked in the valley of the shadow
of death. II was n woman's voice
not that of n great singer, but one
who sent forth sympathetic notes from
an ovcrcharGcd heart. The song was
new then. AS her voice fell on the
silence that was broken only by the
walls of the mOurnerS, there fell upon
the group that peace of God which
passeth all understanding. She sang
every word in n distinct recitntivc and
the awful tension Of unavniling grief
was broken. There was n human need
of comfort; cvory ono wanted Il copy
of the words the music, and in less
than q week murmuring lips were
framed to sing:
"For the Father waits over the way
The tide of grief was diverted by the
wonderful inspirstion of the song.
S. Fillmore Bennett, the author Of
1.-The Sweet BY and By" lives in the
| town of Richmond, Ill. AT tho time of
| writing the poem, however, DIR. Ben
| nett was n resident of the village of
Elkhorn, Wis, and was engaged in the
| publication of sacred music. lie was
| associated with u musical composer
| who had fits of melancholy and dcpres-
sion. On one of these dark outlooks
he came into their place of business,
silent and detected.
"What is the matter now, Webster?''
asked his partner.
| ''Oh. nothing-it is Of no consequence
| it'll be all right by and by" answered
Mr.. Webster.
| Then" says DIR. Bennett, 1.-The idea
came to me like flash of sunlight, and
l responded instantly: The Sweet by
and By;' why wouldn't that be u good
subject for song@'
"'perhaps,' he answered, indiffcr
emily.
"But l was not to be discouraged.
turned to my dcsI, and wrote the orig
iual form of the poem:
"swEl.r BY ANu BY"
| "Thcrc's land that l., fair,r than day,
| And by faith We can see il afar
| For the Father waits over the way,
| To prepare US a dwelling place there
In the Sweet BY and by,
| We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the Sweet BY and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
ave shall sing on that beautiful Shore
The moodous songs of the blcst,
| And our spirits shall sorrow no moro
Not sigh for the blessing of rcsti
(Chorus)
"To our bouutiful Father above,
| We will offer the tribute of praise,
For the glorious gift of His love,
And the blessings that hallow our days
(Chorus)
when l had it completed l handet
it to Webster AS he read it he los
his inditfere nee and his face frightened
with enthusiasm. Then he asked
+ friend who had stepped in to hand hin
D his violin and he improvised the mel
ody. In few moments he had writ
ten out the notes for the four parts o
, the chorus, and in thirty minutes frou
| the time had tal'en my pen to writ
the words, four of us were singing tn
hymn. Within two weeks we heard tn
| children singing it on the streets"
There are only two of those who rs
] sisted Mt the birth of this inspirations
song who are now living-Dr. Bennet
and S. E. Bright, of Fort Atkinson
= Wis. These two have been man
times witnesses of its wonderful popu
larity, and every where the notes of it
plaintive music was to them as
breath of their native air.
This is the brief and simple story @
the inception of the song which wa
consistent with the life and sentiment
Of it's author, who, when an attack wa
| made ON his relipiOuS belief Thus fOl
= chilly and modestly defended himsel
and his friend:
"While l claim that every mans re
ligion is something sacred to his ow
soul, and something no man has RICH
AUG. J. SMITH,