The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-09
A FAMOUS HYMN.
"Tho Sweet By and By" Which
Millions Have Sung.

VERSUS INC cStaollSheu axiom and
reaches the haven of ambition by a sin.
gle bound. There have been Il golden
number thus signally fortunate. The
author of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To.
night scaled at ono 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 aathor of the "Battlc Hymn of the
Republic will live with the nation,
and he who was inspired with patriotic
ardor to sing ''Thc Star Spanglcd Ban
ner" will be remembered by 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 attuncd to
chords that live forever in the soul OF
these arc the songs, poems, hymns
thcy arc all these and morc-known in
the literature of song as Nearer, nv
God, to Thee" and THE Sweet Nv and
By" The first was written by n wom-
an, the last by q 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
I'''A W WI lilt y ibUt, III CUuGc.l, Ill con-
cert hall, mt homo, by the dcathbcd
and ut the grave. Never can | forget
the sweet and comforting words as I
first heard them sung on the occasion
of great calamity, when many poo
pie walked in the valley of the shadow
OF death. 1t was II womans voice
not that of Il great singer, but ono
who sent forth sympathetic notes from
q J. hf...
new then. AS her voice fell on the
silence that was broken only by the
walls of the mourncrs, there fell upon
the group that peace of God which
passeth all understanding She sang
every word in distinct rccitativc and
the awful tension of unavailing grief
was broken. There was human need
of comfort; every one wanted a COPY
of the words, the music, and in less
than week murmuring lips were
framed to sing:
i For tho Father waits over the way"
The tide of grief was diverted by the
wonderful inspiration of the song.
5. Fillmore bennett, the author of
"The Sweet by and BY" lives in the
town of Richmond, ILL., Al the time of
writing the poem, however, Dir. Ben
EllIhorn, Wis, and was engaged in the
1 publication of sacred music. lie was
associated with a musical composer
who had fits of melancholy and dcpres.
sion. On ono of these dark outloolls
he came into their place of business,
4 silent and detected
What is the matter now, Wcbste,c''
4 asked his partner.
Il t'Oh moi ,r--it &c OF no
it'll be all right by and by" answered
Mr.. Webster.
Then" says DR.. Bennett, 'the idea
came to me like Il flash of sunlight, and
responded instantly: The Sweet BY
B and BY; why wouldn't that be good
subject for u so-.gp'
4 'Perhaps,' he answered, indiffcr-
! emily.
but l was not to be discouraged.
] turned to my desk and wrote the orig.
4 inal form of the poem:
SWEET BY AND By"
" There's q land that is farer than day,
81 And by fai III we can see it afar,
For The Father waits over the way,
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
d " In the Sweet BY and BY,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the Sweet BY and BY,
Il We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
a we Shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodous songs OF the blest
II And our spirits shall sorrow more
u Not sigh for the blessing OF restl
(ChoruS)
Il ITO our bountful Father above,
s. We will offer the tribute of praise,
a For the glorious gift OF His love-
q And the blessings that hallow our DAYS
81 (Chorus)
q "When had it completed 1 handed
Iii to Webster. AS he read it he lost
sahis indifference and his face frightened
with enthusiasm. Then he asked q
8$Sfriend who had stepped in to hand him
5%his violin and he improvised the mel
yPdy. In few moments he had writ
Zen out the notes for the four parts of
he chorus, and in thirty minutes from
s he time had taken my pen to write
A1hc words, four of us were singing the
5Hlymn. Within two weeks we heard the
afhldren singing it on the streets"
81 There are only two of those who as
sisted at the birth of this inspirational
Song who are now living-Dr. Bennett
3and S. T.. Bright, of Fort Atkinson,
|FVis. These two have been many
Mines witnesses Of its wonderful popu-
3arity, and everywhere the notes of its
Alainlive music was to them as O.
Breath OF their native air.
s. This is The brief and simple story of
5dhc inception OF the song which was
81 consistent with the life and sentiments
3}f its author, who, when an attack was
hade on his religious belief, thus for
.8ibly and modcstly defended himself
y nd his friend: