Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-28
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT 4
FAMOUS HYMN.
The Author Is an Illinoisan-Story OF
the Sacred Songs Inception.

tion of sacred music. He was associated
with a musical composer who had fits OF
melancholy and depression. 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 Dr. Bennett. 'the idea
came to me like a flash of sunlight, and
responded instantly: The Sweet By
and By;' why wouldn't that be a good
subject for song?"
perhaps" he answered, indifferently.
''But was not to be discouraged l
turned to my desk and wrote the original
form of the poem.
''swEET BY-AND-BY."
"Theres land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way.
Toprepa,e us q dwelling pl.ce there.
SIN the Sweet By-and-By,
We shall meet on that Beautiful Shore
In lac Sweet By-and-By,
We shall meet ON that Beautiful Shore.
1--WE shall sing on that Beautiful Shore,
The melodiOus songs OF the blest,
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
Not sigh for the blessing Of rest
tChorus.)
ITO the Bountful Father above,
We will offer the tribute of praise,
For tho plO ions off of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days,
(Chorus)
"When had it completed / handed it
to Webster. As he read it he lost his
Indifference and his face frightened with
enthusiasm. Then he asked friend who
had stepped in to hand him his violin
and he improvised the melody. In a
few moments he had written out the
notes for the four parts of the chorus,
and in thirty minutes from the time had
taken my pen to write the words, four of
us were singing the hymn. Within two
weeks we heard the children singing it on
the streets"
There are only two of those who as
sisted at the birth of this inspirational
song who are now living-Dr. Bennett
and S. E. Bright of Fort Atkinson, Wis
These two have been many times wit
nesses of its wonderful popularity, and
everywhere the notes of its plaintive
music was to them as q breath of Their
native air.
This is the brief and simple story Of
the inception of the song which was con
sistent with the life and sentiments of its
author, who, when an attack was made
on his religious belief, thus forcibly
and modestly defended himself and his
| friend:
"When claim that every mans relig-
ion is something sacred to his own soul
and something no man has right tC
personally question, feel compelled tt
say that the hope and longing of every
immortal soul, as expressed in Th'
Sweet By-andBy,' was not to us &
painted lie, but the firm conviction and
faith of both of us, and to both creation
would have seemed farce unless associated
with belief in Supreme Being of inf
mite love, and an immortal existence fo
man beyond the grave.
DIR. Bennett, in very interesting pri-
vate letter, says: a.
"When boy my dream was to devote
my life to my pen, but an education wa
the first object, hard thing for one t
gain unaided. Before knew enough t
teach began teaching was about Is
and sensitive as a girl. My book qualifi
cations were meager | had plenty o
pupils much older than myself. | haC
never looked in the algebra--to study it
Gould teach algebra?' came the ques
ton from these %, yes But let III
wait week before we organize class.
That night | walked eight miles to thu
nearest village and bought an algebra
Thereafter o'clock of the winter morn
ings, | was at the lonely schoolhous
studying algebra by the light of 'tallov
dip, kerosene not having been invented
| took my class through the book-anC
they never knew the secret. That i
about the way have worked all my life
When was younger | desired to publish
volume of poems, but never had tn
money to do it. Thus | escaped thu
critics and probably conserved my repu
tation.
"You inquire about The Sweet B.
and By As to how it was born.
only know the externals, as given here
with. There are phases of the life o
the soul that are profoundly, sweet
real, but unsecn-lke the scent of rose
We may watch the unfolding of rose
bud, but we cannot know-not yet-th
primal fact behind the visible miracl
nor the alchemy OF God that works i
the fact. have often been drawn fror
bed by dear demon who cried, Write
Writev haye--on one OCCASION
written nine hymns In single night
but never came anything to me just d
did sweet By-and By" Yes, | hay
heard il sung In many places aud undo
many circumstances but s0meway
under no circumstances that were inap
propriate, II olienest gives comfort d
the grave. IL Is the funeral hymn ,
Free Masonry the higher orders &
America have received many i lctte
from ihe mourning that made NY heal
yoy tondor and humble Well Oh
universal heart of humanity loves
think I'd and sing pl 4 aWat blessed rl
union with lhos0 Nhu have hli dnN
tbe hurlgn ni mf.h l.ie bother n ga
demonstrate "a Ur nat e Is AWVHm
Aha .U.lI h. ana fEu. IL Ha ufIW4E iuu.