The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-03
A FAMOUS HYMN.
"The Sweet BY and By" Which
Millions Have Sung.

The writsr of one immortal poem re-
serses the established axiom and
reaches the haven of ambition by sim
gle bound. There have been a golden
number thus signally fortunate. The
author OF "Curfew 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
GFdor to sing 'The Star Spangled 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 attuned to
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 q wom-
an, the last by 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, at home, by the deathbed
and at the grave. Never can l forget
the sweet and comforting words as l
first heard them sung on the occasion
of great calamity, when many peo-
pie walked in the valley of the shadow
of death. 1t was woman's voice
not that OF great singer, but one
who sent forth sympathetic notes from
an overcharged 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 understan ding. She sang
every word in distinct recitative 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:
For the Father waits over the way"
The tide CT grief was diverted by the
wonderful inspiration Of the song.
S. Fillmore Bennett, the author of
1.-THE Sweet BY and By" lives in the
town of Richmond, ILL., At the time of
writing the poem, however, DR.. Ben
nett was resident of the village of
Elkhorn, Wis, and was engaged III the
publication of sacred music. He was
associated with musical composer
who had fits of melancholy and deprcs-
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 DR.. Bennett, "the idea
came to me like flash OF sunlight and
responded instantly: The Sweet By
and By why wouldn't that be good
subject for song?'
Perhaps he answered, indifer-
emily.
But l was not 10 be discouraged. I
turned 70 my desk and wrote the orig
inal form or tine poem:
"swEEr By AND Br.-
"There's land that IS taircr than day,
And by faith We can see it sfAr,
OF le alheS ',.1- 2se- "a, ne. az
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IN The Sweet By ard s..
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