Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-01
GENESIS OF a SONG.
HOW "IN THE SWEET BY AND BY"
CAME TO BE WRITTEN.
Its Author Tells an Interesting Story OF
Its Composition-within an Hour After
the idea Came Four Gentlemen Were
Singing the Song.

Singing the Song.
In Richmond, little town Of less
than 1000 inhabitants, almost on the
southern boundary line Of Illinois, lives
the author of "In the Sweet By and
By" He is practicing physician and
is under 60 years of age. The immortal
hymn was written when he was only 81
and is the single song of his life.
During the civil war wave of moral
elevation and intellectual activity pass
ed over the country. In this grand
awakening of the conscience there was a
food of music-martial, religious, do
mestic. George F. Root and Stephen j.
Foster were both writing songs that
lived, and Sunday school hymns passed
out of the driveling period into one of
elevated simplicity.
Just at this time Samuel Fillmore
Bennett was graduated from Ann Ar
Dor, Mich, and began newspaper ca
reer at Elkhorn, Wis, on The Independ-
ent J. P. Webster, the musical COM
poser, was living in the same town, and
il was only few months before the
editor and the musician were collaborat-
ing. The war interviewed, and Lieuten-
ant Bennett of the Fortieth Wisconsin
volunteers returned to Elkhorn TO open
o drug store and resume his verse writ
ing. He and Mrs. Webster began in
1867 to work on Sunday school song
book, called THE Signet Ring" which
was afterward published.
This period of his life is the most
precious of all his experiences to DR..
Bennett. Not long ago he told the whole
story to an interested group Of listeners,
his eyes filling with tears as he vindi-
Gated bis friend from calumnies:
Currency has been given to the
shameful story that Mr.. Webster was
drunk when he wrote the music, and
another account has it that we were both
drunk. l am thankful to do justice to
one of the noblest men that ever lived
"a fine, sensitive soul, with the true
artistic feeling. Again, it has been said
that we were both infdels, and the song
the ribald jest Of carGuse. AS to my
religion, that is my own affair, but the
hope and longing of every immortal soul
as expressed in that song were the faith
Of both Of us To both creation would
have seemed farce if infinite love and
immortality had not oyershadowed Us
and promised a life of bliss beyond the
grave.
"Mr. Webster, like many musicians,
was of an exceedingly nervous and SEN
sitive nature, and subject to fits of de-
preston. knew his peculiarities well,
and when I found him given up to blue
devils, 1 just gave him cheerful song
to work on. One morning he came into
the store and walked to the stove with
out speaking.
"'What's up now, Webster?' | asked.
"It's no matter. 1t will be all right
by and by.
"The idea of the hymn came to me
like flash of sunshine-'The Sweet By
and By. Everything will be all right
then. Why wouldn't that make good
hymn"
Maybe 1t would, he replied gloom
lily. Turning to the desk, wrote as
rapidly as I could. In less than half an
hour, l think, the song as it stands to-
day was written. Here it is:
"There's q land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare US a dwelling place there.
CHORUS.
'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 melodious songs Of the blest,
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
Not q sigh for the blessing Of rest.
"To' our bountiful Father above
We will offer the tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of his love
And the blessings that hallow our days.
"In the meantime two friends, II. II.
Carswell and S. L. Bright, had come
in. l handed the verses to Mr. Webster,
little tremulous with emotion. AS he
read it his eyes kindled. Stepping to
the desk, he began to jot down the
notes. He picked up his violin and
tried them. In ten minutes we four
gentlemen were singing that song. Mr..
R. R. Crosby came in, and with tears
in his eyes said, Gentlemen, that hymn
is immortal. We were all excited,
elated. Within two weeks the children
of the town were singing it on the
streets.
"In 1868 THE Signet Ring was pub
lished, the published distributing circu-
lars to advertise it and on the sheets
was The Sweet By and By. On the
strength of that one song nearly $50, 900
copies of the book were sold. The song
was afterward brought out in sheet mu-
sic, and it has been translated into a
number of foreign languages.
Webster, Crosby and Carswell are all
dead. S. L. Bright Of Fort Atkinson,
Wis, and myself are the only living
witnesses to the origin Of the song. y
Louisville Post.