The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-03
"NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE"
Something About Its Author and the
Way 1t Came to Be Written.

Nearer. my GO0. 10 lnee.
Nearer to Thee.
Fen though il be cross
That raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer. NV God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
The whole world knows that Presi-
dent McKinley's lips framed these
words as he lay dying in the upper
room Of John G. Milburn's house in
Buffalo But in the world how many
know aught, of the author of those
words of solace? Perhaps no hymn
since the publication of Perronet's
"All Hail the Power of Jesus Name. >
in 17S5. has received so wide popu-
larity as tina. whose first verse heads
this story. 1t finds a place in all col
lections of hymns in the English
tongue. and is a favorite alike in
Trinitarian and Unitarian churches.
1t has been translated into many Ian
guages and has followed the triumph
of the gospel in heather lands.
1t is said to be the best metrical
expression of the desire for a more
intimate spiritual acquaintance with
God and the riches of His grace in
modern psalmody. It is a fresh and
touching expression of the same yearn
ing aspirations toward God that is
shown in Cowper's "Oh. for a Closer
Walk With God" which it succeeded
in popular favor. Nearer My God.
to Thee" expresses a willingness to
know God through the discipline of
affliction ITO descend into the valleys
IN the ascent of that spiritual noun
tain whose summit is everlasting light.
It's imagery embraces the associa-
tons of one Of the most sublime and
interesting religious experiences re-
corded in the early Hebrew scriptures
Jacobs vision at Luz. And he
lighted upon a certain place" says the
scripture of Jacobs wanderings. "and
tarried there all night because the
sun was set: and he took of the stones
of that place and put them for his
pillows, and lay down in that place to
sleep And he dreamed and, behold
there was a ladder set up on the
earth. and the top OF il reached hea-
ven; and. behold. the angels of God
ascending and descending on it, The
hymn almost literally reproduees the
passage.
Tx clAAHtQtAt 4(NO1&kk 0k tlAC y al
derings OF Jacob on the morning after
the vision is wildly brought forth in
the figures used in the fourth stanza
OF the hymn:
Then with my waking thoughts.
Bright with Thy praise.
Out of nv stony griefs,
Bethel I'll raise.
So hy nv woes TO he
Nearer. nv God. to Thee.
Nearer 10 Thee.
wrote the hymn. was the younger OF
two daughters OF BENJAMIN Flower.
an English editor and writer. She
was born ir 1905 Her mother. lady /
Of much refinement and culture. deli
cate in feeling and sentiment. died in /
early life. Her elder sisters name was /
Eliza. The strongest attachment ex-
Isted between the two sisters: both 4
the sne feelings OF their /
mother. and we're very fond of books. /
music poetry and art Their esthetic /
tastes revealed themselves in child I
hood. and glrlhood to them was a
glowing season OF aspiration and ex-
pectancy- Eliza turned her attention I
10 music and religious poetry They /
were unitarian In their church Fela-
ions but their piety was gagged By
devotional feelings and high religious /
lgtainments. rather than den0mina
ionai requirements or any sect4rian
riews.
The hymn. Nearer. nv God. TO
Thee was record OF Sarah's own 1
'elIgious experiences and was written