The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-13
WHEN PEACE, LIKE A RIVER"
Circumstances Under Which Mr.
Spsfford Wrote the Hymn.
(Philadelphia Press.)

tEAli3Qclpuld 1ICoo-J
at Is Wei With My Soul" was writ
ten by II. C. Spafford. and the popular
tune TO which il is always sung Is one
OF p. p. Bliss best compositions
Mr.. Spafford was a member or the
Chicago bar and an elder Of the Pres
Dyterian church.
He had been successful in his profess
sion. but had made some unfortunate
Investments. and when the financial
panic of 1873 seriously disturbed the
business Of the country. Mr.. Spanord
found that his savings OF many years
had been swept away.
The members OF his family were
Frustrated by this disastrous turn IN
their affairs, and he acceded 10 the
wish of helpful friends that they
should visit Europe and thus be re-
moved for some time from scenes OF
his financial ruin.
Mrs. Spafford and her four children
took passage on the French liner Viile
du Havre. and the story OF that voy-
age is one of the most appalling OF the
many calamities OF the sea.
When In mid-ocean and in the black
ness OF a November night, in 1873. the
steamship coIlided with the Glasgow
clipper Lock Earn, and in twelve min
I
to death go souls. and among them
were Mr.. Spafford's four daughters.
Mrs. Spafford sank with the vessel,
but fioated again and was finally res
cued.
The saved were taken to Havre, and
| from that city she sent message TO
her husband in Chicago:
Saved, but saved alone. What shall
1 do?"
This message of fearful import
sufficient 10 drive reason from her
throne"-was the firtit notice Mr.. Spaf-
/ ford had that his dear ones were not
as happy as when he parted with them
a few days before In New York.
| In his unutterable sorrow Mr.. Spaf-
ford did not chant dirge to impossible
hope.
When he reflected that his property
was lost in distinctions waste. that
his wife was painfully Frustrated and
that his four children were buried in
the dark waves OF the sea, there came
| from his heart of hearts a song of trust
and resi- nation that has many times
encireled the globe:
When peace. like a river. attendeth my
way.
When sorrows like sea pillows roll;
! Whatever my lot thou hast taught
me to say,
IL is well, il is well with my soul.
When Mr.. Spafford returned from
Havre with his invalid wife, he said
| 10 his friends
Il never felt more like trusting God
than / do now"
| Spafford's hymn of resignation, with
its fine musical setting by the lamented
Bliss. is one OF the most helpful Of the
many gospel songs written during the
past quarter of a century.
One Sunday evening service OF song
was given in one of our large city
churches at which the story of 1T is
| Wen with My Soul was told and the
lines sung with great tenderness OF ex-
preston by the audience and choir
Attending the service was gentle
man who had suffered financial re-
verses in the panic of 1898,
When he heard the story of Spaf-
ford's heavy affiiction, and Joined in
singing the hymn so pathetically in
spired. he said to his wife on his return
home from the service:
II will never again complain of my
lot.
IF Spafford could write such beau
tiful resignation hymn when he had
lost all his children. and everything
else, save his wife and character,
ought surely to be thankful that my
losses have been so light.