The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-02-06
WHEN PEACE, LIAE A RIVER"
circumstances Under Which HF. Spar
ford Wrote the Hymn.
(Phil1IelDkia Press.)

1t Is Well with MY Soul was
written by II. G. Spatford, and The
popular tune to which it is always
sung is one Of ?. P. Bliss best CON-
positions.
Mr.. Spafford was member or the
Chicago bar and an elder of the
Presbyterian church.
He has been successful in his pro-
fession, but had made some unfor-
tunate investments, and when the
financial panic of 1873 seriously dis
turbed the business of the country
Mr.. Stafford 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 to 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 child
rem took passage On the French liner
Vile du Havre, and the story of
that voyage is one OF the most ap-
calling Of the many calamities Of the
sea.
When in mid-ocean and in the
blackness of a November night in
1873 the steamship collided with the
Glasgow clipper Loeb Earn and in
twelve minutes the former went
down, carrying to death 230 souls,
and among them were Mr.. Spaford's
four daughters.
Mrs. Spafford sank with the YES
sci, but foated again, and was final
ly rescued.
The saved We're taken to Havre,
and from that city she sent a mes
sage to her husband in Chicago:
Saved, but saved alone. What
shall | do?"
This message Of feaful import
Sufficient to drive reason from her
thorne"-was the first notice Mr..
Spafford 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..
Spafford did not chant a dirge to i'm
possible hope.
When he reflected that his prop
erty was lost in distractions waste,
that his wife was painfully prostrat-
ed, and that his four children were
buried in the dark waves of the sea,
there came from his heart of hearts
song of trust and resignation that
has many times encircled the globe:
when peace, like river, attendeth
my way,
When sorrows, like sea pillows roll:
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught
me to say,
1t is well, it is well with my SOUL"
When Mr.. Spafford returned from
Havre with his invalid wife he said
to his friends:
Il never felt more like trusting
God than do now
Spafford's hymn Of resignation,
with it's 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.
Sunday evening a service of song
was given in one Of our large city
churches at which the story of ct Is
Well With Ny Soul was told, and
the lines sung with great tenderness
of expression by the audience and
choir.
Attending the service,wasa gentle
man who had suffered financial re-
verses in the panic Of 1893.
When he heard the story Of Spaf
ford's heavy affection and Joined in
singing the hymn SO pathetically in
spired, he said to his wife on his re-
turn home from from the service:
Il will never again complain Of my
lot.
IF Spafford could write such a
beautiful resignation hymn when he
had lost all his children, and every
thing else save his wife and charac-
ter, ought surelyto be thankful
that my losses havebeen so light"
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