The Washington herald., 1910-02-27

which was soon forgotten in the din
OF war, and # was largely chance
which brought IT 10 light again in
the hymn by P. P Bliss.
The flag that was used by Mr..
Frankenberry 10 signal the message
was In his possession until a few
years ago. when he turned il over 20
Cen Stewart, at the capitol at Hsr
risburg. who IS in charge of he
pennsylvania war relics. and II IS
now preserved in q special case I'm
company with the tattered battle
flags carried by the soldiers of
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. ]. P. Bliss wrote the words
and music of Hold the Fort" In
1871. and in less than year II was
the song Of millions and is consid-
cred TO have led more persons to
God than any other song. 1t was
in many instances an inspiration to
religious fervor. The fioodtide OF
its popularity began across the sea
when Moody and Sankey stirred
Great Britain with their Gospel
meetings.
Upon one occasion Mr.. Bliss said
to Mr. Sankey: Il have written bet
ter songs than Hold the Fort. and
l hope 1 shall not be known TO the
world only as the author OF that
hymn" There is nothing particu-
larly meritorious in either the
words or music, but It possesses
an '1ndefinable something" that has
made ii more popular than anything
else written or composed by Bliss.
And 1t was a strange irony OF fate
that when a large monument was
reared to his memory at the Mace
of his birth, there was inscribed
thereon in bold letters the living
and inspiring motto: Hold the
Fort"
Mr.. Bliss was born in Clearfeld
County. Pa. on July S. 1888. and
died near Ashtabula, Ohio. on De-
cember %, 1876. For many wears
he was known all over the country
as the Singing evangelist" His
early life was passed in the wilds
OF Pennsylvania and Ohio. and his
education was of the most rudimen-
tary description, which at first was
only cultivated by listening to his
father singing hymns. When about
ten years old he for the first time
heard a piano. and was unable 10
resist the temptation that lured him
through the open door and into the
room. He stood spelIbound until the
music ceased and the player. becom-
ing aware Of his presence. bare
rooted and In rags, harshlv ordered
him away. Until 1855 he worked on
farm and at wood cutting, but so
faithfully improved his occasional
opportunities for study that by 1856
he had obtained enough education
to teach a school in New York
State.
During the twelve years begin
ming with 1854, he wrote the songs
that have made him famous. In
1865 he formal business partner
ship with a Chicago firm and held
musical conventions and gave CON
certs throughout the Northwestern
States. His fame as a singing
evangelist" did not spread beyond
the localities whittier his engage
ments led him, until a chance meet
ing with D. 7. Moody, the famous
revivalist leader. brought asout a
warm friendship between the two.
and results in his self-consccraion
to missionary labors that carried
the singer and his songs all over
the world.
His singing. though not scien-
tif1c, according TO classical stand
ards, appealed strongly to the
hearts of the multitudes. Besides
Hold the Fort" leading among his
compositions of a similar character
are: Down Life's Dark Vale We
Wander" "Hallelujah! It's Doner
Jesus Loves Me-" and Pull for the
Shore, SaIlorl''
he Press Company