Music for Our Souls - C. Austin Miles - "In the Garden"

A few days ago, my husband Jeff asked me if I ever sing "I come to the garden alone. . ." while I'm out in our garden, toiling away at tilling and tending.

My answer, "Yes, absolutely."

"In the Garden" has been a hymn favorite for generations. A song popularized especially for how it's often been sung during funerals and at Easter services, harkens back to the story of Mary Magdalene coming to the garden tomb to mourn her Savior. And then! She hears His voice, and He reveals Himself to her first. Our risen Lord! Oh, what sweet swells that scene conjures in our breasts!

C. Austin Miles must have visualized it well as he penned the lyrics, for according to his great-granddaughter, the verses were penned in a New Jersey basement, where not even a window allowed the daylight in, much less a garden view.

Image by wirestock on Freepik

But who was C. Austin Miles, and what inspired him to write such a beautiful, timeless hymn?

Charles Austin Miles (January 7, 1868-March 10, 1946) studied at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of Pennsylvania. However, in 1892, he gave up his career to purse the writing of Gospel songs. His first Gospel song, "List! ’Tis Jesus’ Voice", was published by the Hall-Mack Company, where he later became editor and manager of the music publishing company for 37 years.

He is quoted as saying, "It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire."

I love that! Writers of fiction drawn from a Christian world view are prone to questioning whether or not their work serves any larger purpose. We sometimes even feel like it's a guilty pleasure (even though there are days we want to pull our hair out over a plotting or character development issue). Yet, we feel God's pleasure when we write the things that are pleasing to Him. This is how Mr. Miles must have felt, to believe so strongly in his calling. He wrote 398 songs in his lifetime, and he wrote the music to at least eight others. In the Garden was the result of personal quiet time spent with God.

A hobby of Miles' was photography, and he created a darkroom for developing film in his New Jersey basement. With the ability to see well enough to read his Bible in the red lighting of the darkroom, he would often spend the time awaiting his developing process to finish by reading his Bible. Sometimes he purposely read with the desire of creating worshipful songs from Scripture.

I confess that I have often read my Bible with an eye to themes that resonate in stories I want to write. Now and then, God places one directly into my heart.

It was on a day in 1912, while reading in his darkroom, that Miles opened his Bible to John, chapter 20, and read again the story of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb of Jesus. Discovering he was no longer there, her heart sank, for she feared his body had been stolen. Then she heard his voice behind her. When she thought it was the gardener speaking, He said her name. "Mary."

Have you ever heard the Lord speaking your name to your heart? Calling your attention to him?

I think that maybe that's what happened to C. Austin Miles at that moment. So touched by the thought of what had happened, he didn't need a garden outside his window to imagine it.

Miles' recalled how he gripped his Bible, his muscles vibrating with the urgency to write the lyrics to the poem, thinking, This is not an experience limited to a happening almost 2,000 years ago. It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian's life.

Later, Miles said that the lyrics came quickly. That evening he composed them for a musical setting that became the song we love today.

Do you go to the garden alone to hear the voice of Jesus?

The Garden of Gethsemane at Jerusalem (Deposit Photos)

In the Garden

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

Refrain

Sing along:

Discover more hymn history on Cindy Ervin Huff's recent post telling the story of Just As I Am. 

Music For Our Souls - Carl Boberg - "How Great Thou Art"

In springtime, it's hard not to admire the many shades of green blanketing the countryside, smell the blossoms bursting on the fruit trees, listen to the gobble of a turkey on the hills, or welcome the chorus of peepers on a pond, and not to wonder at the glory of God and all He has created for us to enjoy.

Sometimes there are no words. We can only try to imagine what that new earth will appear like, void of sin's deteriorating effects, when God comes to dwell with us, and all things are new. Yet, while we are here, we can also not help to be in awe at the miraculous majesty already surrounding us.

That's how Swedish lay minister Carl Broberg must have felt on his walk home from church, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in 1885, as he enjoyed the blue sky and warm sunshine, the birdsong lifting his spirit, and peace filling his soul. Then, in the distance a thunderhead appeared. With staggering swiftness, the day changed. The sky darkened as thunder rolled and cracked, lightning flashed wildly, and winds buffeted the trees. Within moments of the previous tranquility, a storm lashed the countryside. 

Carl wasn't frightened but gripped in awe at the mightiness of God's sudden display. Just as quickly, the storm ceased, and blue skies returned. The winds calmed, and the birds sang. Once again, Carl Broberg was mesmerized at God's power.

Like us, when we have those moments of awed, holy reverence, Carl wished to find the words to express what he saw and felt. That evening he penned a poem:

O (Thou) great God! When I the world consider

Which Thou has made by Thine almighty Word;

And how the web of life Thy wisdom guideth,

And all creation feedeth at Thy board:

Then doth my soul burst forth in song of praise:

O (Thou) great God! O (Thou) great God!

Carl wrote nine verses to his poem titled in Swedish O STORE GUD. But that is only the beginning of the journey of this great hymn which has since been a favorite for generations. As the poem made it's way to places around the world, stanzas were added or taken away. Tempo was change. Here and there a word replaced.

In 1891, when Boberg was editor of the periodical Sanningsvittnet (“Witness of the Truth”), he published his poem again, this time to the tune of an old Swedish folk melody. Some say he wrote the poem with this tune in mind, others say he was inspired to use it when he first heard a congregation singing the lyrics to that tune. Either way, the song and tune became inseparable.

There were two English translations made. One by Stuart Hine, a British missionary in Ukraine. After learning the Russian version, he transcribed it to English, and produced the poem in a booklet of Russian Melodies and Hymns of Other Lands.

The other English translation, by E. Gustav Johnson, was published 1925 in The Children’s Friend, a periodical produced by The Swedish Christian Orphanage in Cromwell, Connecticut. His text and the Swedish melody were then published together in The Covenant Hymnal. It is Johnson's version that's considered to be a more faithful English rendition of the original Swedish text than the version we sing today. 

It wasn't until April, 1954, when Baptist minister, Dr. J. Edwin Orr, professor of missions and founding board member of Campus Crusade for Christ, introduced the song to publishers in the United States. Then the hymn moved forward and changed once again. Orr had learned the song in India as it was being sung by tribespeople. He introduced it at the Forest Home Christian Conference Center in southern California where it was arranged as broadsheets by Gospel Light publications. That arrangement didn't survive. However, one of those sheets were carried home by the son and daughter of Christian music writer and publisher Tim Spencer. Spencer had found fame while singing with Sons of the Pioneers, along with Bob Nolan and Roy Rogers. Spencer contacted Stuart Hine and was given copyright to the music under Manna Music, Inc. The hymn changed again, this time to the version we most commonly know, and it was published in 1955.

Two years later, in 1957, it rose to even greater popularity when George Beverly Shay sang it at the Billy Graham Crusades at Madison Square Garden. It went on to be considered by many as the biggest song in Christendom, even being sung by Elvis.

That is the SHORT version of how we came to know and love this hymn. 

Imagine hearing the majesty of this song, sung in this arena:

George Beverly Shay singing "How Great Thou Art"

Carl Broberg, born in 1859, passed into God's glorious presence in 1950. He could not have known on that day he strolled home from church, with thoughts of praise and wonderment toward God, how the poem he then wrote would one day influence millions. It will be interesting to meet him and talk together about his work in Heaven some fine day.

If you are enjoying these histories of famous hymns and their writers, don't miss 

Cindy Ervin Huff's recent post: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee 

__________________________

I enjoyed writing about art, beauty, and the very diversity in God's creation when I wrote Paint Me Althena, the story of an artist who's lost her way. Because we are made in God's image, we love also to create.

Ava Day buried love and walked away, but could her crooked path lead home, or has the time for second chances slipped away?

Learn more at Amazon or NaomiMusch.com

The inspiration behind the iconic hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Once again, I’m featuring a beloved hymn and the history behind it. If you missed my last story you can find it here. Naomi Musch has been sharing some wonderful hymn stories too. Her last one is here. 

Today I’m focusing on “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” This song is easy to identify if you love classical music because the music is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Hymn writers often borrow familiar tunes to accompany their lyrics.

Henry van Dyke jr.

Henry van Dyke Jr was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852. During his life, he was a prominent Presbyterian minister and leading liturgy figures in the country.  He also served as a professor of literature at Princeton from 1900-1923.  He interrupted his professorship when he served as a Navy Chaplain during the First World War. Then President Woodrow Wilson appointed him ambassador to Belgium and Luxenberg in 1913. After which he resumed his post at Princeton, finding it more to his liking than diplomacy. He was a prolific writer of devotionals along with hymn lyrics and short stories. One of his more memorable short stories was The Other Wise Man (1896) This was a Christmas story of another wiseman who used his gift to help the needy as he journeyed to Bethlehem.

Henry’s best-known hymn is “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” He is quoted as saying his purpose for writing this iconic hymn and others:

“These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time, hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thoughts of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on the earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, these are hymns of trust and hope.”  Quote taken from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck

“Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee” illustrates a joyful interplay between God’s creation and the same creative spirit in the believer’s life. Each verse paints a vivid picture of how God created the world and the believer’s response to His glory and majesty.

Inspiration for the hymn

Henry wrote this hymn when he was a guest preacher at William College, Williamstown Massachusetts. He handed the finished lyrics to the college president saying “Here is a hymn for you. Your Berkshire mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to music of Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy.” It was first published in van Dyke’s Book of Poems, third edition in 1911.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

 Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy” which is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was composed somewhere between 1817-1823 and published in 1823. Beethoven never wrote a tune specifically for a hymn text. However, some of his works have been the musical accompaniment to hymns.

The Ninth or the “Choral” symphony was the last and perhaps greatest piece he ever wrote. It took six years to complete the entire symphony. His desire was to create one great symphony that would combine both voice and instruments in one majestic expression of sound. His poet friend Frederick Schiller inspired the work with his poem Ode to Joy.

The musical world was and still is amazed at how wonderful this piece was since Beethoven hearing declined toward deafness by the time he was thirty. There is a debate as to whether Beethoven was totally deaf or only had severe hearing loss at the time he wrote this final symphony. When the Ninth Symphony was first performed in Vienna, Austria, in 1824, the soloist had to come down from the stage and turn Beethoven around from his position facing the stage so he could see all the enthusiastic applause. The joy in the music truly complements the lyrics Henry van Dyke was inspired to write.

 

Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

2. All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!

3. Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

4.Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Listen for yourself

Here is a link to a YouTube video.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-iba-3&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-3&hspart=iba&p=performance+of+joyful+joyful+we+adore+thee+youtube&type=smff_10230_FFW_ZZ#id=3&vid=083ff3b4a1ac5c1bdf3fbbfa7d1ec030&action=view

Have you ever heard this hymn before? How does it inspire you?

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

Cherishing Her Heart

After being falsely imprisoned in an asylum, Susan escapes and assumes the identity to a simple valet’s daughter. Once she starts a new life in Kansas, she vows to never be under a man’s thumb again. But Monty’s presence makes her heart race, and his care and kindness under different circumstances might win her heart.

When her ex-husband puts a bounty on her head for her return, Monty steps up to help. Can she trust this handsome rancher to protect her and not control her? Buy link.

 

 

 

 

Battle Hymn of the Republic a Hymn for the Ages

 

Today and for the next few months I plan to do a series on time honored hymns. Hymns are often sprinkled into more modern-day worship. Some are sung in the secular culture and have stood the test of time. I love to learn the story behind the worship songs we sing, and because this is a history blog, I’ll be sharing some of the original worship songs from yesteryear, the why behind them and a bit about their authors.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julie Ward Howe is still sung today. Original written in response to hearing Union soldiers marching off to war singing John Brown’s Body.  A song retelling the death of a radical abolitionist. The first line being “John Brown’s Body lies a moulderin’ in the grave.” The song tells the story of Harper’s ferry where he was killed. Here is a link to the lyrics.

 Mrs. Howe and her physician husband Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe were living in Washington DC during the Civil War when a friend asked her if she couldn’t write better lyrics to the catchy tune. As a Christian who desired to see a world without war, she accepted the challenge. 

That night the lyrics came to her in her sleep. 

I awoke in the grey of the morning, and as I lay waiting for dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to entwine themselves in my mind, and I said to myself,  “I must get up and writes these verses least I fall asleep and forget them1” So I sprang out of bed and in the dimness found an old stump of a pen, which I remember using the day before, I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper.  (quote taken from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck)

The verses were first published in February 1862 in The Atlantic Monthly Magazine. She was paid five dollars.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic lyrics coupled with that catchy tune from John Brown’s Body  was performed for President Abraham Lincoln. He was so moved he asked that it be sung again. The verses focus on Christ as the coming King.  And became the marching song of the Union Army.  After the war it continued in popularity in churches and for gatherings. This hymn has stood the test of time being sung by large choirs across the nation and centuries.
Mrs. Howe had a heart for Christ, was an abolitionist and an active in women’s suffrage. She wrote many books, articles, and plays that have long sense been lost to us. But The Battle Hymn of the Republic remains iconic. At every one of her speaking engagements, she insisted it be sung. And at her funeral the four thousand attendees sang it as a sign of respect. She spent her life working for women’s rights. She died of pneumonia in October 1910 at the age of 91. 

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (Battle Hymn of the Republic)
By Julia Ward Howe
1.Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord;
he is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are stored;
he hath loosed the fateful lightning
of his terrible swift sword;
his truth is marching on.
Refrain:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

2. I have seen him in the watchfires
of a hundred circling camps,
they have builded him an altar
in the evening dews and damps;
I can read his righteous sentence
by the dim and flaring lamps;
his day is marching on.
(Refrain)

3. He has sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never call retreat;
he is sifting out the hearts of men
before his judgment seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer him;
be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
(Refrain)

4. In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
with a glory in his bosom
that transfigures you and me;
as he died to make men holy,
let us die to make men free,
while God is marching on.
(Refrain)

5. He is coming like the glory
of the morning on the wave,
he is wisdom to the mighty,
he is honor to the brave;
so the world shall be his footstool,
and the soul of wrong his slave.
Our God is marching on.
(Refrain)
Take from http://www.HymnSite.com

Over time the melody was given a new arrangement to accommodate a full choir and large orchestra, but Julia Ward Howe’s lyrics remain the same.

Here’s a YouTube link of a live performance

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

Cherishing Her Heart- releases February 21,2025

Dianna Pilson takes on a new identity as Susan Sullivan after escaping from the asylum her unsavory ex-husband put her in. She heads west with Fredrick Sullivan, her late father’s valet, pretending to be his daughter. They arrive in the small town of Cooperville, Kansas where Fredrick has kin.  Becoming a simple woman of a lower class is challenging. She has no domestic skills, but her new Papa and his family are right there to help and keep her safe. Changing herself is much harder than she imagined, but far better than a lifetime in an asylum.
Monty Summerfield, a wealthy businessman, moved to Coopersville to start over after his unscrupulous partner blew up the mine they owned with him in it. Assuming Monty was dead, he stole his identity and even his mail-order bride. After Ernie’s death, Monty has worked hard to regain his good name. Content as a bachelor, he focuses on building his business interests and helping the community. Then Susan Sullivan steps off the stagecoach. He’s captivated by her, but can he risk his heart and scale the walls she’s built around hers.
As danger lurks from Susan’s past, and Monty steps up to help, can she trust him? Will their only solution lead to a happily-ever-after or bring on more trouble?
Available for preorder. https://amzn.to/49n6z89