Our Hymns And Their Authors

In this special seasonal edition, bestselling author Robert J. Morgan shares the incredible stories behind traditional holiday hymns of faith, including Christmas, Easter, and more. Is there a festive season of the year that is complete without one of your favorite hymns? Not only do hymns connect you to great memories, but they also reveal the faith of those who lived throughout history. As Robert Morgan explored the stories behind some of the best-loved hymns, he found fascinating accounts of tribulations, triumphs, struggles, and hope—ordinary people who connected with God in amazing ways, sharing their experiences through song. Included inside this special edition are: 150 devotional-style stories with the words and music to each hymn Includes hymns for holidays including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and more Jagged edged paper, giving it a classic feel Includes a complete hymn index by title, first line, and songwriter Perfect for use as a daily devotional, teaching illustration, or for song leaders and music ministers Discover the inspiration behind your favorite hymns. Find new favorites as you relate to the people whose walk of faith led them to write these classic songs of praise. Share these stories with your family, friends, and church, and find more depth and meaning as you worship God through song.

Here are 365 classic hymn texts, along with stories of how they came to be written. This is an ideal startling point for personal or family devotions.

The people of God have always had cause to sing, and who has more reason to sing than the one who knows the Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of sin forgiven and the certainty of a life to come? Throughout the Old and New Testaments, believers marked God's mighty acts of deliverance in song. Hymns based on the great themes of the Christian message have their own unique ministry to mind and heart, renewing faith and hope in God especially in days of spiritual decline and apathy. In this work, Faith Cook traces the development of the Christian hymn from the early period of the Christian Church to the present day. Biographical sketches of a number of our best-known writers from the past figure here. We are also introduced to some of the lesser-known poets such as Paul Gerhardt, Samuel Crossman and Samuel Medley. Love for God and the great truths of the gospel shine out through the words of these men and women of faith. More than this, we also discover how their individual personalities and circumstances are reflected in the hymns they wrote.We can only stand amazed as we read of the demonstration of their faith, often in the face of severe persecution and hardship, which has been so wonderfully expressed in verse. It is our privilege to have available to us the lives and work of such gifted writers to enhance our worship. Their words stir us up, both as congregations and personally, to express our thankfulness to God.One day the whole redeemed church of the Lord Jesus Christ will join in one great anthem of praise to his glory

From the moment the pilgrims landed on the shores of the New World, to the dark days following September 11, songs of faith have inspired, comforted, and rallied our beloved country. Stories Behind the Hymns That Inspire America describes the people, places, and events that have shaped the heart and soul of America. The stories behind these songs will fascinate you and bring new meaning and richness to special spiritual moments in the history of our nation. Discover how:§ “Faith of Our Fathers,” sung at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral, had its roots not with the pilgrims but with a Catholic fighting for the right to worship freely in Anglican England§ World events, from the downing of Flight 007 in Russian airspace to Desert Storm and September 11, propelled Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” § The author of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” lived the words “His truth is marching on” until the day she died§ Combining African rhythms and southern folk melodies, slaves brought Bible truths to life with songs such as “Roll, Jordan, Roll”The songs in this book have energized movements, illuminated dark paths, commemorated historic events, taken the message of freedom and faith across this nation and beyond, healed broken spirits, and righted wrongs. Their stories will make you proud of your heritage as you realize anew that in America, even one voice can make a lasting influence.

Excerpt from Our Hymns: Their Authors and Origin, Being Biographical Sketches of Nearly Two Hundred of the Principal Psalm and Hymn-Writers, With Notes on Their Psalms and Hymns; A Companion to the New Congregational Hymn Book No apology is needed for a new book on Hymnology. Some authors have difficulty in proving that there is really room for their work, but it is not so with those who write on this comparatively neglected subject. In saying this, we do not overlook the valuable articles on this subject that have appeared recently in newspapers and reviews; nor the useful labours of Montgomery, Creamer, Holland, Gadsby, Belcher, and Sir Roundell Palmer; nor the more learned works of such writers as Daniel, Archbishop Trench, Dr. Mason Neale, and Dr. Bonar; yet it remains true that this theme, which is rising into notice, and which is of practical importance because of its connection with our private and public devotion, has not yet received a thorough treatment. This work is to be regarded only as a contribution to the subject. It is not an attempt to go over the whole field. The subject is so large that the writer found it necessary to fix some limit to his researches. He has confined himself to the authors whose psalms and hymns are contained in one of the most comprehensive and excellent of modern collections. That collection was compiled by a competent committee in London, who were occupied from 1855 to 1859 in its preparation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell comes “a masterwork of history” (Lawrence Wright, author of God Save Texas), the spellbinding, epic account of the last year of the Civil War. The fourth and final year of the Civil War offers one of the most compelling narratives and one of history’s great turning points. Now, Pulitzer Prize finalist S.C. Gwynne breathes new life into the epic battle between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant; the advent of 180,000 black soldiers in the Union army; William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea; the rise of Clara Barton; the election of 1864 (which Lincoln nearly lost); the wild and violent guerrilla war in Missouri; and the dramatic final events of the war, including Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and the murder of Abraham Lincoln. “A must-read for Civil War enthusiasts” (Publishers Weekly), Hymns of the Republic offers many surprising angles and insights. Robert E. Lee, known as a great general and Southern hero, is presented here as a man dealing with frustration, failure, and loss. Ulysses S. Grant is known for his prowess as a field commander, but in the final year of the war he largely fails at that. His most amazing accomplishments actually began the moment he stopped fighting. William Tecumseh Sherman, Gwynne argues, was a lousy general, but probably the single most brilliant man in the war. We also meet a different Clara Barton, one of the greatest and most compelling characters, who redefined the idea of medical care in wartime. And proper attention is paid to the role played by large numbers of black union soldiers—most of them former slaves. Popular history at its best, Hymns of the Republic reveals the creation that arose from destruction in this “engrossing…riveting” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) read.