Wild waves are round me swelling, My Tower of strength can never I'M ON THE LORD'S SIDE. We're marching to Canaan with banner and song, Who'll stand by his colors-who's on the Lord's side? The sword may be burnished, the armor be bright, While lips are professing, "I'm on the Lord's side." Who is there among us yet under the rod, Oh, haste while He's waiting and seek the Lord's side. Oh, heed not the sorrow, the pain and the wrong For soon shall our sighing be changed into song; So, bearing the cross of our covenant Guide, We'll shout, as we triumph," I'm on the Lord's side." HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR ! "Man of sorrow "what a name Hallelujah! what a Savior! HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR ! Bearing shame and scoffing rude, Guilty, vile and helpless we; Spotless Lamb of God was He, "Full atonement "-can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior! Lifted up was He to die, 167 CHAPTER XVII. SONG INCIDENTS-LETTER FROM IRA D. SANKEY-THE INFLUENCE OF MR. BLISS' SONGS FOR GOOD-GOSPEL HYMNS IN CHINA AND JAPAN-LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES-LETTER FROM REV. ARTHUR T. PIERSON-ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE POWER OF SONG. HE following letter from Mr. Bliss' friend and co-worker, Mr. It was in the autumn of 1870 that I for the first time met P. P. Bliss. I had just arrived in Chicago to join Mr. Moody in his work in that city, and had gone with him to attend the noon-day prayer meeting in Lower Farwell Hall. Mr. Bliss was leading the singing, and at the close of the meeting Mr. Moody demanded of us a song. Seating himself at the piano which was in the room, we sang from "Hallowed Songs:" Oh, think of the home over there, By the side of the River of Light, Where the saints, all immortal and fair, This was our first song together, and the last one we sang, a few days before he passed "Over There," was "Hallelujah! what a Savior!" It was my pleasure to have met Mr. Bliss very often afterward, in the Saturday noon meetings, for the study of the International Sunday School Lessons. In these meetings, as well as in the usual daily prayer meetings, he was always a blessing and an inspiration. During the time I was in Chicago, prior to our going to England, I became familiar with many of Mr. Bliss' songs, and they struck me as being specially adapted for reaching the masses, and, that I might have them in convenient shape for use in evangelistic work, I gathered a number of them from his Charm" and 'Sunshine," and, with other sacred songs, arranged them into a "Musical Scrap Book," which, with my Bible, was the only book I took with me across the sea. It was while singing from this scrap book, "Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By,' ," "Come Home, Prodigal Child," and Mr. Bliss' "Hold the Fort," "Jesus Loves Me," and "Free from the Law," in the old Cathedral city of York, and THE INFLUENCE OF BLISS' SONGS FOR GOOD. 169 in Sunderland, England, that we began to fully realize the wonderful power there was in these Gospel songs. The demand for them soon became so great that we were compelled to have them published in a cheap form, which we did, under the title of "Sacred Songs and Solos." This collection contained a number of Mr. Bliss' best songs, which, together with a companion book of "Words Only" (the latter being sold for a penny) is believed to have attained a larger circulation than any collection of hymns and tunes ever published. The first of Mr. Bliss' hymns that became popular in Great Britain was "Jesus Loves Even Me," and, more than any other hymn, it became the key note of our meetings there. The next song which became immensely popular was "Hold the Fort," and it is to-day, perhaps, the most popular sacred song in England or America. I should think Mr. Bliss' "Almost Persuaded" has won more souls to the Savior than any other hymn written by him. It has been no unusual thing, in our special meetings for young converts, to have them testify that it was the singing of Almost Persuaded," or What shall the Harvest Be?" that led them to decide for Christ. During the last year, the hymn " Waiting and Watching" has been specially blessed, and we believe that through the singing of this little hymn, thousands have been led to desire to live a better and a holier life. This song, with many of his new ones, will ever have a deeper and a tenderer meaning to us, now that he has entered within the gates into the city of the great King, where he may be Waiting and Watching" for us; and with what new joy and rejoicing shall we now sing his sweet words: Many loved ones have I in yon heavenly throng; I am saved by the blood of the crucified One." "He was not, for God took him." Gen. v, 24. BOSTON, Feb. 1877. IRA D. SANKEY. The following letters from Japan and China are given in full to show the far-reaching influence of the Gospel Hymns and the sympathy of Mr. Bliss in work for Christ all over the earth. He loved and prayed for all who named the name of Christ, and especially prayed for those engaged in missionary labor in foreign lands. The writer of these letters he became interested in through his wife, who was a cousin of Mrs. True. She had accompanied her husband, who was a missionary in Japan, and after his death remained in that country with her little girl, to carry on the work of winning souls for Christ. The letter of October 11th Mr. Bliss received at Jackson, Michigan, in the latter part of November. He read it over to me, with his heart full of sympathy for the lonely one in the Lord's work in the far off land, and with much emotion said: "Whittle, we should be ashamed of ourselves if we ever speak of sacrificing anything in being in the work as we are, compared with such devotion." Very fervent and tender was the prayer that followed for this sister and for all missionary laborers. The same day he ordered a hundred books forwarded by his publishers to Japan. The happy letter of January 1st he, of course, never saw. Two days before it was written he had passed into the presence of the King to receive the "well done" of the Master, in answer to the prayers in the far away mission home in Japan, and from many and many another home and heart made glad by his Christian sympathy and Christian song. May many a Christian who reads these letters be stimulated to remember in prayer this dear sister in Christ, for whom Mr. and Mrs. Bliss prayed, and the cause of Christ in Japan, and all over the earth. These dear servants of Jesus who have gone out from us are our brethren in the Lord. Let us bear them often before the Throne. Let us have a place in our hearts for them always, for "their work's sake," and let us encourage them by our sympathy and by our aid in every way we can, for Jesus' sake. "There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Eph. iv, 4-6. It was clear to Mr. Bliss, from the Scriptures, that the coming of the Lord was delayed by the lukewarmness of the Church in spreading the Gospel, and may his frequent and oft-repeated prayer be speedily answered, that the baptism of the Spirit may come upon the Church, that she may complete the number of such as shall be saved, and the Lord may return. PROF. P. P. BLISS : TOKIO, JAPAN, October 11, 1876. DEAR BROTHER,-Your kind note of July 8th lies before me. I had it in my heart to reply by the first mail after its reception, but an unusual pressure of care and labor, incident to a change of residence and work, made it impossible. You know somewhat of our work in Yokohama, by way of Sister Sarah, I presume. Perhaps you will not take less interest in my present field of labor. Last August, I was applied to, by a Japanese Christian, to take charge of a school for girls, in one of the principal streets of this immense city. He proposed to furnish the building and be responsible for all of the expenses of the school except the salary of myself and assistant. |