On This Date: December 29th 140 years ago at 7:30pm.
If you have grown up attending worship services where hymns were/are sung, you are probably familiar with the hymn “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” the lyrics of the song are as follows.
- I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me; on the cruel cross, He suffered, from the curse to set me free.
- I will tell the wondrous story, how, my lost estate to save, in His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.
- I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell, how the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell.
- I will sing of my Redeemer and His heav’nly love to me; He from death to life hath bro’t me, Son of God with Him to be.
- Chorus: Sing, O sing of my Redeemer; with His blood He purchased me; on the cross, He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.
The following link is one version sung by Fernando Ortega. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5hhE9cN6A
What is interesting is how these lyrics were found. Back in the 1800’s Philip Bliss who penned these words was a popular and influential hymn writer. George Stebbins, also a noted gospel songwriter of this time, once paid Bliss this tribute:
“There has been no writer of verse since his time who has shown such a grasp of the fundamental truths of the gospel, or such a gift for putting them into poetic and singable form.”
Philip Bliss died on December 29th, 1876 after what is known as the Ashtabula Train Disaster. Bliss and his wife, Lucy, were returning to Chicago after visiting his mother in Rome, Pennsylvania. When the double powered locomotive reached the 76-foot high railroad bridge in Ashtabula, OH, the bridge collapsed sending the second engine and passenger cars to the bottom of the ravine. Each of the eleven passenger cars carrying 159 people was equipped with heating stoves and burning lamps. Upon impact, they were set ablaze in the icy Ashtabula river. Philip survived the fall and escaped, but learned his wife Lucy was trapped inside the burning wreckage. He went on a rescue mission for his bride. He never returned. He was 38 years old.
Later some of Philip’s personal belongings were recovered and among them was the original manuscript for the hymn “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.”
For a tribute song follow this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmb0v96gqQ0
For more information on the train wreck visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtabula_River_railroad_disaster