Hymns With A Message: IN THE SWEET BY AND BY

Sunday, August 19, 2012

IN THE SWEET BY AND BY

It might be my age, but the older I get, the more I enjoy and miss singing the great old hymns of the church that talked about heaven. i guess as more and more loved ones and friends make the move to their heavenly home one develops a keener hope for heaven and meeting the Lord there. Over the years this move has been described many ways by hymn writers. S. Filmore Bennett (1836-1898) described it as meeting on that beautiful shore sometime in the sweet by and by. He talks about the Father who prepares the place for us and waits for our coming. He tells us that we will be singing there. I often wonder what language and style of singing there will be since we come from so many different races and traditions. But I know that God will work all of that out, in His time. And no more sorrow there. But most importantly, we will be with our Father and will have all eternity to sing His praises. The writer, Bennett, talked about the writing of this hymn and the composer of the music, Joseph P. Wedster. "Mr. Webster, like many musicians, was of an exceedingly nervous and sensitive nature, and subject to periods of depression, in which he looked upon the dark side of all things in life. I had learned his peculiarities so well that on meeting him I could tell at a glance if he was melancholy, and had found that I could rouse him up by giving him a new song to work on. He came into my place of business, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, walked down to the stove, and turned his back on me without speaking. I was at my desk. Turning to him, I said, 'Webster, what is the matter now?' 'It's no matter,' he replied, 'it will be all right by and by.' The idea of the hymn came me like a flash of sunlight, and I replied, 'The Sweet By and By! Why would not that make a good hymn?' 'Maybe it would,' he said indifferently. Turning to my desk I penned the words of the hymn as fast as I could write. I handed the words to Webster. As he read his eyes kindled, and stepping to the desk he began writing the notes. Taking his violin, he played the melody and then jotted down the notes of the chorus. It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn." So if you have the assurance of a home in heaven, sing along with this great song this week.

1. There's a land that is fairer than day,

And by faith we can see it afar;

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

2. We shall sing on that beautiful shore

The melodious songs of the blessed;

And our spirits shall sorrow no more,

Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.