Jessie Brown Pounds (1861-1921) was not in good health when she was a child so she was taught at home. She began to write verses for the Cleveland newspapers and religious weeklies when she was fifteen. After an editor of a collection of her verses noted that some of them would be well suited for church or Sunday School hymns, J. H. Fillmore wrote to her asking her to write some hymns for a book he was publishing. She then regularly wrote hymns for Fillmore Brothers.
When a memorable phrase would come to her, she would write it down in her notebook and a couple months later she would write out an entire hymn. She is the author of nine books, about fifty librettos for cantatas and operettas and of nearly four hundred hymns. Her hymn "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" was sung at President McKinley's funeral.
In 1866, Daniel Towner was working with evangelist Dwight L. Moody in some meetings in Binghamton, New York. One evening, Mr. Moody preached a powerful sermon, picturing Christ as the Captain of our lives, saying that we could therefore go anywhere with Him, confident that the Lord would see us through. Inspired by the message, Towner thought to himself, "There ought to be a song written with that theme." With that, he sat down and composed a melody, trying to put into the notes something of how he felt. Towner then contacted Pounds and told her that he wanted words to say, "Anywhere with Jesus." This hymn, with a later addition, was the result.
Somewhere between 1910 and 1920, most likely around 1915, two more stanzas were added by Helen Cadbury Alexander Dixon to give this hymn a more "missionary" flavor. Heiress to the Cadbury chocolate fortune, she turned her back on wealth and social standing to be a humble servant of Christ. Not only is this hymn somewhat unusual, being the work of two authors, it was also written backward. That is, Daniel Towner wrote the music first. That in itself is not unique. Often, for example, a composer would bring a tune to Fanny Crosby and ask her to write words to fit it.
Over the years "Anywhere With Jesus" became a familiar hymn of dedication in missionary and revival services. Counting all five stanzas and their refrains, the word "anywhere" is repeated twenty-seven times. Some are called by God to minister to their families, in their community, and in their local church. Others are called to go to distant places, even to other lands, and serve among those with a dramatically different culture. But the point being addressed is that, as disciples of Christ, we ought to be prepared to go anywhere and do any work the Master assigns to us. And we can go wherever the Lord leads us with the full assurance that He will be with us, and that we will know His wise and loving care, wherever we are. Because of Jesus's presence in our lives we have nothing to fear.
Since the Lord has promised to be with us even to the end of the world, as long as we follow His will, we should be willing to go "Anywhere With Jesus."
1 Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,
Anywhere He leads me in this world below.
Anywhere without Him, dearest joys would fade;
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
2 Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone,
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own.
Though His hand may lead me over dreary way,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
3 Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep,
When the darkling shadows round about me creep
Knowing I shall waken never more to roam,
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
These verses were added later.
Anywhere with Jesus I need fear no ill,
Though temptations gather round my pathway still;
He Himself was tempted that He might help me;
Anywhere with Jesus I may victor be.
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
Anywhere with Jesus, over land and sea,
Telling souls in darkness of salvation free;
Ready as He summons me to go or stay,
Anywhere with Jesus when He points the way
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know.
Listen to it here ANYWHERE
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