This hymn by Julia Ward Howe was born during the American Civil War. The author heard soldiers singing the tune with other lyrics, and determined to write something that would contain more worthy sentiments. She says:
I awoke in the grey of the morning, and as I lay waiting for dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to entwine themselves in my mind, and I said to myself, “I must get up and write these verses, lest I fall asleep and forget them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dimness found an old stump of a pen, which I remembered using the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper.
When the song was sung at a rally later, President Lincoln shouted, with tears streaming down his face, “Sing it again!” The hymn was also sung at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
In Howe’s original version, written in wartime, when soldiers were giving their lives for their country’s survival, the last line of the fifth stanza was “Let us die to make men free.” Contemporary versions change this to “Let us live to make men free.
If you have never heard the stirring 1944 arrangement by Peter Wilhousky, it is worth a listen on the video below. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir made a million-selling recording of it in 1959.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
(2) Today in 1866 – Tell Me the Old, Old Story written
The painting to the left has been in our family for generations. I was told as a child that the one boy was sad because he had been unable to sell his papers. But the other boy encouraged him kindly by telling him of the love of Jesus.
We all enjoy a good story. And English hymn writer Arabella Katherine Hankey, the daughter of a banker, had one to tell. In her early thirties she contracted a serious illness that left her bedridden for an extended period. She determined to tell the story of the life of Christ by writing a long poem about it.
Two gospel songs have been taken from this poem. In the first section, which the author called “The Story Wanted,” are found the words of Tell Me the Old, Old Story. From the second section, “The Story Told,” we have the song I Love to Tell the Story.
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
(3) Today in 1885 – Haldor Lillenas Born
Haldor Lillenas was born in Norway, and came to the United States when a child. His family settled in South Dakota, later moving to Oregon. Lillenas was a pastor and evangelist, but we know him today chiefly as a prolific gospel song writer. He founded the Lillenas Music Company, and worked there until his retirement in 1950.
Mr. Lillenas wrote some 4,000 song texts and tunes. His lovely song, Wonderful Peace speaks of our peace with God through Christ (cf. Rom. 5:1-2).
Coming to Jesus, my Saviour, I found
Wonderful peace, wonderful peace;
Storms in their fury may rage all around,
I have peace, sweet peace.
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Peace, peace, glorious peace;
Since my Redeemer has ransomed my soul,
I have peace, sweet peace.
