It Is Well With My Soul
Horatio Spafford Jr. endured great suffering in his life before writing this much loved hymn, sung to Philip Paul Bliss's music. Spafford married Anna Lawson in 1861 before moving near Chicago for his law practices. Both he and his wife were heavily involved in the church and volunteer ministry. They had four daughters.
In 1871, the first tragedy shook Spafford's family and the whole Chicago area with the Great Fire. Horatio himself and his legal partners suffered financially from their real estate investment losses. In November of 1873, the family physician recommended that Anna travel to Europe for her health. Horatio decided to stay behind for an important real estate sale. Five ministers, returning to England, agreed to watch over Spafford's family during the voyage.
The fateful journey began a little after 2:00 pm on November 15. Aboard the Ville Du Havre, the journey was rough and a heavy fog set in. On the 7th day of their journey, at 2:00 am in the morning, a collision occurred with an iron Scottish Vessel, ripping a hole into the belly of the Ville Du Havre. Lifeboats were jettisoned but later found to be mostly containing the crew, not the passengers. The ship plunged into the water killing 226, including the four young Spafford daughters. Anna, their mother survived, and was there to hear minister Emile Cook say "All is well" before he died, perhaps the inspiration for the first words of Horatio Spafford's hymn.
Despite suffering much more financially, the Spaffords continued to minister in America and later, Jerusalem. Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn in 1876 and it was first performed at a gospel meeting in Farewell Hall.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Written in the 1500's by Martin Luther, it was often referred to as the 'Battle Hymn of the Reformation.' It has been translated into almost every known language and into English in eighty different ways. Luther wrote approximately 35 other hymns when he lived and singing was always an important part of his life as well as playing the lute. He believed that "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise."
A Mighty Fortress was drawn from the 46th Psalm and was a way for Luther himself, along with other followers of the Reformation, to find hope and comfort in God's strength and will. Sung by exiles leaving their home, martyrs to their death, and Luther, losing the battle for the soul of the church, this hymn had and still has a powerful message.
The Old Rugged Cross
George Bernard, born in Ohio, became a traveling evangelistic after his conversion at 22 through the ministry of the Salvation Army. After being incessantly heckled by the youth at a Michigan revival meeting in 1912, he was left dejected and hopeless. Bernard remembers recalling in that moment, Christ's own suffering, bearing the cross for the revival of the world.
The first verse of this much loved hymn came easy to him, and several months later he finished the remaining three verses while leading church meetings, back again in Michigan. In the summer of 1913, he performed the song for the pastor of the church, who, moved to tears, decided to incorporate it into the revival service.
George himself led the hymn with his voice and guitar and then was joined by a five-voice choir, an organ, and a violin. The church where it was first performed is still standing today, owned by The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, a non-profit that welcomes thousands to this historic spot annually.
Bibliography
Christianity.com. 2010. Horatio Spafford: It Is Well With My Soul. [online] Available at: <https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/horatio-spafford-it-is-well-with-my-soul-11633070.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].
Christianity.com. 2010. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. [online] Available at: <https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/a-mighty-fortress-is-our-god-11629923.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].
Wyse, E., 2015. The History Behind "The Old Rugged Cross". [online] Lifeway.com. Available at: <https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/the-history-behind-the-old-rugged-cross-hymn-george-bennard-revival> [Accessed 29 August 2020].
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