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<\/a><\/p>\nDuring this time of fear and uncertainty in the COVID-19 wilderness, I\u2019ve decided to do something a little different. I\u2019m going to be daily using my blog to share texts and videos of hymns that pass along hope and comfort until the restrictions are lifted, and we can worship in our buildings once again. I hope you find them to be encouraging and edifying during this time. Take care, everyone. Wash your hands. And keep the faith.<\/em><\/p>\n This one is definitely a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Here\u2019s what Mary Ann Thomson had to say about her most popular hymn:<\/p>\n I wrote the greater part of the hymn, \u201cO Zion, haste,\u201d in the year 1868. I had written many hymns before, and one night, while I was sitting up with one of my children who was ill of typhoid fever, I thought I should like to write a missionary hymn to the tune of the hymn beginning \u201cHark, hark, my soul, angelic songs are swelling,\u201d as I was fond of that tune; but as I could not then get a refrain I liked, I left the hymn unfinished, and about three years later I finished it by writing the refrain which now forms part of it. By some mistake 1891 is given instead of 1871 as the date of the hymn in the (Episcopal) Hymnal. I do not think it is ever sung to the tune for which I wrote it. Rev. John Anketell told me, and I am sure he is right, that it is better for a hymn to have a tune of its own, and I feel much indebted to the composer of the tune \u201cTidings\u201d for writing so inspiring a tune to my words.<\/em><\/p>\n St. John\u2019s in Detroit for the win!<\/p>\n
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