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Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was another prolific hymn writer of the revivalist era.
Her father, William, was an Anglican pastor and hymn writer and her brother an Anglican priest. “She grew up in a literary and musical environment that encouraged her as a Christian singer and hymn writer.” She could read at age 3 and began reading and memorizing the Bible at age 4. At age 7 she began writing poems. At age 15, she was converted. She said, “I committed my soul to the Saviour, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment.” Educated in England and Germany, she was skillful in Hebrew and Greek and fluent in several modern languages. She was also an accomplished pianist. Her first published collection of poems was Ministry of Song, 1869.
“Music to praise and worship the Lord, both alone, with others in homes, and in churches and public places, was a very dear priority to her. She was the choir leader in at least one church (St. Paul’s Church, Leamington Spa), and she edited the music--more than 1,100 scores – in the golden hymnbook Songs of Grace and Glory” (The Hymns of Havergal, Havergaltrust.com).
In a letter to a friend in 1876, Frances described one of her soul winning ventures:
“I must tell you a wonderful bit of Ministry of Song, through ‘Whom having not seen, ye love.’ I was taken on speculation to call on a clever young gentleman, just an infidel, knowing the Bible and disbelieving it, and believing that nobody else really believes, but that religion is all humbug and mere profession. I was not primed at all, only knew that he was ‘not a religious man.’ In the first place, I had no end of fun with him, and got on thoroughly good terms--then was asked to sing. I prayed the whole time I was singing, and felt God very near and helping me. After a Handel song or two which greatly delighted him, I sang ‘Tell it out!’ felt the glorious truth that He is King, and couldn’t help breaking off in the very middle and saying so, right out! Then I sang, ‘Whom having not seen, ye love,’ and felt as if could sing out all the love of my heart in it. Well, this young infidel, who had seemed extremely surprised and subdued by ‘tell it out,’ completely broke down, and went away to hide his tears in a bay window. And afterwards we sat down together, and he let me ‘tell it out’ as I pleased, and it was not hard to speak of Him of whom I had sung. He seemed altogether struck and subdued, and listened like a child. He said, ‘Well there is faith then, you have it anyhow--I saw it when you sang, and could not stand it, and that’s the fact!’ He was anxious for me to come again.
“When I came away, his sister, who had introduced me, wept for joy, saying she had persuaded me to come with a vague hope that he ‘might find he could tolerate a religious person,’ but never dared to hope such an effect as this, and that she thought I had been most marvellously guided in drawing the bow at a venture, for every word and even action had been just right. I tell you this just because you are publishing both ‘Tell it out’ and other leaflets for me. Will you sometimes pray that God’s especial blessing will go with them? I should add that it was almost a miracle in another way, for I had such a wretched cold that I doubted being able to sing at all, and yet I believe I never sang clearer and better and stronger. How good God is!”
Her hymns numbered about 50 and would doubtless have been multiplied greatly had she lived longer. She also authored a number of books that were published in several languages.
“The burden of her writings was a free and full salvation, through the Redeemer's merits, for every sinner who will receive it, and her life was devoted to the proclamation of this truth by personal labours, literary efforts, and earnest interest in Foreign Missions” (Dictionary of Composers).
She died in Wales of peritonitis, and is buried in Ashley, Worcestershire. When told that her death was near, she exclaimed, “If I am really going, it is too good to be true!”
Her popular hymns include “I Gave My Life for Thee,” “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,” “Like a River Glorious,” “Take My Life and Let It Be,” “Tell It Out among the Heathen,” “True-hearted, Whole-hearted, Faithful and Loyal,” and “Who Is on the Lord’s Side.”
“Tell It Out among the Nations,” 1872
Frances Havergal
Tune: Ira Sankey, 1881
1. Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is King;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the nations, bid them shout and sing;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out with adoration that He shall increase,
That the mighty King of glory is the King of Peace;
Tell it out with jubilation, let the song ne'er cease;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
2. Tell it out among the people that the Savior reigns,
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the heathen, bid them break their chains;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the weeping ones that Jesus lives,
Tell it out among the weary ones what rest He gives,
Tell it out among the sinners that He still receives;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
3. Tell it out among the people, Jesus reigns above;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the nations that His reign is love;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the highways and the lanes at home,
Let it ring across the mountains and the ocean's foam,
That the weary, heavy-laden, need no longer roam;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Music score
https://hymnary.org/text/tell_it_out_among_the_nations_that_the_l
“Thou Art Coming, O My Saviour!” 1873
Frances Havergal
1 Thou art coming, O my Savior,
thou art coming, O my King,
in thy beauty all resplendent,
in thy glory all transcendent;
well may we rejoice and sing:
coming! in the op'ning east
herald brightness slowly swells:
coming! O my glorious Priest,
hear we not thy golden bells?
2 Thou art coming, thou art coming:
we shall meet thee on thy way,
we shall see thee, we shall know thee,
we shall bless thee, we shall show thee
all our hearts could never say:
what an anthem that will be,
ringing out our love to thee,
pouring out our rapture sweet
at thine own all-glorious feet.
3 O the joy to see thee reigning,
thee, my own beloved Lord!
Ev'ry tongue thy name confessing,
worship, honor, glory, blessing
brought to thee with glad accord;
thee, my Master and my Friend,
vindicated and enthroned;
unto earth's remotest end
glorified, adored, and owned.
Music Score
https://hymnary.org/hymn/CHoF1944/page/370
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