Hymn of the Week: April 26, 2021
Hymn of the Week: I Love to Tell the Story
Glory to God #462
Katherine Hankey Text. 1866
William G. Fischer Music 1869
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 could do.
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story. ’Tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
the message of salvation from God’s own holy word.
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
A. (Annabelle) Catherine Hankey (b. Clapham, England, 1834; d. Westminster, London, England, 1911) was the daughter of a wealthy banker and was associated with the Clapham sect of William Wilberforce, a group of prominent evangelical Anglicans from the Clapham area. This group helped to establish the British and Foreign Bible Society, promoted the abolition of slavery, and was involved in improving the lot of England's working classes. Hankey taught Bible classes for shop girls in London, visited the sick in local hospitals, and used the proceeds of her writings to support various mission causes. Her publications include Heart to Heart (1870) and The Old, Old Story and Other Verses (1879). Another fun and interesting fact about this remarkable poet is that she traveled on her own to South Africa to serve as a nurse and to help her ailing brother. What a trip that must have been in the 19th century!
In his youth, William G. Fischer (b. Baltimore, MD, 1835; d. Philadelphia, PA, 1912) developed an interest in music while attending singing schools. His career included working in the bookbindery of J. B. Lippencott Publishing Company, teaching music at Girard College, and co-owning a piano business and music store–all in Philadelphia. Fischer eventually became a popular director of music at revival meetings and choral festivals. In 1876 he conducted a thousand-voice choir at the Dwight L. Moody/Ira D. Sankey revival meeting in Philadelphia. Fischer composed some two hundred tunes for Sunday school hymns and gospel songs. What is also interesting about this hymn is that the composer, wrote the text for the Refrain.
It is important to understand in viewing this text, that it speaks in first person making the personal relationship with Christ much more intimate. This is true of many hymns in the 19th century and seemed to be a way that composers of the time wrote hymns. While this is a characteristic, it is not particular just to the 19th century hymn writers. One can look at Bernard of Clairvaux's 12th-century Latin text, "Jesus, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills my breast" and Paul Gerhardt's 17th-century pietistic text, "Jesu, thy boundless love to me no thought can reach, no tongue declare" Many thanks to the website www.hymnary.com and www.umcdiscipleship.org
Enjoy the piano composition by Michael Hassell who has written many jazz-influenced arrangements of much-beloved hymns.
