Though her name is known, Laurene Highfield is next to anonymous, at least terrestrially as a songwriter. She must have been among the countless who tried to describe “The Love of God” in song. And, if she was a ‘one-hit wonder’ (she wasn’t), who quit after this one effort, she would not be labeled a failure. To musically communicate such a fundamental part of God - God is LOVE, we’re told – could be a lifelong endeavor. It’s so vast.
Here’s what we know of her: She was a playwright, who lived in Adams County, Illinois, in 1900 and 1910, though we know that she also wrote the lyrics to hymns (at least 15, including “The Love of God”). Some of the scripts attributed to her include The Usurper Overthrown; Immanuel; Hope for the Ages; Hail to the Victor; and The Jolly Tars. Though even her date of death is not well-known (1927, by at least one source), we know “The Love of God” was a 1916 composition, written when she was 46 years old. We can surmise something of her from these titles and the words in the song, something not hidden. Love from God, though impossible to encapsulate except in Jesus, was enough for us to say Laurene Highfield was deeply affected by it. It was ‘in (her) heart’, a ‘glow(ing) flame’ that she had made ‘(her) own’, her words say. What's more, one song might be said to have been a small effort, but not 15 songs. And her other works, written over a period of several years, indicate her faith was not incidental, but enduring. Perhaps Highfield’s only disadvantage was that she wasn’t as prolific as some of her peers, like her well-known contemporary, Fanny Crosby.
We know not why more titles are not associated with Laurene Highfield, but it matters little. Maybe her life was too complicated, diverting her attention from songwriting compared to others. She used the ‘talent’ she was given to increase His holdings (Matthew 25). She loved Him back, with words I can use to do the same. Are there 15 talents (like Highfield’s songs) that I have to give back to Him? How about even just one? If I understand what Matthew and the others say, even just one is fine with Him. If it’s buried, maybe it’s not too late to unearth it, whaddya think? The servant was condemned because he kept it buried until the master returned, giving it no chance to increase. Go get that shovel !
Some biographic information on the composer is at: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/h/i/g/highfield_l.htm
Laurene Highfield died in 1927, according to the following blog: http://homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/692677/
Here’s what we know of her: She was a playwright, who lived in Adams County, Illinois, in 1900 and 1910, though we know that she also wrote the lyrics to hymns (at least 15, including “The Love of God”). Some of the scripts attributed to her include The Usurper Overthrown; Immanuel; Hope for the Ages; Hail to the Victor; and The Jolly Tars. Though even her date of death is not well-known (1927, by at least one source), we know “The Love of God” was a 1916 composition, written when she was 46 years old. We can surmise something of her from these titles and the words in the song, something not hidden. Love from God, though impossible to encapsulate except in Jesus, was enough for us to say Laurene Highfield was deeply affected by it. It was ‘in (her) heart’, a ‘glow(ing) flame’ that she had made ‘(her) own’, her words say. What's more, one song might be said to have been a small effort, but not 15 songs. And her other works, written over a period of several years, indicate her faith was not incidental, but enduring. Perhaps Highfield’s only disadvantage was that she wasn’t as prolific as some of her peers, like her well-known contemporary, Fanny Crosby.
We know not why more titles are not associated with Laurene Highfield, but it matters little. Maybe her life was too complicated, diverting her attention from songwriting compared to others. She used the ‘talent’ she was given to increase His holdings (Matthew 25). She loved Him back, with words I can use to do the same. Are there 15 talents (like Highfield’s songs) that I have to give back to Him? How about even just one? If I understand what Matthew and the others say, even just one is fine with Him. If it’s buried, maybe it’s not too late to unearth it, whaddya think? The servant was condemned because he kept it buried until the master returned, giving it no chance to increase. Go get that shovel !
Some biographic information on the composer is at: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/h/i/g/highfield_l.htm
Laurene Highfield died in 1927, according to the following blog: http://homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/692677/
6 comments:
Thanks for this story, I really enjoyed reading it. My name is Laurene and I was told my mother got my name from a hymnal. I've always wondered who the songwriter was and there's a good possibility it is this lady, as it is a rare spelling of the name. I would really like to see the lyrics to this song you mentioned, but have been unable to find them, even searching on the internet. Can you suggest a site or any other possibilities?Thanks,
Laurene
Hi and thanks for the comment...Laurene H. was a bit of a mystery, and so is "The Love of God" song she wrote. It is in the hymnal "Songs of Faith and Praise" copyright 1994 by Howard Publishing Company, which is the hymnal used at the church where I worship. Since it is copyrighted, I'm afraid the law prevents me from reprinting the words here. But, you should be able to find a copy of that hymnal...just Google Howard Publishing and the hymnal's title.
Given the year of Laurene Highfield's passing, her text is in the public domain even by the longest reckoning of copyright duration (author's life plus 70 years). Songs of Faith and Praise does not hold copyright to material in the public domain by virtue of publishing it with other material. You can find the lyrics here:
http://pdhymns.com/pdh_main_T.htm
"The love of God will never fail nor lose its glory Till we see Him face to face."
Given the year of Laurene Highfield's passing, her text is in the public domain even by the longest reckoning of copyright duration (author's life plus 70 years). Songs of Faith and Praise does not hold copyright to material in the public domain by virtue of publishing it with other material. You can find the lyrics here:
http://pdhymns.com/pdh_main_T.htm
"The love of God will never fail nor lose its glory Till we see Him face to face."
Thanks for the tip Mike! I was playing it safe, and appreciate your input.
.. the love of God will never fade in Glory till we see him face-to-face...
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