He often chose to name himself E.D. Mund, John D. Cresswell,
or L.S. Edwards when he wrote songs, so you might be a little confused if you
hunt for this fellow’s biography. He may have randomly decided to use E. D.
Mund when he wrote “Wonderful Love” in 1883, but his feelings expressed in the
song were anything but accidental. He may have had some conflicting emotions,
if the words he wrote accurately presented how he felt, but he wasn’t afraid to
expose his weaknesses. He had a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in
making music, yet he seemed to recognize where he ranked when it came to saying
something to God.
Edmund Lorenz’ family background no doubt played some role
in his development as a hymnist, publisher, and minister, including in the thoughts he wrote in 1883. Their Russian
heritage and Adventist faith were transported to western Ohio in America, where
Edmund was born in 1854. After a varied higher education at two universities
and two seminaries, Lorenz was soon publishing hymnals while in his 20’s,
including four before he wrote his “Wonderful Love” lyrics. He was a 29-year
old, who’d lived within a family of immigrants from another continent and
culture, while he himself had studied and traveled in various places (including
in Leipzig in Europe). So what could he be thinking as he pondered his life in
1883, and what God was to him? When he writes of God’s love, it seems as though
‘wonderful’ equals ‘supernatural’. His
lyrics’ first few words convey a sense of inadequacy, despite all his
preparation for this life of musical expression to the Divine One. He describes
his efforts as ‘vain’, and asks ‘who can sing…?’ in his first verse. Does that
sound like a confident musician? It must
have struck a chord with his hearers though, for the hymn has also been commonly
known as “In Vain, in High and Holy Lays”. His other words in the song also show he felt
God’s supernatural intervention in many ways, ways that upended his human
shortcomings. Whatever these episodes were, Lorenz writes with a broad sweep
that allows all of us to acknowledge the song’s truth. Our days are filled with
challenges that defy our capacity to manage them. But, Lorenz didn’t dwell on
the negative. Instead, he marveled over the intercession of God’s love. It says
something about how to propel oneself beyond his 29th year.
Edmund Lorenz apparently was propelled forward – or rather,
upward -- for the rest of his 88 years. He published another 15 hymnals through
his own Lorenz Publishing Company or through collaborative efforts with several
others up until 1937. Some might note that he wrote lyrics for only a handful
of songs, and the music for just a few dozen others. But, he must have seen and
appreciated hundreds and even thousands of others in all those hymnals that he
helped bring to fruition across seven different decades of his life. How much
can one know of God’s nature? Edmund must have been asked this, or thought about
it as he sang, heard, and produced music for those many years. He grew old, but
maybe he’d found the way to think and behave like a youngster. Sound like a
plan worth trying?
See the following link for one of the composer’s books on
music in the church: http://books.google.com/books?id=GtgUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
See following for some biographic material on composer: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/l/o/r/lorenz_es.htm
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