Did this composer unknowingly write his own epitaph? If you or I were told when and where our last words might be, would we be moved to say what Philip Paul Bliss did when he crafted the words for “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” late in December 1876? (Bliss’ last words were in a ravine in Ashtabula, Ohio – the scene of a train wreck, shown here.) The premature departure from life of one so young, especially one so respected and admired as Bliss was, is often described as tragic, unfair. ‘Compared to what?’, the Christian upon reflection, could say. In the shock of the moment, even our God, who died in his early 30s, did what some consider almost unthinkable – doubt. Hurt and disappointment often go hand-in-hand with death, so maybe that’s why Bliss was not allowed to know his life passage’s to the next was nearly upon him. Could he have penned the words if he had known it was so close?
Philip P. Bliss was a 38-year old husband, father or two children, and minister-songwriter. If he had lived beyond December 1876, the list would certainly have grown, including in the last category. Bliss had been engaged in ministry for just a few years, although the music within him had been present much longer. He took singing lessons as a teenager, married soon thereafter into a musical family, and began making music instruction and performance the center of his life’s work. By the late 1860s, he was working with Dwight Moody, and was eventually coaxed to turn his talents toward evangelism. This he did, writing the words and-or composing the music for over 160 songs, including one that he was apparently drafting on a train around Christmastime in 1876, as he and his wife traveled between Pennsylvania and Chicago. The train plunged into a ravine in Ashtabula as the bridge it was crossing failed. Bliss survived the initial accident, but died trying to save his wife who was trapped in the wreck. “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” was found among Bliss’s belongings in the remains of the crash, and was soon put to music (by James McGranahan). Many later remembered that the previous evening Bliss had sung for a crowd “I’m Going Home Tomorrow”, telling them he might never again see them. Chilling, you say?
Philip P. Bliss: 1838-1876. That’s what might most be remembered about him, especially when the story around “I Will Sing…” is told. It’s probably at least some of what is on his gravestone, too. It’s not about his own death and its consequences that Bliss writes, however. If Bliss did have a premonition on the train or in the few hours or days beforehand, maybe he handled that by composing the words about his Redeemer’s significance, by focusing his view on Him. It’s something that all believers can do -- smother the dread of death by drawing close to His death—tragic above all others, yet overcome by Resurrection. What do those mean in life’s grand scheme to me as I ponder my own passing? Don’t let death catch you by surprise, Bliss might say. You might even say he lived and died that admonition.
Information on the song was also obtained from the books Amazing Grace – 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories
for Daily Devotions, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990, Kregel Publications; and Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the
World’s Greatest Hymn Stories,
Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.
See also these sites for biographic information on composer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Bliss
For all four verses and refrain, see site here: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/m/y/r/myrdeemr.htm
For information on the tragedy that took Bliss’ life, see
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtabula_River_Railroad_Disaster
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