Just Beyond the Rolling River--H.W. Elliott

This Kentuckian was a 34-year old minister and-or leader in a church in the latter portion of the 19^th Century, in a small place known as Walton (see an early 20^th Century picture of its main street, perhaps not too different than what the composer may have seen some 15-20 years earlier). He was also apparently involved with a music company in Texas with a few others, while he also travelled to New York for a convention on another occasion, so H.W. Elliott (perhaps spelled Elliot, with one ‘t’) was certainly not as anonymous to his contemporaries as he is to us today. And, the message he delivered in his own era in“Just Beyond the Rolling River” is still familiar to us, his descendents. Elliot got around. And, he thought about, planned for, and wanted others to join him on another journey he knew he would take one day.  

We in the 21^st Century have researchers and preservers of history to thank for the little that what we know about H.W. Elliott. He is nearly completely anonymous, except for a few details. Another music-lover and fellow blogger (see link below) has indicated that Elliott may be the same fellow mentioned in connection with a Walton Christian Church in Kentucky he pastored there. Another mention is made of perhaps the same Elliott, from Sulphur, Kentucky who attended and reported on mission work to a convention in New York City in 1910. Elliott also apparently wrote several songs and associated with others at the Trio Music Company in Waco, Texas. It was there that “Just Beyond the Rolling River” made its appearance in print, giving us some insight into what Elliott was thinking about his and his fellow Christians’ existence, as one century’s close drew near and another one approached. Could that circumstance have been on his mind, a dwelling on time’s passage and civilization’s eternal destiny? The ‘rolling river’ was neither a time nor occasion that Elliott dreaded, as one can fathom from his words. Indeed, he must have longed to witness the Jordan and to realize his inheritance, a place he called ‘bright and sunny’ (v.1), ‘fair’ (refrain), ‘holy (and) happy’ (v.2), and adorned with ‘pearl and gold’ (v.3). He makes it sound grand! Something else is evident in his thinking. He wanted to be there because of the others he expected to join. Elliott, we can guess, did draw others toward this goal.

The ‘saved’, ‘united happy band’ (vv.1,2) are also part of Elliott’s lexicon -- lyrical, rousing metaphors for another word he employs. We. Does anyone eagerly anticipate the hereafter alone? H.W. Elliott, this 34-year-old Kentuckian, could be described as a mystery. Did he marry, or have kids? How about other family? Frankly, we don’t know. Or do we? He thought of his next life in terms of others he expected to be with him. So, whether he had a spouse or any others who were given his name as a mortal matters not. When you’re headed in the direction Elliott looked, those in the same path become your family. Elliott says it’s ‘just beyond…’ too, so he thought it was close, something to grasp. We all have each other, and an amazing hope. What more do I need?              

Another blogger has written of the scant information on this composer at this link: https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/quotjust-beyond-the-rolling-riverquot/

Reference to the hymn is noted here: http://www.hymnary.org/text/just_beyond_the_rolling_river_lies_a_bri