A beautiful inspiring hymn of old, it has inspired believers in Christ for many generations to anticipate the glories that await us in God’s great Home. The words were written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt for use with children, originally. Eliza Hewitt was a schoolteacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Eliza had her career cut short by a serious spinal problem. As an invalid she turned to hymn writing just as her cousin Edgar Page States had done. She was a lay worker who had deeply devoted her life to the Sunday School movement. Eliza had written her songs with the goal of reaching and teaching children with the truths of the gospel. She was the Sunday School Superintendent at the northern Home for friendless children and later at the Calvin Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. She was also a regular contributor to the Sunday-School Helps.
Along with Hewitt, the composer of this hymn, Emily D. Wilson attended the Methodist camp meetings in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. They collaborated together and came up with this hymn. This hymn first appeared in Pentecostal Praises, published by the Hall-Mack company in 1898. The anticipation of Heaven has often been described as the oxygen of the human soul. “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (I John 3:3)
Eliza Edmunds Hewitt wrote many Hymns including:
- More About Jesus
- My Faith has Found a Resting Place
- Singing I Go
- Somebody Else Needs a Blessing
- Stepping in the Light
- Sunshine in My Soul
- Victory in Jesus
- Will There Be Any Stars?
For the child of God, the end of this earthly pilgrimage is just the beginning of a glorious new life. This hymn is a favorite for both young and old alike.
Bibliography:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/h/e/Hewitt_ees.htm
K. W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, Grand Rapids Mich, Kregel Publications, 1990
Companion to Baptist Hymnal, Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee
Picture: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/w/wwag2hvn.htm
