(no subject)
In 1871, a wealthy businessman named Horatio G. Spafford was grieving the death of his only son who had died shortly before. Then he suffered a second hardship. His money was made in real estate, and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed all his assets leaving him financially ruined.
Still, he did what he could for the people of Chicago, working for two years with his friend the evangelist Dwight Moody to help those who were grief stricken and left homeless and without jobs.
After the two years, he felt that his family needed a vacation. They planned to travel to England to join Dwight Moody, and another evangelist called Ira Sankey on one of their evangelistic crusades. From there they would travel on to Europe.
Horatio was delayed in Chicago with business, but sent his wife Anna, and four remaining daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie and Bessie on ahead of him. The ship they were sailing on was called the Ville de Havre.
Unfortunately, the Ville de Havre collided with another ship, the Loch Earn just off the coast of Newfoundland. The ship sank within 20 minutes. Anna managed to cling on to some wreckage, and when rescued she sent a single telegram to Horatio. Astounding in its poignancy, it simply read "Saved alone."
Horatio travelled to be with his wife, and together they completed the journey to England. When they finally met Dwight Moody, Horatio simply said "It is well. The will of God be done."
Nobody is quite sure when Horatio wrote the words to the famous hymn. The music was written some years later. The most popular version says that when travelling past the scene of the shipwreck where his daughters died, Horatio was moved by the Holy Spirit to write the words "When sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul." What is undoubtable is just the power held within those words, when considering the grief Horatio was bearing.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul...
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
(Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873)
Still, he did what he could for the people of Chicago, working for two years with his friend the evangelist Dwight Moody to help those who were grief stricken and left homeless and without jobs.
After the two years, he felt that his family needed a vacation. They planned to travel to England to join Dwight Moody, and another evangelist called Ira Sankey on one of their evangelistic crusades. From there they would travel on to Europe.
Horatio was delayed in Chicago with business, but sent his wife Anna, and four remaining daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie and Bessie on ahead of him. The ship they were sailing on was called the Ville de Havre.
Unfortunately, the Ville de Havre collided with another ship, the Loch Earn just off the coast of Newfoundland. The ship sank within 20 minutes. Anna managed to cling on to some wreckage, and when rescued she sent a single telegram to Horatio. Astounding in its poignancy, it simply read "Saved alone."
Horatio travelled to be with his wife, and together they completed the journey to England. When they finally met Dwight Moody, Horatio simply said "It is well. The will of God be done."
Nobody is quite sure when Horatio wrote the words to the famous hymn. The music was written some years later. The most popular version says that when travelling past the scene of the shipwreck where his daughters died, Horatio was moved by the Holy Spirit to write the words "When sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul." What is undoubtable is just the power held within those words, when considering the grief Horatio was bearing.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul...
It is well...with my soul...
It is well, it is well, with my soul...
(Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873)