“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:20

When I was growing up in the 1950’s, I took piano lessons and learned to play some of the beautiful songs of the Christian faith.  Two of my favorites were “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” and “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”  Hallelujah was easier to play because my music was in the key of “C.” Eventually, I graduated to “harder” songs such as “I will Sing of my Redeemer.”  I liked the flow and cadence of it and I could play it as fast as I wanted!  These two classic hymns were written by Philip Bliss.

Philip Bliss, an American composer, conductor and writer of hymns was born into a devoted Christian family in Pennsylvania in 1838.  His parents loved music and both Philip and his sister developed a passion for music and singing.  When Philip was 20 years old, he met Lucy Young whom he married that same year.  She was also from a musical family, accompanied him on the piano and encouraged his talent.  Lucy’s grandmother lent Philip $30 to attend a Music Academy in New York for a six week course.  Afterward, he was recognized as an expert music teacher.

Philip and Lucy moved to Chicago where Philip attracted the attention of evangelist D.L.Moody, who encouraged him to enter music ministry full-time.  Moody would later write, “In my estimate, he was the most highly honored of God of any man of his time as a writer and singer of gospel songs, and with all his gifts he was the most humble man I ever knew.  I loved him as a brother.”  With Lucy’s encouragement, Philip joined a Moody associate, Major Daniel Whittle, as a song leader in a series of evangelistic campaigns, and “Whittle and Bliss” became almost as famous as “Moody and Sankey!”  They conducted crusades throughout the American midwest and south.  Philip wrote other favorites as “Wonderful Words of Life,” “Almost Persuaded,” “Hold the Fort,” the music to “It is Well with My Soul,” and other classical hymns.

By the end of 1876, Philip needed a break.  He had just finished a whirlwind tour of meetings with Major Whittle and he and Lucy, along with their two children, wished to spend Christmas with their families in Pennsylvania.  While they were there, a telegram from Mr. Moody arrived requesting they come back to Chicago to sing at the Moody Church New Year’s Eve service.  On December 29, leaving their two small children with Philip’s mother, they boarded the Pacific Express.  Because of a blinding snowstorm, the eleven-coach train was running three hours late.  About eight o’clock that night as the train neared a trestle bridge near Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge collapsed and the carriages plunged 75 feet into the ravine below.  Bliss escaped from the wreck, but the carriages caught fire and Lucy was inside, pinned under the metal seats.  The other survivors urged Philip not to crawl back into the flaming wreckage, but he shouted, “If I cannot save her, I will perish with her.”  Both Philip and Lucy died in the flames.

When Philip’s trunk arrived in Chicago, it contained the words to this hymn:

“I will sing of my Redeemer, and His wondrous love to me; On the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me  free.

Chorus:  Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer; with His blood, He purchased me.  On the cross, He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, and made me free.”

 Soon after, the hymn was set to music and it became one of the first songs recorded by Thomas Alva Edison.  “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:20

Your friend, Jean