Published: June 27, 2008 12:54 pm            

Hymns - Take Time To Be Holy

William D. Longstaff was born Nov. 26, 1822, in Sunderland, Durham, England. Not much information can be found about his childhood. There is no record of his schooling but from what is known about him, he received a great education.

William’s father was a wealthy ship owner in England. William inherited his father’s fortune, so money was never a problem for him.

William was reared with the elite people in his hometown. He had access to everything that money could buy. He had rich friends and associates, but he had an empty feeling in his heart.

It seems as if God had singled out Longstaff to receive His message and His commission for his life. He attended church one day, and the sermon was preached by a missionary who was on furlough from China. The missionary chose as his sermon text 1 Peter 1:16: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (KJV)

Although Longstaff was a businessman and very wealthy, this sermon struck a cord. He could not get the sermon out of his head or his heart, and he was convicted of his sin and accepted Christ as his Savior.

William attended church services every Sunday and attended revivals when they were held in his hometown. He could not get enough of the truth from the gospel. He was a dedicated Christian and dedicated to the service of winning the lost to Christ.

There was a spiritual awakening in England during his teens, and he had a chance to meet the Rev. Dwight L. Moody in a revival meeting while Moody was holding evangelistic services throughout England.

William never let his wealth distract him from a life devoted to Christ and His work. He was also fortunate to meet William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. They became very good friends.

Longstaff wrote several hymns and poems to be printed in the periodical of the Salvation Army’s War Cry. These hymns were published in the 1880’s.

Longstaff’s wealth was used by God, as he donated money to support the Salvation Army’s causes and also the Rev. Dwight L. Moody’s crusades across England.

The inspiration for this hymn was the sermon he heard preached by the missionary from China at his home church. The music for this hymn was written by composer George Stebbins, born Feb. 26, 1846, in East Carlton, N.Y.

He studied music in Buffalo and Rochester. He then became a voice teacher. In 1869, he moved to Chicago, Ill., to join the Lyon and Healy Music Company. He was also called to be music director at First Baptist Church in Chicago. While in Chicago, he met other great hymn writers and composers George Root, Phillip Bliss and Ira Sankey.

At age 28, Stebbins moved to Boston, Mass., where he became music director at Claredon Street Baptist Church. He accepted a call to another church as music director at Tremont Temple in Boston, Mass.

Soon after, he went on the evangelistic circuit with the Rev. Dwight L. Moody and others around 1900. Stebbins spent a year as an evangelist in India, Egypt, Italy, Palestine, France and England. Stebbins died Oct. 6, 1945, at age 99.



Stories Behind the Hymns is taken from “104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, Vols. I and II,” written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe. He can be reached by e-mail at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by snail mail at P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, NC 27209. The book is available for $14.95 plus $3 shipping. Shipping is free for readers of The Randolph Guide.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.