June 05, 2008 02:31 pm
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Book of Matthew inspiration for ‘Brighten The Corner Where You Are’
The inspiration for this great hymn was from Matthew 5:14-16: “Ye are the Light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, That they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” (KJV)
Ina D. Odgon was born in 1872. Not much is know about her childhood, but we are led to believe that she came from a Christian home.
In the late 1800’s there was a great spiritual awaking in America.
Each summer there were camp meetings held for one to two weeks.
Most of them were Methodist camps held in Lake Chautauqua in New York and some were held in Cape May, N.J.
Although travel was difficult either by horseback or stagecoach, hundreds made their way to Lake Chautauqua in western New York.
This was the most popular place in New York for a worshipful experience.
This camp meeting was organized in 1874 by a businessman, Lewis Miller, and a Methodist minister, the Rev. John H. Vincent, who later became a Bishop.
This camp meeting was primarily held for Sunday school training for teachers.
God blessed the efforts of many, and entire families left the meeting fully uplifted.
It was a spiritual revival and word spread like wildfire that God had blessed this gathering.
Soon new independent camp meetings sprung up all over New York. Some along lakes, and many in the rural areas in tents and brush arbors.
God was blessing in a great way. Sunday School training is the reason we think that Ina D. Ogdon had attended the New York original camp meeting along Lake Chautauqua with her parents when she was only a child.
Ina had made it known that she wanted to preach at the great Chautauqua camp meetings along with Fanny Crosby, the great hymn writer who was also a preacher, and she had dedicated her heart to the Lord and dreamed that one day she would fill her heart’s desire.
Ina’s father became seriously ill and she would have to abandon her plans for an evangelistic career, and stay home and care for her father the rest of his life.
Ina did not become discouraged and through prayer was led to write these encouraging words that would live on in the lives of Christians for hundreds of years to come.
Ina said that although we have desires and plans for our lives, God can lead us in different ways and directions and yield even greater blessings.
The music for this hymn was written by Charles H. Gabriel. Charles was born on Aug. 18, 1856 in Wilton, Iowa.
He grew up on a farm and at night taught himself to play the family’s reed organ.
At age 16 he began teaching music in singing schools. Charles became well known as a musician, teacher, writer of hymns and composer of hymn tunes.
He served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco, Calif., from 1890 to 1892.
He moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1912 and went to work at Homer Rodeheavers Publishing Co. He edited 43 songbooks, 23 Cantatas and some anthem collections.
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. Visit www.myfavoritehymnstories.com for more information.
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