5/1 Hymn - "Whispering Hope"

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

BIBLE REFERENCE:
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Galatians 5:5
Romans 10:17
James 1:3
Titus 1:2
Titus 3:7
Romans 5:2
Colossians 1:27

Lyrics and Composer: Septimus Winner
Born: May 11, 1827, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Died: November 22, 1902, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

HYMN HISTORY: This beautiful and popular hymn was written by a man named Septimus Winne. He is best remembered for his popular songs which he usually published under the name of Alice Hawthorne, it is widely believed that he did not deem himself worthy to receive honor for the words he penned...Septimus Winner was born in 1827 in Philadelphia, and because he was born the seventh child in his family they named him Septimus. His father was a violin maker. After attending Philadelphia's Central High School, Septimus and one of his brothers formed a music publishing business. By age twenty, he was also running his own music shop. He later became a popular music instructor in Philadelphia, giving lessons in violin, guitar, and banjo and performing with several of the city's bands and orchestras.

Winner's secular works are known in American folk music history as "Hawthorne's Ballads." the most popular songs were "Listen to the Mocking Bird" which he later sold to another Philadelphia publisher for five dollars and "Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" which was written to a German tune.

It is said that the most interesting experience in his life occurred in 1862, after Abraham Lincoln had fired General George B. McClellan for delays in attacking the Confederate Army. The firing of McClellan angered Septimus who quickly published a song entitled, "Give Us Back Our Old Commander: Little Mac, The People's Pride." The song sold over 80,000 copies in the first couple of days, leading to his arrest for treason. Septimus was released when he agreed to destroy all the remaining copies of the song and apologize. More...