Inspired history of the gospel song 'Beyond the Sunset, O Blissful Morning' and brief biography of hymn-writer Virgil Brock and his wife Blanche, who composed it.

The song "Beyond the Sunset" was born at the dinner table of the Brocks' home one night in 1936. Before dinner, text author Virgil Brock and his composer-wife Blanche watched a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake, Indiana, with a blind guest Horace Burr and his wife, Grace. Burr was Brock's cousin. A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were storm clouds threatening gathered overhead.

Upon return to his home, at dinner, they still talked about the unusual spectacle they had earlier witnessed. What was amazing was what their blind guest excitedly commented, that he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.

The blind Horace's reply was simple and touching: "I see through other people's eyes, and I think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset."

The striking inflection in his blind cousin's voice forcibly deeply moved Brock. He began to write the first few measures of what is now "Beyond the Sunset" at the same time he started singing with his coined words. A spot-on inspiration.

His wife loved it, they went to the piano, and enhanced the first verse. The blind Horace Burr strongly urged that a verse about the storm clouds be added. A third verse was further added. Before dinner ended, all four stanzas had been completed and sang by them.

Virgil Brock was born in a rural community in Ohio, born to devoted Quaker parents. At 16, Brock accepted Christ personally during a church revival meeting. He felt the call for Christian service and decided to study at the Fairmount Friends Academy and Earlham College, in Indiana.

He pastured several small Quaker churches and married a talented singer and pianist named Blanche Kerr. Until his wife Blanche's death form cancer in 1958, the Brocks were continually involved in various Christian endeavors and song writing. A large monument was erected in the Warsaw-Winona Lake cemetery, with the words and music of "Beyond the Sunset" engraved in stone as a tribute to the couple.

Virgil Brock wrote more than 500 gospel songs, most of which were in collaboration with his wife, Blanche.

More Popular Songs by Brock

• He's a Wonderful Savior to Me
• Sing and Smile and Pray
• Resting in His Love
• Let God Have His Way

Virgil Brock didn't know music theory. He needed Blanche or someone else to write the melodies flowing from his heart. Yet, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Sacred Music from Trinity College, Dunedin, Florida, in recognition of his 50 years of gospel song-writing.

First Stanza of "Beyond the Sunset"

Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,

When with our Savior heav'n is begun;

Earth's toiling ended, O Glorious dawning -

Beyond the sunset when day is done.

Words and Music

Beyond the Sunset, (mamarocks)

Other Best-Loved Hymns

• Amazing Grace
• Great is Thy Faithfulness
• How Great Thou Art
• It is Well With My Soul
• O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

Source:

101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications (1985)