Hymn Still, Still with Thee
Sacred Song, Words by Harriet Stowe and Music by Felix Mendelssohn
Sep 25, 2008
The scripture reference of this beautiful hymn is found in Psalm 139: 17 and 18. It contains in part "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God... I awake, and I am still with you."
Sacred Hymn "Still, Still With Thee"
"Still, Still with Thee" was originally titled "Resting in God," written by the famous author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, while meditating on Psalm 139: 17-18. It is said that Mrs. Stowe woke up at four-thirty in the morning to enjoy the coming of dawn, the singing of the birds, and the over-shadowing presence of God.
It is Mrs. Stowe's only hymn text that has survived to the present time. Even today, hymn writers agree that its sheer poetic beauty is almost incomparable to any single American lyric.
Brief Biography of Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was born into the eminent New England congregational Beecher family on June 14, 1812, in Litchfield, Connecticut. Her father was the noted clergyman, Dr. Lyman Beecher. One of her brothers was the famous minister, Henry Ward Beecher, often referred to as one of our country's ablest preachers.
In 1832, Harriet moved with her family to Cincinnati, Ohio, where her father became president of Lane Theological Seminary. While there, she and her family often helped runaway slaves escape to Canada through the underground railroad.
In 1836, she married a professor of languages and biblical literature in the seminary, Professor Calvin E. Stowe. In 1850, Professor Stowe joined the faculty of his alma mater, Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The Stowe family moved in Brunswick until 1853. Her famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which first appeared in serial form, was largely written in Brunswick. It is recognized as one of the strong influences in the Civil War against slavery.
From Brunswick, the couple moved to Andover, Massachusetts, where Mr. Stowe became a professor of theology at Andover Theological Seminary from 1853 to 1864. The family moved to Hartford, Connecticut after his retirement.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Stowe was an avid abolitionist as well as a godly woman. In 1853, she traveled to Europe for the purpose of arousing the women there in the fight against world-wide slavery.
Harriet Beecher Stowe as Hymnwriter
Looking back over many of the difficulties she experienced in her busy family life with raising six children, along with her other pursuits, she thanked God for Christ's guiding presence and care.
In 1855, Harriet Stowe was introduced as a hymn writer when her brother, Henry Ward Beecher, included three of her poems in his new hymnal, Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes. Mrs. Stowe wrote approximately forty books, all mainly concerned with various social conditions and problems of her time. She also wrote a volume of religious poems published in 1867. She died in Hartford, Connecticut on July 1, 1896.
Composer Felix Mendelssohn and Tune "Consolation"
The tune name "Consolation" is based on Melody Number Three, Book Two of "Songs Without Words" by Felix Mendelssohn, one of the greatest German composers of all time. He became a Christian at the age of 11.
He was a great admirer of JS Bach. Mendelssohn, along with his numerous compositions, wrote two popular oratorios, Elijah and St. Paul. He also wrote the famous Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
First Stanza of "Still, Still With Thee"
"Still, still with Thee when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness I am with Thee!"
Words and Music:
Source:
101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, Michigan, 1985
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