Annie Rebekah Smith (1828-1855)

Gallery Charlestown Female Seminary BIRTH & DEATH b: 16 March 1828; West Wilton, New Hampshired: 26 July 1855; West Wilton, New Hampshire EDUCATION  Charlestown Female Seminary (CFS) in Massachusetts, which offered studies in English, art, music, and languages. Although she planned to become a teacher of French and painting, the onset of an eye problem in 1850,…

Uriah Smith (1832-1903)

Gallery BIRTH & DEATH b: 3 May 1832; West Wilton, New Hampshired: 6 March 1903; Battle Creek, Michigan EDUCATION Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS his infected left leg had to be amputated above the knee and this inspired him to invent and patent an artificial leg with a moveable ankle later on patented…

Wayne Hooper (1920-2007)

This short article is reproduced from the International Adventist Musicians Association website, written by Dan Schultz Wayne H. Hooper, a talented musician, was associated with many aspects of the Seventh-day Adventist church’s music for over four decades. Following three decades at the Voice of Prophecy, where he played an outsized role in guiding the evolution…

John Leland (1754-1841)

Gallery BIRTH & DEATH b: 14 May 1754; Grafton, Massachusettsd: 14 January 1841; Adams, Massachusetts EDUCATION Largely in part due to Bible reading HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Wrote about 2 dozen hymns, some reprinted 500 times in American collections, and other texts continued in use into the 20th century Played a substantial part in the molding of the…

Horatius Bonar — The Finest Hymnwriter of Scotland

In a recent statement describing Horatius Bonar, this sums up the significance of his literary endeavors — “clearly one of the most valued evangelical writers of the 19th century and he has to be bracketed with J.C. Ryle and C.H. Spurgeon in his understanding of the power of the press and inputting it to extensive…

Who is Franklin E. Belden?

The history of the Seventh-day Adventist church is abundant with stories of great men who after making indelible contributions to the Advent movement, left the church. A few prominent names come to mind — T.M. Preble who was instrument in introducing the Sabbath truth to Joseph Bates; O.R.L. Crosier who wrote concerning the sanctuary; D.M.…

Charles Wesley: Pastor, Poet & a Light Bearer for God

Charles was the other Wesley. Alongside his brother John who was considered the main guy behind the founding of Methodism, it was Charles’ hymns that pushed through the envelope of being “just another religion.” His lasting and well-known hymns have captivated Christians all around the world. Through his poetic lines, we are able to sing…

Henry de Fluiter: One of Adventist’s Prolific Hymn Writers

The year 1916 was full of tumultuous wars, particularly World War I. A lot of uncertainty and fear was in the air. Yet, it was against this backdrop that Henry de Fluiter’s hymn, “Hail Him the King of Glory” was set. From the title alone, we see that the hymn writer’s main descriptor for God…

Martin Luther: The Man of the Hour

Foremost among those who were called to lead the church from the darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther. Zealous, ardent, and devoted, knowing no fear but the fear of God, and acknowledging no foundation for religious faith but the Holy Scriptures, Luther was the man for the time;…

Joachim Neander: The Wild Hymn Writer

The year was 1670. The Pietist movement was sweeping fast across the Protestant areas of Germany. Many sermons placed an emphasis on personal religion. And at St. Martin’s church in Bremen, it was no different. Using 1 Peter 1 as a basis of his sermon, the preacher gave a powerful call to a real spiritual rebirth,…