Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of America’s great preachers, was born University, Union Theological Seminary, and Columbia University, and May 24, 1878, in Buffalo, New York. He studied at Colgate was ordained a Baptist minister in 1903. After pastoring the First Baptist Church. Montclair, New Jersey, and serving for a time as chaplain to American troops in World War I, he became pastor at First Presbyterian Church, New York City, in 1919. But his strong feelings about ecumenism led to his resignation, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., asked him to pastor the prestigious Park Avenue Baptist Church. He refused because of the requirement of baptism by immersion, but Rockefeller regarded him so highly that he built for him a new church on Riverside Drive. It was to have no baptism requirement but would be open to all people as an ecumenical church.

While on vacation at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Fosdick wrote these words of challenge; they were sung at the opening service in the new church, and later at its dedication February 8, 1931. In one sermon, before the church was finished, Fosdick said, “It could be wicked for us to have that new church-wicked! Whether it is going to be wicked or not depends on what we do with it. We must justify the possession of that magnificent equipment by the service that comes out of it.” This kind of self-analysis might profitably be applied to every church in every kind of “new equipment” situation. Notice Fosdick’s strong feelings in stanza 3: “Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in goods and poor in soul.”

In addition to teaching theology and homiletics at Union Theological Seminary, Fosdick conducted the National Vespers radio broadcast from 1926 to 1946 and was the author of some 30 inspirational books. He died at Bronxville, New York, October 5, 1969.

Henry Purcell was born in 1659 in Westminster, London. Educated by his father and uncle, he became a chorister in the Chapel Royal. In 1673, at age 14, he was apprenticed to an organ builder, John Hingston, who enjoyed a great reputation as builder of small, or “regal,” organs. In those days, the builder of organs had a greater status than the organ performer. For two years Purcell composed and copied music, and tuned the organ in Westminster Abbey. Then he succeeded Matthew Locke as “composer to the King’s violins.” In 1679, at the young age of 20, he became organist at Westminster Abbey, receiving 10 pounds a year in salary! He was director of music for the coronation of James II in 1685 and again of William and Mary in 1689. He wrote a great volume of music for the church, organ works, theater pieces, solo works, and royal odes. Unfortunately, his creative output was cut short by death, at the early age of 36, on November 21, 1695.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY is named for the great cathedral in London where the composer was organist; later he was buried there with full honors. The tune is from the “Alleluias” in his anthem “O God, Thou Art My God,” which was published by William Boyce in Cathedral Music, 1760. It did not achieve popularity until matched with the text “Blessed City, Heavenly Salem” and sung at the weddings of Princess Margaret in 1960 and Prince Charles in 1981.

📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.