Alafia, Ni Aye Ese Yi / Peace, Perfect Peace
Author: Edward H. Bickersteth, Jr., 1875
Story Behind Hymn
Author: Edward H. Bickersteth Jr. (1825-1906)
Composers: Charles John Vincent Jr. (1852-1934), George Thomas Caldbeck (1852-1918)
Edward H. Bickersteth Jr. was born on Jan. 25, 1825, in Islington, England. Not much is known of the childhood of Edward or his educational achievements until he reached college. He was an honor graduate of Trinity College in Cambridge, England. After graduation he was ordained a minister and served as Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead. He also served as Dean of Gloucester and Bishop of Exeter (1885-1900).
In August 1875, Bickersteth was vacationing with his family in Harrogate, England. They attended the Sunday morning church service where the Rev. Canon Gibbon was preaching. The Vicar from Harrogate preached from the text, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he Trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Gibbon alluded to the beauty of the phrase, "Perfect peace," as rendering the repeated word, "peace, peace," in the original Hebrew. Twice the word peace was used to indicate absolute perfection. He preached that morning with conviction, and after the service, these words were still on Reverend Bickersteth's mind.
Later on the same afternoon, Bickersteth visited a dying relative living in Harrogate. He found his relative in a depressed state of mind, and Edward felt the emptiness he must have felt, knowing there was no hope for him. Edward took out a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote the lyrics to this beautiful hymn. After he finished the lyrics, he read them to his dying relative, just as God had given them to him. These were probably the last words his relatives heard before Jesus called him to "heaven's perfect peace." We still sing this song just as it was written that day with no changes to the lyrics.
This hymn is somewhat different because it only has two lines per verse and no chorus. The first line asks a question and the second line answers the question.
At a family afternoon tea, Bickersteth read this hymn to his family and asked them what they thought. His sister pointed out that not one verse in the hymn referred to physical suffering. "I can remedy that", he said and picked up a pen and wrote on the same piece of paper,
The music is credited to two men, George Thomas Caldbeck and Charles John Vincent Jr.
Caldbeck was born in 1852 in Waterford, Ireland. He wrote the original tune, "Pax Tecum." George was not educated in music. He was a missionary to China and was accustomed to singing worship songs in native tunes and chants. Although he had jotted down several manuscripts of the way he wanted the tune to sound, he did not know how to write the melody on paper. Bickersteth sent the manuscript to his friend, Vincent, who was born on September 19, 1852, in Durham, England.
Vincent had been an organist and choirmaster in Durham Cathedral and an organist in Monkswearmouth Parish Church. He traveled to Germany and played for two years; then he returned to England. He founded the Organist and Choirmaster, in 1893. He also started a music publishing business. With all this experience, Vincent wrote the different parts, including the melody, for George's great piece of music "Pax Tecum." This was adapted to this hymn and both men were given credit for the score.
Sources:
Here
| Alafia, ni aye ese yi Eje Jesu n wipe, "Alafia!" Alafia, ninu opo lala? Lati se ife Jesu ni 'simi. Alafia, n'nu igbi 'banuje? L' aiya Jesu n' idakeroro wa. Alafia, n'nu ijiya lile? Ikaanu Jesu mu 'bale okan wa. Alafia, gb' ara wa wa l' ajo? N' ipamo Jesu, iberu ko si. Alafia, b' a ko tile m' ola? Sugbon a mo pe Jesu wa lailai. Alafia, nigb' akoko iku? Olugbala wa ti segun iku. O to: 'jakadi aye fere pin, Jesu y' o pe wa s' orun alafia. Source: Stanzas 1-3 & 5-8 from YBH #259 Stanza 4 translated by Ayobami Temitope Kehinde (07/04/2020) |
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes? The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. Peace, perfect peace, death shad’wing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its pow’rs. It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus calls us to Heav’n’s perfect peace. Source: Click |
Story Behind Hymn
Author: Edward H. Bickersteth Jr. (1825-1906)
Composers: Charles John Vincent Jr. (1852-1934), George Thomas Caldbeck (1852-1918)
Edward H. Bickersteth Jr. was born on Jan. 25, 1825, in Islington, England. Not much is known of the childhood of Edward or his educational achievements until he reached college. He was an honor graduate of Trinity College in Cambridge, England. After graduation he was ordained a minister and served as Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead. He also served as Dean of Gloucester and Bishop of Exeter (1885-1900).
In August 1875, Bickersteth was vacationing with his family in Harrogate, England. They attended the Sunday morning church service where the Rev. Canon Gibbon was preaching. The Vicar from Harrogate preached from the text, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he Trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Gibbon alluded to the beauty of the phrase, "Perfect peace," as rendering the repeated word, "peace, peace," in the original Hebrew. Twice the word peace was used to indicate absolute perfection. He preached that morning with conviction, and after the service, these words were still on Reverend Bickersteth's mind.
Later on the same afternoon, Bickersteth visited a dying relative living in Harrogate. He found his relative in a depressed state of mind, and Edward felt the emptiness he must have felt, knowing there was no hope for him. Edward took out a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote the lyrics to this beautiful hymn. After he finished the lyrics, he read them to his dying relative, just as God had given them to him. These were probably the last words his relatives heard before Jesus called him to "heaven's perfect peace." We still sing this song just as it was written that day with no changes to the lyrics.
This hymn is somewhat different because it only has two lines per verse and no chorus. The first line asks a question and the second line answers the question.
At a family afternoon tea, Bickersteth read this hymn to his family and asked them what they thought. His sister pointed out that not one verse in the hymn referred to physical suffering. "I can remedy that", he said and picked up a pen and wrote on the same piece of paper,
"Peace perfect peace, mid suffering sharpest throes?
The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose."
This verse was never included in the hymnal. The reason is unknown.
The music is credited to two men, George Thomas Caldbeck and Charles John Vincent Jr.
Caldbeck was born in 1852 in Waterford, Ireland. He wrote the original tune, "Pax Tecum." George was not educated in music. He was a missionary to China and was accustomed to singing worship songs in native tunes and chants. Although he had jotted down several manuscripts of the way he wanted the tune to sound, he did not know how to write the melody on paper. Bickersteth sent the manuscript to his friend, Vincent, who was born on September 19, 1852, in Durham, England.
Vincent had been an organist and choirmaster in Durham Cathedral and an organist in Monkswearmouth Parish Church. He traveled to Germany and played for two years; then he returned to England. He founded the Organist and Choirmaster, in 1893. He also started a music publishing business. With all this experience, Vincent wrote the different parts, including the melody, for George's great piece of music "Pax Tecum." This was adapted to this hymn and both men were given credit for the score.
Sources:
Here
Excellent. Thanks a lot.
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