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09/03/2020 |
Fade, Fade,
Each Earthly Joy
Catherine Bonar
Theodore Perkins |
The lyrics to “Fade,
Fade, Each Earthly
Joy” were written by Catharine Jane Bonar, née Lundie,
daughter of the Rev. Robert Lundie, sometime minister of the
parish of Kelso, born at Kelso Manse, December, 1821, married,
in 1843, to Dr. H. Bonar, and died in Edinburgh, Dec. 3, 1884.
Her hymns appeared in Dr. Bonar's
Songs for
the Wilderness, 1843-4, and his
Bible Hymn
Book, 1845. Their use is very limited. Mrs. Bonar is
chiefly known through her hymn:—Pass
away, earthly joy.
Jesus, all
in all, which appeared in the
Songs for
the Wilderness, 2nd Series, 1844, and again in the
Bible
Hymn Book, 1845, No. 108, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines,
including the refrain, "Jesus is mine!" The original text is
given in Dr. Hatfield's
Church Hymn
Book. 1372, No. 661. Sometimes this is altered to
"Fade, fade, each earthly joy," as in the
American
Songs for the Sanctuary, 1865, No. 114, and others.
The melody was composed by Theodore E. Perkins. Perkins was born
at Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson, N.Y., July 21, 1831. His father
was a Baptist clergyman. The family of ten brothers and sisters
sang and played various instruments, forming among themselves
both choir and orchestra. His musical education began at the
early age of three years. During his father's pastorate at
Hamilton, N. Y., the choir rehearsals were often held at the
parsonage, and the leader used to place the three-year-old on a
small stool, on the table around which the choir was assembled,
giving him a chance to both see and hear. Later on he played the
violincello in church, standing on a stool in order to finger
the instrument.
The home
gatherings — especially on Thanksgiving Day, are the
recollections among the happiest of his childhood. His father
became pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in New York City, in
1839, giving him the opportunity of studying the pianoforte, of
which he became a proficient player. His fine alto voice soon
gave him notoriety. At the age of nineteen while filling a
position as clerk in New York, all his spare time was given to
the study of voice and piano. In 1851 he went to Hamilton, N.
Y., taught music in Madison University (now Colgate), and in the
Female Seminary.
In 1854
he went to Port Jervis, N. Y., where he taught singing school,
and April 30, 1855, married Mary Frances Caskey, who was for
years his soprano soloist in many musical Festivals and
Conventions. Soon after marriage he removed to Salem, N. J.,
where his lifework as singing school teacher really began,
including Bridgeton and prominent towns in southern New Jersey.
During the summer of 1856 he and his wife were pupils of the
Normal Academy of Music at North Reading, Mass., conducted by
Drs. Lowell Mason and Geo. F. Root. During 1856-1858 he was
given the position of assistant teacher and manager. His
association with these two great men gave an inspiration to all
his future work.
In 1859
he was co-principal with Wm. B. Bradbury at the Normal Academy
of Music, Geneseo, N. Y. He remained at Geneseo until 1863.
Professor Perkins also held very successful schools in North
Pelham Province of Ontario, Canada, and in 1864-1868 was
principal in schools at Tunkhannock and Meadville, Pa. |
In 1860,
The Olive Branch,
his first book of church music, was published by F. J. Huntington, New
York City, the sales reaching 100,000. Next was
Oriental,
which sold over 30,000.
The Union,
Glees and
Anthems, and
Sabbath Anthems
followed ; then
The Sacred Lute,
which sold over 300,000. His Sunday-school books commenced with
The Evergreen,
followed by the
Shining Star
and New Shining
Star. Then came
Psalm King,
which was the last of the books published by Mr. Huntington.
Hallowed Songs
was published by Philip Phillips;
The Sunday School
Banner was published by Wm. B. Bradbury.
The Royal Standard
was published in Toronto, Canada.
The Golden Promise,
Sabbath Carols,
The Mount Zion
Collection were published under his own supervision.
His
Free Sunday School
Songs several times numbered over 500,000 a month.
Coronation Songs
with Rev. Dr. Deems as hymn editor was published by A. S. Barnes Co.,
who also published
Psalms and Hymns
and Spiritual Songs, in which Dr. C. S. Robinson was hymn
editor, who with Professor Perkins edited
Calvary Songs,
published by the American S. S. Union.
Gospel Tent Songs
was evangelical.
The Safe-Guard
Singer was his temperance book.
Mr. Perkins was
musical director in the following churches in Brooklyn: The Lafayette
Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Cuyler; Strong Place Baptist
Church, Rev. E. E. L. Taylor, D. D.; Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Rev.
H. G. Weston, D. D., L. L. D.; Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev.
Dr. Rice, followed by Dr. John Hall; The Memorial Presbyterian Church,
Rev. Dr. C. S. Robinson, who was his close friend; The Church of the
Holy Trinity, Rev. Dr. Tyng, Jr. ; Trinity Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. J.
B. Simmons, and Washington Square M. E. Church.
In Philadelphia:
The Fifth Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Chase; The Eleventh Baptist Church,
Rev. Dr. Colman; The Tabernacle M. E. Church, Rev. George Gaul, D. D. He
was leader and singer in Evangelistic Services, at the Rink, The Old
Madison Square Garden and Cooper Union, all of New York City. The music
of the first great meeting of the world's Evangelical Alliance, held for
ten days in New York City, was under his direction, as was the first
National Sunday School convention, held in Newark, N. J. He was also
conductor at the Golden Anniversary of the Female Guardian Society,
leading a chorus of forty-two hundred children. In the opening chorus,
Great is the
Lord, by Dr. Calcott, the word "Great" was given with so
much decision and power that the clergymen on the platform sprang to
their feet and remained standing until the chorus was finished.
He taught voice
culture in Princeton and Lafayette Universities, The Union Theological
Seminary, New York City; Crozer Seminary, Chester, Pa., and organized
the music department of Temple University, Philadelphia, continuing in
charge four years. He had charge of the children's choir of Howard
Mission, New York City, for twenty-five years, and thinks that some of
the happiest and most restful of the working hours were spent in
teaching the poor children of the fourth and sixth wards to sing the
Gospel. Mr. Sankey said to Mr. Perkins that "
Jesus of Nazareth
was my banner song for eight years."
Jesus is Mine
has been sung at the Christian's death-bed, the grave, and once as the
convict was going to the scaffold.
His
Christmas Carol
Sweetly Carol had a very large sale in this country, and was
republished in England, France, Italy, and Germany.
For a period of
forty years he has made the study of the voice special work. The most
thorough investigations of the voice and its possibilities were made
with the assistance of the late John Howard, extending over a period of
twenty-five years, during which he has had the care of over two thousand
voices. He published a work entitled,
Physiological Yoice
Culture, edited by his son, the late T. Edward Perkins, M.
D., physician and throat specialist of Philadelphia. Mr. Perkins also
completed a method of voice culture based on the principles of John
Howard's
Physiology of Artistic Singing."
During these years of work he has found time to edit thirty-four books
of church, Sunday-school, day-school, and glee music, the larger portion
having been previously mentioned. Also songs and ballads in sheet form,
and a cantata entitled,
The Excursion,
libretto by Fanny Crosby, with whom there has existed an unbroken
friendship for over forty years.
Lyrics by
Catherine Bonar
|
Fade, fade, each earthly joy;
Jesus is mine.
Break ev'ry tender tie;
Jesus is mine.
Dark is the wilderness,
Earth has no resting place,
Jesus alone can bless;
Jesus is mine.Tempt not my
soul away;
Jesus is mine.
Here would I ever stay;
Jesus is mine.
Perishing things of clay,
Born but for one brief day,
Pass from my heart away;
Jesus is mine. |
Farewell, ye dreams of night;
Jesus is mine.
Lost in this dawning bright,
Jesus is mine.
All that my soul has tried
Left but a dismal void;
Jesus has satisfied;
Jesus is mine.Farewell,
mortality;
Jesus is mine.
Welcome, eternity;
Jesus is mine.
Welcome, O loved and blest,
Welcome, sweet scenes of rest,
Welcome, my Savior’s breast;
Jesus is mine. |
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