232. O have you not heard of that beautiful stream
R. Torrey, Jr.
Based on Rev. 22:1, 17: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
It is reminiscent also of Ezek. 47:1-12, the vision of the healing stream of water flowing from the house of God to the Dead Sea, causing new life to flourish. “Everything shall live whither the river cometh.” (v. 9).
An omitted stanza reads:
With murmuring sound doth it wander along
Through fields of eternal green;
Where songs of the blest, in their haven of rest
Float soft on the air serene.
The poem, with the present music, appeared in Asa Hull’s, The Casket, published in Philadelphia, 1865, where it is credited to R. Torrey, Jr. To date, no information has come to light concerning the author. He lived a generation earlier than the well known preacher and teacher, R. A. Torrey. In 1868, the hymn was published, anonymously, in Spiritual Harp, Boston, a book of songs for congregational use dedicated by the authors to “the Spiritualists and Reformers of the world, love of truth and progress.” Two years later, in 1870, the words and music appeared in England, in the Sunday School Hymnary, published by the National Sunday School Union in London.
The German version is a free translation made by Ernst Heinrich Gebhardt, 1832-99, a Methodist minister and evangelist, known in Germany, the place of his birth, as the father of German revivalistic and holiness songs. It is superior, in poetic quality and evangelistic appeal, to the English original.
Gebhardt was born in Ludwigsburg, Württemberg, July 12, 1832. He prepared to be an apothecary but later decided to go to Chile, South America, to live with relatives. After spending five years on a farm in Chile, he returned to Germany to visit his mother. A shipwreck on the return voyage resulted in a deep spiritual awakening. Arriving in Ludwigsburg, he accompanied his mother to the Sylvester service on New Year’s night, 1859, in the Methodist Church, where he dedicated his life to Christian work. Having decided to become an evangelist, he attended the school for ministers in the Methodist Church at Bremen where his zeal and musical gifts were quickly recognized. He was appointed Reiseprediger and in this capacity served in Ludwigsburg (1860-62), Heilbronn (1862-66), Pforzheim (1866-68), Bremen (1868-71), Ludwigsburg (1871-74), Zurich (1874-77), Strassburg i. E. (1877-81), Biel, Kt. Bern (1880-84), Zwickau (1884-88) and finally in Karlsruhe (1888-99). Gebhardt was married and had a family of nine children.
His activities included a trip to the United States, 1881-83, during which he travelled through 30 States. In Brighton, England, he took part in holiness meetings held there, and later travelled with R. Pearsall Smith, of Philadelphia, through Germany and Switzerland, serving as song leader in the evangelistic meetings conducted by Smith.
Gebhardt is the author of many original hymns and made over 50 translations from the English, most of them from the Moody and Sankey songs. He compiled numerous song books where his works appeared. “Ich weiss einen Strom” was published in his Frohe Botschaft, 1875, a popular book of gospel songs drawn mostly from English sources, both words and music. The third stanza, omitted here, reads:
Der Strom ist gar tief und sein Wasser ist klar,
Es schmecket so lieblich und fein;
Es heilet die Kranken und stärkt wunderbar,
Ja, machet die Unreinsten rein!
MUSIC. ICH WEISS EINEN STROM, originally entitled, “Beautiful Stream,” and written in 6/8 time, first appeared in Casket of Sunday School Melodies, 1865, published by the composer, Asa Hull, in Philadelphia. The tune is wedded inseparably to Torrey’s words. It is very popular among General Conference of Mennonites churches where it is usually sung in the slow tempo and dignity of a chorale. Neither the words nor the music, with its refrain, have the characteristics of a chorale. It is a useful song, especially for evangelistic services.
Asa Hull was born January 18, 1828, in Keene, N. Y. He studied harmony and composition with B. F. Baker and Geo. J. Webb in Boston, and at the age of 20 became organist and choirmaster at Watertown, Mass. He composed many church tunes. Hull, a pioneer publisher of Sunday school and gospel song books, was also known as a shrewd business man. His publications numbered 30 books and about 100 pamphlets. Gem of Gems, published in 1881, sold over 300,000 copies. On the fly leaf of his Casket of Sunday School Melodies is found this advertisement:
Asa Hull, Philadelphia agent for the Hallett and Cumston Piano Fortes, will keep a variety of styles and exhibits at his store, which he will sell at lower prices for cash than any other first class instrument can be bought in the city. 240 S. Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pa.