239. There is a place of quiet rest
Cleland B. McAfee, 1866-1944
The heart of the message of this popular devotional hymn, according to a statement made by the author to the present writer, is in the second stanza, “There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God.” Cleland B. McAfee was a distinguished preacher, author, and teacher in the Presbyterian Church. He was accustomed to write an original hymn for the communion service in his church. It was in 1901, during his pastorate in Chicago, that a great sorrow came into his life occasioned by the death of his nephew. The communion was to be held the following Sunday and the members of the congregation came to the church tense with speculation about the service and the kind of hymn their pastor had composed for the day. These simple words and tune were offered them and seemed to fit the occasion perfectly. Since then the hymn has been translated into many languages and gone all over the world. It was not included in the new Presbyterian Hymnal, 1933, because the words and music were considered to be more of the nature of a gospel song than a hymn.
Cleland M. McAfee received his education at Park College and Union Theological Seminary, New York. From 1888 to 1901, he was pastor and professor at Park College; pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Chicago, 1901-04; and of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, 1904-12. He later was connected with McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, first as Professor of Systematic Theology and then as president of the institution. He is the author of several books on religious subjects, and also wrote extensively on foreign missions, a subject in which he had a keen interest.