P P Bliss - The Songwriter by William Guest and published by Classics.
The 19th century song-writer Philip P Bliss seemed to have a penchant for writing hymns inspired by a casual remark.
One night in Chicago, after hearing a sermon on “Man’s Love for God”, Bliss reversed the theme and wrote “Jesus Loves Even Me.”
Hearing D L Moody tell the story of a ship wreck caused by a fault in a lighthouse, he was inspired to write “Let the Lower Lights be Burning.”
Again, while waiting for a train in Ohio, he slipped into a church and hearing the preacher say ‘To be almost saved, is to be entirely lost’, “Almost Persuaded” was the outcome.
Sadly, however, his hymn writing ministry was abruptly brought to an end when he and his wife were travelling on a train which crashed near Ashtabula, Ohio.
Over 100 people died,
including Bliss and his wife.
All that was salvaged from the wreckage was a trunk.
When it was opened where was found, among other things, a small piece of paper on which were written the lines of an unfinished hymn... “I know not what awaits me, God kindly veils my eyes.”
This book covers the life of Bliss from his early years to the night of that fateful train journey.
