It is well with my soul

“Saved alone what shall I do?” These stark and poignant words, telegraphed by Ann Spafford to her husband, Horatio, marked the devastating climax to several tragedies.

Horatio Stafford was a successful Chicago lawyer and businessman and a prominent supporter and personal friend of the great preacher D.L. Moody.  Life was going well for Ann and Horatio. Then in 1870, calamity stuck: the Stafford’s four year old son died from scarlet fever. A year later, the Stafford’s fortunes sustained another blow when the great Chicago Fire wiped out their real estate investments on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Knowing that his family needed a holiday to get over their losses, Horatio arranged to take them to England where D.L. Moody was preaching. At the last minute, however, Horatio had to change his plans because of a business emergency. It was decided that Ann should go on ahead with their four daughters whilst Horatio attended to the emergency before following behind.

So Ann and the girls boarded the French steamer Ville de Havre. Several days into the trip, the Ville de Havre ran into an English ship. In the ensuing panic, Ann made it to the deck where she waited, baby in arms and older girls clinging to her in terror. The Ville de Havre sank in 12 minutes. The force of the waters tore the baby violently from Ann’s arms, and then she passed out. Later, part of the wreckage floated to the surface supporting Ann’s unconscious body so that she could be ... saved alone. All four of her daughters drowned in the wreck: Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta.

On hearing the unspeakable news, Horatio rushed to join his devastated wife in Wales. One day, as the ship cleaved through the Atlantic rollers, the captain called Horatio to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio returned to his cabin, pulled out pen and paper and began to write:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, (it is well),

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Amen and Amen!

Cheers for now - Ian

(This blog is based on material I read on http://www.biblestudycharts.com/A_Daily_Hymn.html)