Scripture Verse

Joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Introduction

Words: Anon­y­mous, in The Me­tho­dist Hym­nal (New York: Me­tho­dist Book Con­cern, 1905), num­ber 474.

Music: Ply­mouth Al­fred G. Wat­hall, 1905 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wat­hall (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Origin of the Hymn

This hymn, which is not con­tained, so far as is known, in an­oth­er Church Col­lec­tion, was found by a mem­ber of the Comm­is­sion that com­piled this Hymn­al in the col­umns of a re­li­gious pe­ri­od­ic­al, where it was pub­lished anon­y­mous­ly. When we think of how ma­ny good and use­ful hymns are of un­known au­thor­ship, there comes to mind the fa­mil­iar coup­let of Ell­en H. Gates:

Though they may forget the singer,
They will not forget the song.

Nutter, p. 251

Lyrics

Our highest joys succeed our griefs,
And peace is born of pain;
Smiles follow bitter blinding tears,
As sunshine follows rain.

We gain our rest through weariness,
From bitter draw the sweet:
Strength comes from weakness, hope from fear,
And victory from defeat.

We reap where we have sown the seed;
Gain is the fruit of loss;
Life springs from death and, at the end,
The crown succeeds the cross.