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 & 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.