As I cataloged books gifted to our humble, tiny book nook at my small and humble church I came across a marvelous treasure: One Hundred and One Hymn Stories, by Carl F. Price. Copyright - 1923. The book, according to the preface, is offered as an aid to pastors and Sunday school directors “…as a means of arousing greater interest in the message of the hymn and as an antidote to thoughtless, mechanical singing so prevalent in Sunday schools and even in worship.” (Page 6, preface). I re-read the words “thoughtless, mechanical singing…” several times, trying to determine if the tone was one of rebuke or of helpfulness. I couldn’t decide. Still, if Mr. Price were here today and participated in worship service at my small church, he would hear much passion in the chorals and hymns offered to the glory of God. Music, in my heart at least, especially hymnody, reveals the passion of personal faith, communicating that faith, the depth of which too frequently goes unacknowledged.

Nevertheless, there was a purpose of this little yellowed book I held in my hand. Each hymn has a story, according to the author, and he endeavored to tell the story of one-hundred-and-one of the old familiar (at the time) songs. And, so I read. It was amusing, in a morbid way, to read such statements as, “in the Civil War back in the sixties”, and to “the Great War.” Many of the hymn titles were unfamiliar, this precious heritage lost to hymnal revisions and changing attitudes. But several are still sung in worship services across denomination boundaries today, even though they are well over a hundred years old.

In particular is “Just as I Am Without One Plea”, by Charlotte Elliott (1789 - 1871). What a fascinating story! Not unlike others who imagine that coming to Christ is difficult, Miss Elliott rebuked at first an inquiry by a family friend concerning her soul’s salvation. She was an invalid, unable to participate in much of life around her; and she was bitter. Mockingly, she asked the man just how she might find a way to Christ. His response: “Dear Charlotte, cut the cable. It will take too long to unloose it. Cut it. It’s a small loss anyway. You must come to Christ just as you are.” (p.18)

Miss Elliott pondered these words for a time, there was no instant “aha and hallelujah!” conversion event. But in time, as the story continues, just as she was she came to Christ and found the peace that passes all understanding. And she put that Coming-to-Christ moment to verse:

Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy Blood was shed for me, And that Thou biddest me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve. Because Thy promise I believe. O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down. Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Antique hymnody especially resounds with passion to bring to Jesus the lost. All of the one-page petite biographies found in this aged text express the hymn authors’ passionate faith stories of salvation, shared through verse simple enough that a child can comprehend. Whether the authors’ own conversion story, or the passion of patiently preaching in hopes of reaching those who “feel the burden of sin or the want of a Savior”, as in the case of Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788, Depth of Mercy, Can There Be), the jewel given to us today, that we hold in our heart, is hope. Jesus, remember me.

My own faith is echoed in the Sunday morning hymns, especially the old ones. Perhaps because I carry no musical gift. I am, therefore, content in the position of listener. Yet verse set to melody opens wide the doors to my soul in a way that conversation cannot. Sunday morning hymns are, for me, pure passion -- expressing adoration and praise and thanksgiving to the One Who Died in my place, even for one so undeserving as me, “with many a conflict, many a doubt, fighting and fears within, without, Oh Lamb of God, I come” just as I am.

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