BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES

The hymn, BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES, was written by one who definitely was involved in gospel ministry throughout his days on earth.  Knowles Shaw, was known as the ‘Singing Evangelist’.  He wrote this hymn in 1874.

Four years later, he and Elder Kirk Baxter boarded a train in Dallas, en route to McKinney, Texas, where Shaw was beginning an evangelistic campaign.  The two of them struck up a conversation with a Methodist minister named Malloy.  Later, Baxter wrote about their visit and what ensued:

"The Methodist Minister asked Knowles to tell him the secret of his success in evangelistic ministry.  Brother Shaw set about in earnest to do that.  He said he depended much on the power of song, he preached Christ and always placed and kept Jesus before the people.  He went on to tell that he never became discouraged, but had confidence in the Gospel truth as the power of God.  He loved his work and became wholly absorbed in it.  'Oh,' he said, 'it is a grand thing to rally people to the Cross of Christ!' ”

At that very moment, the train car lurched off the track.  Malloy and Baxter were saved…and Malloy recounts how Knowles pushed him out of some danger and saved his life.  Shaw, on the other hand, was killed in the mishap and was found in the wreckage with his hand and finger pointing towards heaven!  He had entered heaven rejoicing while still…BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES!