NEARER, STILL NEARER

Lelia N. Morris shunned the limelight…even though she wrote over one thousand gospel songs.  She preferred to be known as Mrs. C. M. Morris, a nondescript home maker. 

She had been born in 1862 in the mountains of Ohio.  As a child, Lelia went forward to the altar several times, seeking salvation.  Finally, a man came and laid his hand on her head, assuring her that, “God was here and ready to forgive her sins;”  that marked her conversion at age ten.  Shortly after this, she began playing the organ at prayer meetings.

At age nineteen, Lelia married Charles H. Morris, and the young couple joined the Methodist Episcopal Church.  They became active in congregational work, revivals, and camp meetings.  Lelia sang in the choir, worked in the Sunday school and in the women’s ministries.  Because the Morris home had more books than anyone else in town, their home became somewhat of a community center as students would come frequently to work on school assignments. 

In 1982 at a camp meeting, Lelia had a Pentecost-like experience.  She thought these spiritual anointings were only for preachers and bishops but was so glad to realize that she could also open her heart and let the Holy Spirit come in.

Later while sitting at her sewing machine, she suddenly realized that in her mind she was composing a hymn of her own.  Day after day, as she worked at home, the words and melody of a hymn would compose themselves in her mind.  She would go to the piano to work on it and then hide it away;  one of her first hymns was NEARER, STILL NEARER. 

As we draw ever nearer to the heart of God, He will draw us away from sin and to His haven of rest…a place of assurance and hope!