WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

After a deeply moving experience in our lives, many can attest to the fact that the Holy Spirit has ministered to our need of help or comfort by using a particular hymn.  Generally, that hymn becomes a favourite we hold on to.  Such a hymn that has been used often for this purpose is, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

Joseph Scriven, was born in Dublin, Ireland to prosperous parents.  Joseph graduated from Trinity College in Dublin.  He was engaged to be married, but the night before their scheduled wedding, his fiancée was accidentally drowned. 

At the age of 25, Scriven decided to migrate to Canada and start over.  He settled in Port Hope, Ontario and developed a totally different pattern of life and ministry. It is said that he gave freely of his limited possessions and never once refused to help someone who needed it.  He preached amongst the Baptists and involved himself in the ministry of the Plymouth Brethren.

Upon learning of his mother’s serious illness and unable to be with her in far-off Northern Ireland, he wrote a letter of comfort enclosing the words of this text he had written in Port Hope.  The year was around 1855. 

It is thought that his mother shared the poem with a friend who had it published. The tune was composed by Charles C. Converse in 1868.  Ira Sankey discovered the hymn just in time to include it in his well-known collection of hymns.  He later stated that “The last hymn which went into the book became one of the first in favour”.