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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-12-30, Page 5Wednesday, December 30, 2015 • News Record 5 Hymnist Joseph Medlicott Scriven: 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' A Piece of History In 1919, famed Cana- dian editor and liter- ary critic, Edward Cas- well, called the hymn 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' beyond question the best-known piece of Canadian literature." Even in a more devoutly Christian age, it was remarkable praise con- sidering that Colonel John McCrae's `In Flan- ders Fields' was already becoming the Great War's defining poem. The inspi- rational song survives in church hymnals but little is remembered about its author, Joseph Medlicott Scriven, or that he lived in Clinton for several years where he may have penned Canada's most famous religious anthem. Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born on September 10, 1819 in Northern Ire- land to James Scriven, a captain in the Royal Marines, and Jane Medli- cott. In 1837, according to Jay MacPherson's Diction- ary of Canadian Biography entry, Scriven enrolled in the Addiscombe Military Academy but ill -health forced him to withdraw in 1839. He took a degree at Trinity College in Dublin where he converted to the radically Protestant Plym- outh Brethren. The Breth- ren believed that every male adherent was a min- ister of God and had a duty to spread the Gospel wher- ever they were called. In 1843, the drowning death of his fiance the day Huron History Dave Yates before their wedding day was the catalyst for Scriv- en's decision to emigrate to Canada Westin 1844. He taught school in Wood- stock and Brantford where he also preached and gave religious instruction. About 1855, Scriven moved to Clinton where he joined the local Plym- outh Brethren church. He taught at the Clinton Pub- lic School for 2-3 years. In his spare time, he read the Bible to work gangs on the Grand Trunk Railway where he received `small thanks for his pains: Described as 'a big man of pleasant countenance,' Scriven was 'deeply respected' in Clinton and was known 'for his piety, lack of concern for his own needs, and adherence to truth: He was one of those rare Christians who tried to live up to his faith's most noble ideals. In 1918, Elizabeth Lind- say wrote in The Toronto Globe that Scriven `backed' in a house on the Huron Road about one mile west of Clinton. Lindsay's father recalled that Scriven `cared little for this world's goods and was always ready and pleased to help others.' Another Clinton resident said that she 'never knew another person who was as constant a Christian' as Scriven. She remembered that 'he desired not hon- our or any worldly thing, but wished to be free to serve his master with a pure conscience in a hum- ble way: Scriven became a pri- vate tutor about 1857 for retired Royal Navy Com- mander Robert Pangelly's children. Scriven moved to Bewdley, near Port Hope, where he served as a `spiritual adviser' preaching to the Brethren congregation in that town and wrote several reli- gious tracts and hymns. While in the Port Hope area, he took on mythic status for his selfless deeds of Christian char- ity. MacPherson writes that Scriven's 'preaching style, with simple lan- guage and quiet unas- suming delivery was remembered, and still more so his charities, though they were silently performed. One legend has him milking the cow of an aged widow without pay for years; another has Scriven chopping wood for others and refusing payment. He was said to have sold his watch to replace a cow for a family who could not afford a replacement. However, domestic happiness eluded Scriven. In 1860, he was engaged to Elizabeth Roach but her tragic death from consumption in August 1860 left Scriven despondent. It was sometime in the 1850's that he wrote what would become the most popular nineteenth cen- tury hymn. Although it is The Clinton News Record has joined the online conversation. Follow us on twitter. us onTwitter. Find us an: twitter, facebook® @ClintonNewsRcrd impossible to know when or where he wrote it, Scriven claimed to have written 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' in a let- ter to his mother in Ire- land who was suffering from a lengthy illness. It was first published in 1869 as an unsigned work, Social Hymns, in 1865. Ironically, in 1869, Scriven published a book of 115 hymns that he had written. 'What a Friend' was not amongst the hymns Scriven thought worth publishing. It was not until 1886 that 'What a Friend' was pub- lished under Scriven's name. However, Scriven did not live long enough to enjoy his fame. Ill and una- ble to care for himself, Scriven had grown depressed and melon - choly. James Sackville, a fellow Brethren, took in the feverish Scriven. On the morning of August 10, Sackville noticed that Scriven was not in his bed. After a search, Sackville later found Scriven's life- less body in Rice Lake. Although rumours that his despondency led Scrivens to suicide, it is almost cer- tain that Scriven's delirium led to his accidental drowning. At his funeral service, Scriven was mourned by the whole community. The Port Hope Guide said that `Mr. Scriven had not an enemy in the world, he was truly a good man: He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Pengelly family cemetery. According to legend, rather than buried in the Port Hope Cemetery beside his betrothed Eliz- abeth Roach, they lie bur- ied feet to feet so that they will meet facing each other on Judgement Day. Scriven's legendary sta- tus grew after his death. In 1920, 6000 people gathered in Port Hope to unveil the Scriven Memo- rial erected over his grave and sing 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus.' Funds were raised by private subscription under the patronage of Prime Min- ister Sir Robert Borden, and future Prime Minister Mackenzie King. 'What a Friend' contin- ues to be one of the most famous hymns ever writ- ten beloved by millions. The Library of Congress cites its printing in over 1200 different hymnals. It was even parodied in Sir Richard Attenborough's brilliant anti -war musical Oh, What a Lovely War(1969). Yet, Joseph Medlicott Scriven who was considered one of the Canada's brightest liter- ary lights has been virtu- ally forgotten by his coun- try today and gone un -noticed in the town where he may have writ- ten one of history's most famous hymns. Submitted Photo Staff and volunteers at The Salvation Community and Family Services in Clinton were making Christmas bright for many children and their families during the toy distribution on December 19. Santa's Toy Shop David Hickman Lieutenant, Salvation Army The Salvation Army Com- munity and Family Services located at 32 Albert Street was transformed into Santa's workshop in the past weeks as piles of toys were arranged for local families to come and choose gifts for their children on Friday, December 19. Doz- ens of local children awoke to toys underneath their Christmas trees on Christmas Day, which may not have been the case except for the wonderful support The Salva- tion Army receives from the community to help sus- tain such programs.