Scripture Reference: Isaiah 32:2
Words by Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1830-1869, and Music by Frederick C. Maker, 1844-1927
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This meaningful hymn was written by a frail Scottish,
Presbyterian woman of the past century, who, despite her
physical frailties, was known throughout her community for
her helpful, cheery nature. Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas
Clephane, one of the few women hymn writers of Scotland,
was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but grew up in Melrose,
Scotland, in the lovely area of Abbotsford, near the old
bridge described by the well-known Scottish writer, Sir
Walter Scott, in his book, The Abbot and the Monastery.
Her father was a county sheriff, her mother a descendant
of the famous Douglas family. Elizabeth was one of three
sisters, but she was known as the delicate, retiring
member of the family. Yet within the limits of her
strength she served the poor and sick of her community,
and she and her sisters gave to charity all they did not
actually require for their daily needs. Throughout the
Melrose area Elizabeth was affectionately known to the
townspeople as "the sunbeam." Elizabeth enjoyed writing
poems and had several published in a Scottish Presbyterian
Magazine entitled The Family Treasury. However, the
majority of her writings appeared anonymously in this
magazine in 1872, three years after her early death at the
age of thirty-nine.
"Beneath the Cross of Jesus" was written by Miss Clephane
in 1868, one year before her death. It was not published,
however, until 1872, when it appeared anonymously in The
Family Treasury with several of her other poems. The
original poem consisted of five stanzas, but today only
three are used in most hymnals. It is obvious that
Elizabeth, like most Scottish Presbyterians of her day,
was an ardent Bible student for her hymn is replete with
Biblical symbolism and imagery. For example, in stanza
one:
The reference to "the mighty Rock" is taken from Isaiah
32:2.
The reference to "the weary land" is taken from Psalm
63:1.
The reference to "home within the wilderness" is taken
from Jeremiah 9:2.
The reference to "rest upon the way" is taken from Isaiah
28:12.
The reference to "noontide heat" is taken from Isaiah 4:6
The reference to "burden of the day" is taken from Matthew
11:30.
Elizabeth Celphane is also the author of "The Ninety and
Nine".
The tune for this text, named "St. Christopher,"
etymologically means "bearer of Christ." It was composed
for this text by Frederick Charles Maker, one of the
outstanding organists in the English, non-conformist
churches of that day. Maker was born in Bristol, England,
and he spent his entire active life playing in the various
churches of that city. Frederick Maker contributed a
number of hymn tunes to the 1881 edition of a hymnal
called The Bristol Tune Book. He is also the composer for
the hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind".
"Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter's power;
Your Redeemer's conflict see; watch with Him one bitter
hour; Turn not from His griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ
to pray.
"See Him at the judgment hall, beaten, bound, reviled,
arraigned; See Him meekly bearing all, love to man His
soul sustained; Shun not suffering, shame or loss; learn
of Christ to bear the cross.
"Calvary's mournful mountain climb; there adoring at His
feet, Mark that miracle of time, God's own sacrifice
complete: "It is finished!" hear Him cry; learn of Jesus
Christ to die."
Written by James Montgomery in 1822
Quoted from "101 Hymn Stories" by Kenneth Osbeck. Kregel Publishers, P.O. Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1982.
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