Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Horatio G. Spafford - "It is Well with My Soul"

This summer at St. Paul's I'm preaching on the favorite hymns of the congregation, and tying them into the lectionary. This week is "It is Well with My Soul." (view sermon) I thought I remembered that the hymn author didn't have a happy ending to his life, despite the inspiring and touching story of how the hymn was written, but I had to search long and hard before I found the ending to his story:

from the Christian Network: "In his late life Spafford experienced a mental disturbance which prompted him to go to Jerusalem under the strange delusion that he was the second Messiah. He died there in 1888 at the age of sixty."

It's a sad ending to his life, but I wish people wouldn't tend to exclude it from the story and try to make him into some saint who never faltered in the face of sorrow in his life. Sometimes the real story is more moving . . .

posted by Elizabeth at 1:34 AM  

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7 Comments:

NuttyB said...

It troubles me, also, that Spafford's breakdown is so rarely mentioned--and only in an absurdly swift passing comment, if it is. That is not right. Christ saves us, yes, He saves us in our full humanity. There are people who suffer from mental instability who may need to hear the end of the story.

5:14 PM  
Anonymous said...

I read a different story. From http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/p/spafford_hg.htm: "Spafford and his wife had a consistent history of acting on their faith. After the great Chicago fire of 1871, they devoted counless hours to helping the survivors. In 1881, they moved to Jerusalem (taking two daughters born after the shipwreck tragedy) and helped found a group called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later became the subject of Nobel prize winning Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlof."

Who is telling the truth?

3:16 PM  
Elizabeth said...

Anonymous - i did some follow up searching. I don't argue with his founding of the American Colony - this much is true. But in several places there is still mention that he because delusional before his death, believing he was the second Messiah. What seems to be in question is whether this happened before or after he went to Jerusalem, but either way, this is still, sadly, how he died - in this state of delusion.

3:26 PM  
Anonymous said...

This is my favorite hymn... and finding out the ending of the author's life only makes it the more so. I think many people may have missed the point. It doesn't matter when or where Spafford suffered his mental breakdown. We are all subject to mental illness, sinner or saint, rich or poor, blessed or unfortunate. We are all subject to calamity, ruin, or untimely death. Bless his heart, I can't imagine the depth of his and his wife's sorrow. I doubt that many of us would be able to keep our sanity with a life of such pain. The key truth to Spafford's life, is that no matter what the trouble or how much ill-fortune, all was well with his soul. Could we say as much under much less distress? His song helps me say, "Yes, it is well with my soul". ~ Kevin

11:30 PM  
DebbieMomToo said...

Could it also be that the rumors of delusion that are spoken of with Spafford could have been caused by the malaria fever he had when he died? His daughter's book, Our Jerusalem, gives a good account.

6:01 PM  
Pilgrim said...

I am a relative and I have it on the best authority -- Let us be clear about this: Horatio Gates Spafford suffered no "mental breakdown". That is why it is rarely mentioned - it simply did not happen! Various people embroider the story in an attempt to make it fit whatever sermon/blog they are trying to make their money/reputation out of. It is shamefull. If their motive had been one of academic truth/bibliography, or the like, they would have been wise to run their article by the relatives first. Bethquick, I am ashamed of you.

8:09 PM  
Elizabeth said...

Pilgrim, I'm ashamed that you'd accuse me of trying to bolster my reputation or somehow make money by mentioning what several sources indicate. If I'm in error, I'm in error, but it is unreasonable to expect anyone doing research on a figure to contact any living relatives available. That's unrealistic - any good researcher simply finds sources - I had no reason to suspect mine to be in error. Don't "shame on me" like I'm a child or intending to hurt someone. I think it is more shameful to anonymously and rudely leave insulting comments on someone's blog.

8:43 PM  

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