At only 38 years old, Phillip Bliss had already become quite an accomplished Gospel song writer in 1876 when he agreed to put the words of the poem written by Horatio G Spafford three years earlier to music. Bliss’s name appears on many beloved songs that are still cherished today (mostly by people my age and older I have to admit). Songs like Almost Persuaded, Hallelujah, What a Savior, Let the Lower Lights be Burning and Wonderful Words of Life. It is thought that if he had lived longer, he would have certainly been the most famous Christian song writer in history.
Like Horatio G Spafford, Bliss and his wife were friends of the famous minister DL Moody who had been instrumental in persuading Bliss to give up his successful career in secular music and devote his life to the Lord through his music.
A momentous event took place. Spafford asked his friend Bliss to put the poem he had written after the tragic death of his three daughters to music.
On Friday Novermber 24th Bliss was at a Gospel Meeting conducted by DL Moody with over 1000 ministers present when he sang a contemporary favorite song “Are Your Windows Open Toward Jeruselem?” Then he sang a new song for the very first time: “It is Well With My Soul”. I can just imagine what those ministers felt when they heard the song written by Horatio G Spafford and Phillip Bliss for the first time. Nobody could have dreamed that Bliss would only have a little over a month to live. Before his passing he conducted a service for 800 inmates at the Michigan State Prison. Many were moved to genuine repentance when he sang the song Hallelujah, What a Savior. At that meeting, he sang the last song he would ever sing called Eternity.
Phillip Bliss and his wife Lucy spent Christmas of 1876 with his mother and sister in Pennsylvania. They planned to travel to Chicago to work with DL Moody in January, but a telegram arrived asking them to go to the Windy City earlier than expected. Philip and Lucy decided to leave their two children George age 4 and little Phillip Paul age 1, with his mother. They sent their luggage ahead and caught the first train they could to Chicago.
The weather was awful as the locomotive pressed through driving wind and deep snow through the countryside in Ohio. As the train crossed the Ashtabula River the engineer of the first of two locomotives felt the bridge buckle as the train neared the other side of the bridge. He applied full power and the big engine made it across safely. However, the second engine as well as the cars behind it broke lose and one, by one, plunged to the snow covered river bank below. The scene was horrific as cars coming off of the track crashed into cars below, but the scene would get worse.
Joseph Bliss managed to escape through a window but soon learned that his precious wife Lucy was trapped in the steel wreckage and couldn’t get out. In those early days of the railroad, cars were mostly made of wood and steel. They were lit with lanterns and heated with wood stoves. It only took a short while for the cars to catch on fire and the car was quickly becoming engulfed when Phillip went back in to rescue his wife. That was the last anyone ever saw of the loving Christian couple, living or dead. The fire was so fierce that neither of their bodies were found.
The Ashtabula Horror was the common name given to the Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster which killed approximately 92 people, and it stood as the worst rail accident in U.S. History until the Great Train Wreck of 1918 in Nashville, Tennessee where two trains collided head on and killed 101 people.
After the disaster they looked through the Bliss’ luggage that had arrived safely in Chicago. There they found the words to several songs that Phillip Bliss had written. If the music was in his head we will never know. One particular song was called My Redeemer and became world famous when James Mc Granathan, who took Bliss’ place as the music minister with DL Moody, brought the song to life by putting it to music. The song My Redeemer became one of the first songs ever recorded by Thomas Edison.
The funeral of Phillip and Lucy Bliss was held in Rome, Pennsylvania on January 5th 1877. There were 8000 people in the hall where the funeral was held and 4000 people stood outside to show their love for the great man. Among those who loved him was his friend Horatio G Spafford who wrote the words to the tune Bliss added. It is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought (a thought)
My sin, not in part, but the whole (every bit, every bit, all of it)
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more (yes!)
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Sing it is well
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul!
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Sing up to Jesus, it is well!
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.