Karl Boberg & Stuart K. Hine — *Contributed by Eileen Payne (1923–2020)
One of the most beloved of all hymns in English-speaking Christendom is, How Great Thou Art. A short time ago I was made aware of how one lady from our congregation, Eileen Payne, who recently entered Glory this past Christmas Day (2020), had a very close connection to this venerated hymn and its entrance into the English speaking world. Her story was shared by her Granddaughter, Angie Jermyn, this past Sunday (January 31, 2021) in our online Trentside service (see link below for video segment). Because of the remarkable nature of the story, and since it fits so well with my reflections on “Favourite Hymns,” I could not resist asking the family’s permission to share Eileen’s story.
An Explanatory Note:
During the summer and fall of 2020, and in the final months of Eileen’s life, she took tremendous efforts to write down extensive notes of her life’s story to leave with her family. The following account is one of the treasures found in these precious notes. Most of the account was recorded in a simple point-form manner, and my desire is to preserve this account in Eileen’s own voice. Wherever I have made a slight change, explanation, or made an addition to help with readability, I have put all alterations from the original within square brackets […]. Enjoy!
Eileen’s Account:
My parents were very energetic workers in the chapel we attended; they had a role in everything that went on. Mom had a friend named Dorothy, whom I had to call, “Auntie Dorothy.” Auntie Dorothy had an uncle, who with his wife Mercy, were missionaries in Russia.
War was just starting to rumble between Russia and Germany and all non-Russians were advised to return to their homeland. Uncle Stu [Stuart K. Hine] and his wife came to live with Auntie Dorothy and her parents in the house right next door to the chapel. Uncle Stu was a great young peoples’ man, active, jolly, and everybody seemed to be his friend. He played a huge piano accordion fantastically.
One day after service, we young people milled around him, watching all his variations on the instrument. He told us that the Russians sang most of their hymns to classical music, and gave us an example. [It was] so different, regal and meaningful it seemed. After most had left, he told me he had a phrase running around in his head and couldn’t get rid of it.
He said, “You sing in a choir don’t you?” [He continued], “It seems the Lord has implanted a phrase in my head saying, ‘Do something with this Stuart!’ It goes like this Eileen: ‘Da-da-d-do, da-da! Da-do.’”
“Beethoven’s 5th,” [I replied].
“Ya! You’ve got it. I’ve written some lyrics for it (and another one too [set of lyrics]), but I can’t afford to publish two [versions]. Would you take it home and pray about it, then let me know which one [set of lyrics] you think would be the best?”
“I’d love to — thanks!” [I eagerly responded].
I showed him [the] next week the one [lyrics] I thought best. And during that week he had a call to a church that was needing a pastor badly. So I never heard anything more about our new hymn.
War time made many places shut up shop; just like Covid-19 is doing at the present time. No large gatherings, everybody staying close to home. [Things began to change in the] post war [years]. Billy Graham started rallies in the large arenas [and] we took the young people’s group to one. After the opening general hymn, Bev Shea was introduced as the soloist, [who was to sing] a brand new hymn. There was slight clapping. Then Bev came to the podium, [and with] his deep voice [began]: “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder…”
I couldn’t contain myself. I grabbed the young fellow’s knee next to me. “That’s Uncle Stu’s song! That’s the new hymn! Uncle Stu’s!” [I exclaimed].
[The] embarrassed young fellow [tried to quiet me], “Sit down and be quiet!” And a whole lot of, “Shish-ish-ish” came from the crowd.
[When Bev Shea reached] verse 5 [4], “When He shall come with shouts of acclamation and take me home…” Now [there was] lots of clapping — it was a hit!
Thank you Stuart Hine — Uncle Stu!
[*And THANK YOU Payne family for permission to share Eileen’s story!]
Stuart K. Hine’s contribution to How Great Thou Art:
Stuart Hine translated the first two verses from Russian into English. He also wrote and added verses 3 and 4 into the English composition. In 1953 Hine published two additional verses (verses 5 & 6 below)that are not included in most hymn collections. One has to wonder, were these the alternative lyrics Hine wrote years earlier and shared with a young Eileen Payne?
How Great Thou Art
[Verse 1] O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made: I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder; Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
[Refrain] Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
[Verse 2] When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. (Then sings my soul…)
[Verse 3] And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. (Then sings my soul…)
[Verse 4] When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow in humble adoration, and there proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!” (Then sings my soul…)
[Verse 5] O when I see ungrateful man defiling this bounteous earth, God’s gifts so good and great. In foolish pride, God’s holy Name reviling, and yet, in grace, His wrath and judgment wait. (Then sings my soul…)
[Vere 6] When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance, bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face. And then in love He brings me sweet assurance: “My child! for thee sufficient is my grace.” (Then sings my soul…)
