Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. ~ Colossians 3:15
Horatio Gates Spafford was a lawyer in Chicago in the 1860-70s. He had a very successful practice and invested heavily in city real estate. The Spaffords were active Presbyterian laymen. Their home was a host to the meetings of abolition and temperance societies. They did much to further these causes. In 1871 tragedy struck as the infamous Chicago fire ravaged the city and 300 people perished. One hundred thousand more were left homeless. Spafford was one of those who tried to help the people of the city get back on their feet even though he had lost everything in the fire, and yet, for two years he assisted the homeless, impoverished, and grief-stricken ruined by the fire. In 1873, worn out from the two years of rescue efforts, Spafford made plans to go on a vacation with his family. Their itinerary would take them to England to join D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey on one of their evangelistic crusades and then travel in Europe. However, due to the deal falling through on the sale of his property, he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead. He would catch up to them on the other side of the Atlantic. But their ship, the Ville de Havre, never made it. Off Newfoundland it collided with an English sailing ship, the Lochhearn, and sank within minutes. Although his wife, Anna, was able to cling to a piece of floating wreckage, one of only 47 survivors among hundreds of passengers, their four daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie, and Bessie, were lost at sea.
A cargo sailing vessel saved the survivors and nine days later Anna landed in Cardiff, Wales and cabled Horatio. He was wrapping up his affairs when he received the telegram from his wife stating: "Saved alone. What shall I do?" He sailed on the next available ship and the two finally met up with D.L. Moody. “It is well,” he told him quietly, “the will of God be done.” Though reports vary as to when, Horatio was led during those days of overwhelming grief to pen the words to one of the most moving hymns ever written. P.P. Bliss wrote the melody in 1876. It was the last tune he composed before dying a month later in a train wreck near Ashtabula, Ohio.
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
Refrain
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
- Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
Copied from “Sing to the Lord,” Copyright 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Company, Page 554*
Hymn commentary courtesy J. D. Sherrow
*Other sources for this hymn include, “Worship in Song” Copyright 1972 by Lillenas Publishing Company, Page 70, “Praise and Worship - The Nazarene Hymnal” Copyright 1951, Nazarene Publishing House, Page 156 and “Glorious Gospel Hymns - Nazarene Hymnal” Copyright 1931, Page 110.
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