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James McGranahan

1840 - 1907 Topics: Poder Divino Author of "Ved los millones " in Celebremos Su Gloria James McGranahan USA 1840-1907. Born at West Fallowfield, PA, uncle of Hugh McGranahan, and son of a farmer, he farmed during boyhood. Due to his love of music his father let him attend singing school, where he learned to play the bass viol. At age 19 he organized his first singing class and soon became a popular teacher in his area of the state. He became a noted musician and hymns composer. His father was reluctant to let him pursue this career, but he soon made enough money doing it that he was able to hire a replacement farmhand to help his father while he studied music. His father, a wise man, soon realized how his son was being used by God to win souls through his music. He entered the Normal Music School at Genesco, NY, under William B Bradbury in 1861-62. He met Miss Addie Vickery there. They married in 1863, and were very close to each other their whole marriage, but had no children. She was also a musician and hymnwriter in her own right. For a time he held a postmaster’s job in Rome, PA. In 1875 he worked for three years as a teacher and director at Dr. Root’s Normal Music Institute. He because well-known and successful as a result, and his work attracted much attention. He had a rare tenor voice, and was told he should train for the operatic stage. It was a dazzling prospect, but his friend, Philip Bliss, who had given his wondrous voice to the service of song for Christ for more than a decade, urged him to do the same. Preparing to go on a Christmas vacation with his wife, Bliss wrote McGranahan a letter about it, which McGranahan discussed with his friend Major Whittle. Those two met in person for the first time at Ashtubula, OH, both trying to retrieve the bodies of the Bliss’s, who died in a bridge-failed train wreck. Whittle thought upon meeting McGranahan, that here is the man Bliss has chosen to replace him in evangelism. The men returned to Chicago together and prayed about the matter. McGranahan gave up his post office job and the world gained a sweet gospel singer/composer as a result. McGranahan and his wife, and Major Whittle worked together for 11 years evangelizing in the U.S., Great Britain, and Ireland. They made two visits to the United Kingdom, in 1880 and 1883, the latter associated with Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey evangelistic work. McGranahan pioneered use of the male choir in gospel song. While holding meetings in Worcester, MA, he found himself with a choir of only male voices. Resourcefully, he quickly adapted the music to those voices and continued with the meetings. The music was powerful and started what is known as male choir and quartet music. Music he published included: “The choice”, “Harvest of song”, “Gospel Choir”,, “Gospel hymns #3,#4, #5, #6” (with Sankey and Stebbins), “Songs of the gospel”, and “Male chorus book”. The latter three were issued in England. In 1887 McGranahan’s health compelled him to give up active work in evangelism. He then built a beautiful home, Maplehurst, among friends at Kinsman, OH, and settled down to the composition of music, which would become an extension of his evangelistic work. Though his health limited his hours, of productivity, some of his best hymns were written during these days. McGranahan was a most lovable, gentle, modest, unassuming, gentleman, and a refined and cultured Christian. He loved good fellowship, and often treated guests to the most delightful social feast. He died of diabetes at Kinsman, OH, and went home to be with his Savior. John Perry

Henry Maxwell Wright

1849 - 1931 Person Name: H. M. W. Topics: Poder Divino Translator of "Ved los millones " in Celebremos Su Gloria Born in Lisbon, 7 December 1849 to English parents who were Christians. He returned to England and worked in business. After helping Dwight Moody in evangelism campaigns in England in 1874 and 1875 he abandoned his business career and became an evangelist in England and Scotland. He returned to Portugal on several occasions for evangelism meetings and wrote many hymns in Portuguese.

Carol Owens

b. 1931 Topics: Poder Divino Author of "En el nombre del Señor Jesús" in Celebremos Su Gloria Owens, Carol Sue. (El Reno, Oklahoma, October 30, 1931-- ). Foursquare. Attended San Jose State College, San Jose, California; Cathedral School of the Bible, Oakland, Calif. With her husband James (Jimmy), she composed Christian musicals. --Terry W. York, DNAH Archives

Leonard E. Smith

b. 1942 Person Name: Leonard E. Smith, Jr. Topics: Poder Divino Author of "Reina Dios" in Celebremos Su Gloria Leonard Earl ‘Lenny’ Smith, Jr USA 1942-present. Born at Philadelphia, PA, the son of a career Marine Corp father and Catholic mother. The family moved around frequently due to his father’s transfers. They lived in PA, VA, CA, NC, Guam, and finally NJ. He was raised Protestant, though his mother was a devout Catholic. She would drop the children off at a Protestant church at the insistence of her non-religious husband, then attend her own church. When Smith was 12, his father left the family, he then attended the Catholic church with his mother. He wished to prepare for the priesthood and in 1960 studied at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary, Menominee, MI, then at Mt St Paul Seminary, Waukesha, WI. and Mt St Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, where, in 1965, he started writing songs for the guitar masses introduced there. In 1967 he left the seminary, but lead mass at different Catholic churches. He then attended at Augustinian Catholic Villanova University, Villanova, PA. In 1968, over the course of five years, he was a teacher for three Catholic high schools and one public school. After his first year at a high school in Haddon Township, NJ, he was dismissed, due to a ‘strained relationship’ with the principal over a student being abused by another teacher, and he reporting it. The next year he taught at Gloucester Catholic HS, Gloucester, NJ, and had a good year there. Smith married Marian Wehrle, and they had five children: Daniel, Rachel, Megan, David, and Andrew. He and wife Marian became involved in the Catholic Charismatic Movement, that included expressive dancing, and speaking in tongues. In 1970 they attended a Protestant Charismatic church in Philadelphia called The Gospel Temple. For two years Smith lead similar worship at an off-shoot church in NJ, called the Living Word Community, but resigned over concerns about the church’s doctrine of ‘shepherding’. The next year he wished to teach at a public school and taught Latin and English at Cinnaminson HS, Cinnaminson, NJ. During this time, he became involved with the Charismatic Movements and had a dramatic spiritual awakening. He decided to teach his regular coursework Monday-Thursday and teach Bible on Fridays, though many students were Jewish. Parental complaints resulted in his being let go at the end of the school year. In 1970 he returned to Gloucester Catholic HS teaching religion. Along with standard curriculum, he brought his guitar to class, sang, prayed, and read the Bible. He held a once-a-month prayer gathering in town for his students. The priests there were worried that he was starting a cult, and at year-end he was let go. He then took on carpentry and house painting work to support the family. In 1972 he started teaching religion at Bishop Eustace Prep School, Cherry Hill, NJ. He continued bringing his guitar to class and leading mass in the chapel. The head of the religion department refused to let him teach that Jesus was the only Messiah, wanting him to teach that there were many Messiahs, like Martin Luther king, and Mahatma Gandhi. When Smith refused, he was forced to resign. He returned to house painting, and eventually remodeling and building houses. For the next 35 years he worked on houses by day and wrote songs at night, and lead worship in various churches on Sundays. Depressed and without work in 1973, he read Isaiah 52:7 and wrote the gospel song ‘Our God Reigns’. A traveling evangelist, Bob Mumford, heard Smith sing his song at church and loved it. Mumford taught it at each church and conference he visited all over the world during the next couple of years. An Australian Company, Scripture in Song, released a songbook in 1979 with two of Smith’s songs in it, and a Catholic Prayer community in Ann Arbor, MI, also released a songbook and album, after which world-wide attention was brought to his songs, ‘Our God Reigns’ was embraced and used by Protestant and Catholic denominations around the world. It was a favorite of Pope John Paul II, and was used during his North and South American visits in 1999. Pope Benedict XVI heard it sung at his papal mass at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, Scotland in 2010. Smith was involved with both Catholic and Protestant Charismatics and Pentecostals because both groups had interest in the same things. His home church became the Gospel Temple of Philadelphia. A singer, songwriter, and music publisher of pop, gospel, folk, and contemporary Christian music, Smith, now retired, still works on his music for his publishing company, Great Comfort Records, Clarksboro, NJ. His son, Daniel also started a recording label titled: Sounds Familyre Records, and eldest daughter, Rachel, writes and records worship music on Smith’s record label. John Perry

Luise Reichardt

1779 - 1826 Person Name: Luise Reichart Topics: Poder Divino Composer of "ARMAGEDDON" in Celebremos Su Gloria Caroline Luise Reichardt Germany 1779-1826. Born in Berlin to middle class parents and musical composers, she received some formal education and musical training from her father and his friends, but also was self-taught. Her grandfather was Konzertmeister, and her father was Kapellmeister at the court of Frederick, the Great. Louise was musical and had a good voice. She played piano and sang. In 1800 four of her own compositions were published along with a collection of her father’s songs. The Reichardts entertained well-known literary figures of the day. She later used poetry from Phillip Ludwig Achim von Arnim in a collection of 12 songs she composed. In 1809 she settled in Hamburg, Germany, where she made a living as a singing teacher and composed music. She also organized and directed a women’s chorus. She did behind-the-scenes conducting of music when she could. She was known for her untiring efforts in the production of Handel choral works, translating and preparing texts and choruses to be conducted by male counterparts. She also translated the Latin works of Hasse and Graun into German. She played a significant role in the formation of the German choral movement, a driving force in 19th century musical nationalism. She composed 75+ songs and choral pieces in various styles and accompaniments. Her husband-to-be, Friedrich August Eschen, died suddenly on the eve before their wedding. Her second husband-to-be, a painter, Franz Gareis, also died before their wedding. She died at Hamburg, Germany. John Perry

Harry Emerson Fosdick

1878 - 1969 Person Name: Harry E. Fosdick Topics: Poder Divino Author of "Dios de gracia, Dios de gloria" in Celebremos Su Gloria Born: May 24, 1878, Buffalo, New York. Died: October 5, 1969, Bronxville, New York. Fosdick attended Colgate University, Union Theological Seminary, and Columbia University. Ordained in 1903, he pastored at the First Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey, from 1904 to 1915. At Union Theological Seminary, he lectured on Baptist principles and homiletics (1908-1915) and was professor of practical theology (1915-1946). He also found time to serve as associate minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York (1919-1925), and pastor of Park Avenue Baptist Church (1929-1946). His picture was on the cover of Time magazine, September 21, 1925. His works include: A Guide to Understanding the Bible, 1938 The Living of These Days (an autobiography), 1956 A Book of Public Prayers, 1960 © The Cyber Hymnal™ (www.hymntime.com/tch)

George William Warren

1828 - 1902 Person Name: George W. Warren Topics: Poder Divino Composer of "NATIONAL HYMN" in Celebremos Su Gloria George W. Warren (b. Albany, NY, 1828; d. New York, 1902) received his general education at Racine College in Wisconsin, but as a musician he was largely self-trained. An organist in a number of Episcopal churches, he played the organ for thirty years (1870-1900) at St. Thomas Church in New York City. Warren composed anthems and liturgical service music; his hymn tunes were collected in Warren's Hymns and Tunes as Sung in St. Thomas Church (1888). Bert Polman

Charles Wesley

1707 - 1788 Topics: Poder Divino Author of "Oh, que tuviera lenguas mil" in Celebremos Su Gloria Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepened, and he became one of the first band of "Oxford Methodists." In 1735 he went with his brother John to Georgia, as secretary to General Oglethorpe, having before he set out received Deacon's and Priest's Orders on two successive Sundays. His stay in Georgia was very short; he returned to England in 1736, and in 1737 came under the influence of Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, especially of that remarkable man who had so large a share in moulding John Wesley's career, Peter Bonier, and also of a Mr. Bray, a brazier in Little Britain. On Whitsunday, 1737, [sic. 1738] he "found rest to his soul," and in 1738 he became curate to his friend, Mr. Stonehouse, Vicar of Islington, but the opposition of the churchwardens was so great that the Vicar consented that he "should preach in his church no more." Henceforth his work was identified with that of his brother John, and he became an indefatigable itinerant and field preacher. On April 8, 1749, he married Miss Sarah Gwynne. His marriage, unlike that of his brother John, was a most happy one; his wife was accustomed to accompany him on his evangelistic journeys, which were as frequent as ever until the year 1756," when he ceased to itinerate, and mainly devoted himself to the care of the Societies in London and Bristol. Bristol was his headquarters until 1771, when he removed with his family to London, and, besides attending to the Societies, devoted himself much, as he had done in his youth, to the spiritual care of prisoners in Newgate. He had long been troubled about the relations of Methodism to the Church of England, and strongly disapproved of his brother John's "ordinations." Wesley-like, he expressed his disapproval in the most outspoken fashion, but, as in the case of Samuel at an earlier period, the differences between the brothers never led to a breach of friendship. He died in London, March 29, 1788, and was buried in Marylebone churchyard. His brother John was deeply grieved because he would not consent to be interred in the burial-ground of the City Road Chapel, where he had prepared a grave for himself, but Charles said, "I have lived, and I die, in the Communion of the Church of England, and I will be buried in the yard of my parish church." Eight clergymen of the Church of England bore his pall. He had a large family, four of whom survived him; three sons, who all became distinguished in the musical world, and one daughter, who inherited some of her father's poetical genius. The widow and orphans were treated with the greatest kindness and generosity by John Wesley. As a hymn-writer Charles Wesley was unique. He is said to have written no less than 6500 hymns, and though, of course, in so vast a number some are of unequal merit, it is perfectly marvellous how many there are which rise to the highest degree of excellence. His feelings on every occasion of importance, whether private or public, found their best expression in a hymn. His own conversion, his own marriage, the earthquake panic, the rumours of an invasion from France, the defeat of Prince Charles Edward at Culloden, the Gordon riots, every Festival of the Christian Church, every doctrine of the Christian Faith, striking scenes in Scripture history, striking scenes which came within his own view, the deaths of friends as they passed away, one by one, before him, all furnished occasions for the exercise of his divine gift. Nor must we forget his hymns for little children, a branch of sacred poetry in which the mantle of Dr. Watts seems to have fallen upon him. It would be simply impossible within our space to enumerate even those of the hymns which have become really classical. The saying that a really good hymn is as rare an appearance as that of a comet is falsified by the work of Charles Wesley; for hymns, which are really good in every respect, flowed from his pen in quick succession, and death alone stopped the course of the perennial stream. It has been the common practice, however for a hundred years or more to ascribe all translations from the German to John Wesley, as he only of the two brothers knew that language; and to assign to Charles Wesley all the original hymns except such as are traceable to John Wesley through his Journals and other works. The list of 482 original hymns by John and Charles Wesley listed in this Dictionary of Hymnology have formed an important part of Methodist hymnody and show the enormous influence of the Wesleys on the English hymnody of the nineteenth century. -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1707. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the S.P.G. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. To Charles Wesley has been justly assigned the appellation of the "Bard of Methodism." His prominence in hymn writing may be judged from the fact that in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book," 623 of the 770 hymns were written by him; and he published more than thirty poetical works, written either by himself alone, or in conjunction with his brother. The number of his separate hymns is at least five thousand. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872.

William Henry Monk

1823 - 1889 Person Name: William H. Monk Topics: Poder Divino Composer of "EVENTIDE" in Celebremos Su Gloria William H. Monk (b. Brompton, London, England, 1823; d. London, 1889) is best known for his music editing of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861, 1868; 1875, and 1889 editions). He also adapted music from plainsong and added accompaniments for Introits for Use Throughout the Year, a book issued with that famous hymnal. Beginning in his teenage years, Monk held a number of musical positions. He became choirmaster at King's College in London in 1847 and was organist and choirmaster at St. Matthias, Stoke Newington, from 1852 to 1889, where he was influenced by the Oxford Movement. At St. Matthias, Monk also began daily choral services with the choir leading the congregation in music chosen according to the church year, including psalms chanted to plainsong. He composed over fifty hymn tunes and edited The Scottish Hymnal (1872 edition) and Wordsworth's Hymns for the Holy Year (1862) as well as the periodical Parish Choir (1840-1851). Bert Polman

Carrie Ellis Breck

1855 - 1934 Person Name: Carrie E. Breck Topics: Poder Divino Author of "Cristo, nuestro Jefe" in Celebremos Su Gloria Carrie Ellis Breck was born 22 January 1855 in Vermont and raised in a Christian home. She later moved to Vineland, New Jersey, and then to Portland, Oregon. She wrote verse and prose for religious and household publications, In 1884 she married Frank A. Breck. She has written between fourteen and fifteen hundred hymns. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) See also Mrs. Frank A. Breck.