HYMNS AND THEIR STORIES – 3. “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Author: Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane (1830–1869) Tune: St. Christopher, composed by Frederick Charles Maker (1844–1927) Tune: Beneath the cross of Jesus, composed by Ira D. Sankey (1840–1908)

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lizabeth Clephane was a frail Scottish Presbyterian with a delicate, retiring nature, but admired for her helpful, cheery character, and referred to affectionately by others as “the sunbeam.” Elizabeth wrote many poems which were published, but this one was written in 1868, just a year before she died at age thirty-nine. Her five-stanza poem reflects abundant Bible truths. For example: “the mighty Rock” – Isaiah 32:2 “the weary land” – Psalm 63:1 “home within the wilderness” – Jeremiah 9:2 “rest upon the way” – Isaiah 28:12 “noontide heat” – Isaiah 4:6 “burden of the day” – Matthew 11:30 The tune “St. Christopher” was composed by Frederick C. Maker, who was an outstanding organist in an English, non-conformist church. He also wrote the tune “Rest” for the hymn “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” What can we say about this hymn? It surely transports us to Calvary, the hill upon which our Saviour sacrificed His life on behalf of a world of sinful people. We stand there, with Jesus’ mother Mary and with the Apostle John; we weep over the magnitude of our Saviour’s sufferings and the extreme depths of His eternal love. His outstretched arms embrace us, and like a guard rail protect us from the blackness of a lost eternity in hell. Here we are conscious of the shame of our sinful lives, and we glory only in His Cross. Anthony K. Chamberlain.

1. Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty Rock Within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat And the burden of the day. 2. O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet, O trysting-place where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet! As to the holy patriarch That wondrous dream was given, So seems my Saviour’s cross to me, A ladder up to heaven. 3. There lies beneath its shadow, But on the farther side, The darkness of an awful grave That gapes both deep and wide; And there between us stands the cross, Two arms outstretched to save; Like a watchman set to guard the way From that eternal grave. 4. Upon that cross of Jesus Mine eyes at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess – The wonder of His glorious love, And my own worthlessness. 5. I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His face; Content to let the world go by, To know no gain nor loss – My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.