Today’s hymn focus will be

“At Calvary”

William R Newell was born on May 22, 1868 to a pastor in Savannah, Ohio. Those who knew him considered him to be a ‘humble man”, but that was not the always the case. He had been a rebellious teen and his father wrote several letters requesting that Dr. Torrey, President of Moody Bible Institute, allow his son to enroll. It was only with the stipulation that William would meet each day with him and agree to uphold the rules and requirements of the Institute that he was allowed to attend.

The boy faithfully visited his office each day and would answer the questions asked of him with wisdom from God’s word. Finally, after months of counseling, Torrey led him to Christ. He later returned to Moody Bible Institute as a teacher, writing the words to this hymn and having his friend, Daniel Towner, compose the tune in about an hour in 1895.

  Mercy there was great, and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me

  There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary!

This hymn is very special to me, as it was one of my dad’s favorites. Much like Newell, my dad found his way to Calvary because of a pastor who looked past the rough exterior and saw him for who he could be in Jesus.

We need to share the message of mercy and grace with those around us each and every day!

YOUTUBE:

At Calvary