SOFTLY AND TENDERLY

A monthly series on a beloved hymn of the faith.

A publisher's rejection led to one of the most loving “invitation” hymns of all time: ”Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling.” Written—both music and lyrics—by Will Lamartine Thompson, it was widely used in the American and British crusades of evangelist Dwight L. Moody. The evangelist appreciated the hymn (and its author) so much, that as Moody lay dying in a hospital—with restricted visitors—he especially asked that Thompson come. The story is that Moody told him, “Will, I would rather have written 'Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling' than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”

That kind commendation went to a someone known all his life as a gracious, simple, and sincere man. The youngest of seven children, Thompson was born in 1847 in Ohio to a merchant and banker who also served two terms in the Ohio State legislature. His mother was active in social and charitable work. Thompson began composing music in his early teens. First educated at a nearby college, he furthered his music studies at the Boston Conservatory of Music and in Leipzig, Germany.

At first, Thompson wrote secular and patriotic songs but faced early disappointment when a Cleveland publisher offered only $25 for his work. He returned home, prayed about it, and then went on a business trip to New York on behalf of his father. While there, he showed his songs to another publisher. Two would become hits: “My Home on the Old Ohio” and “Gathering Shells from the Sea.” He'd become known as the “Bard of Ohio” and became a millionaire through his music royalties.

But something else tugged at his heart. He was a member of the Churches of Christ, which sought to return to the New Testament's original teachings and practices. After attending a meeting in which Dwight Moody preached, Thompson decided to dedicate himself to writing only Christian songs. He established a music company, publishing “Softly and Tenderly” in his first song collections in 1880. His Christian quartet books would sell two million copies. Besides “Softly and Tenderly,” his most popular songs would include “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” “Lead Me Gently Home, Father,” and “There's a Great Day Coming.”

Altogether he wrote 71 hymn texts. He once recalled how words or melodies would come to him at odd times. He admitted: “No matter where I am, at home or hotel, at the store or traveling, if an idea or theme comes to me that I deem worthy of a song, I jot it down in verse. That way I never lose it.”

Despite his wealth and success, Thompson remained a simple and sincere man. He was concerned that because famous musicians performed in large cities, the small towns and rural areas didn't have such exposure to good music. He involved himself in the solution, loading an upright piano on his two-horse wagon and driving it out into rural Ohio to play and sing his own songs in small churches.

Little did he realize that more than a century later, his music would be performed before millions, via television and movies, by such stars as Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Carrie Underwood, The Andrews Sisters, Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Anne Murray, Amy Grant, and the trio of Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Kelly Clarkson.

In 1909, Thompson became ill during a tour in Europe, and died a few weeks after returning home. Did the words of “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” come to him during his last hours? We can only imagine.

Anne Murray sings this hymn on a You-Tube with classic spiritual art:

 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22softly+and+tenderly+jesus+is+calling%22&view=detail&mid=12E05E9284AB2FEE0B0C12E05E9284AB2FEE0B0C&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3d%2522softly%2band%2btenderly%2bjesus%2bis%2bcalling%2522%26form%3dANSPH1%26refig%3decccf1808d704d09b4f12b313d98fca2%26pc%3dU531