In 1819 near the village of Banbridge, County Down, Ireland, a baby boy was born. His Irish mother called him Joseph.
The parents of Joseph made sure that he received a good education. In 1842, he graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, with a bachelor of arts degree.
Now, a young man with a quarter century behind him, Joseph felt the sharp pangs of tragedy strike for the first time. The young Irish woman whom he intended to marry was thrown from a horse while crossing the Ban River… and was drowned.
In his sorrow, Joseph turned his life course away from his native Ireland and by the middle of the 1800’s had emigrated to Canada. In a little rural village called Bailieboro, Joseph became the private tutor to the children of a family called Pengelly.
The two thousand acre Pengelly Farm on the banks of Rice Lake was the scene of many happy moments for him, teaching the Pengelly children, ministering in the farm’s log chapel built for the pioneer families (for Joseph was a Christian) and he found the love of a beautiful lady, the niece of Commander Pengelly. But, that love was to be short-lived. After her conversion, and subsequent baptism in the icy waters of the lake, pneumonia developed… and then tuberculosis. And at the age of 23, she went to be with her new found Lord.
Though a Christian’s heart does not sorrow over death, as those without hope, one can fully sympathize with the young Irishman over this second tragic loss of a sweetheart. He was so grieved by this tragedy that left teaching.
Joseph never married. He spent the last twenty five years of his life with winters spent in Bewdley and the summers in Port Hope. Here he performed hundreds acts of Christian charity, giving the needy his clothing, money and his labour. He was often seen walking the streets of Port Hope carrying a saw and sawhorse. He cut wood for the destitute, delivered milk for his landlady and cared for the sick without payment. He could quote scripture for any occasion, and he even preached on Walton Street, Port Hope’s business thoroughfare. He gave away his money and most of his possessions and worked to help the poor and the destitute
On an August night in 1886, he became ill, and flushed with fever wandered out of the house. On the morning of August 10th, after an all night search, his friends found him on the banks of Rice Lake… in an attitude of prayer… but his spirit had fled his body. Tenderly he was laid to rest in the little Pengelly cemetery beside the remains of her whom he loved so well.
During 31 winters, the snows of Ontario covered the graves on the hill. And no one seemed to notice. But, one day an amazing thing happened.
The Premier of Ontario, and 6,000 people gathered by the graves of Joseph and his sweetheart Eliza Catherine, to dedicate a monument to the memory of the Irish immigrant whose name was Joseph Scriven. On that occasion, Premier E.C. Drury of Ontario paid this tribute:
“He did not build a railway or amass a fortune. But he did more than that. He contributed a thought that will outlive railroads and fortunes. It will go on enriching the lives of men, when other things of a material nature have crumbled and perished.”
What was the thought he contributed? Out of life’s tragedies he had discovered the greatest truth of all! Just prior to his death, a friend found among Joseph’s belongings, a bit of paper… on which a poem was scrawled.
You may not remember the name Joseph Scriven… but you will remember the message he left to the world. To us, he leaves a legacy of one of the world’s most beloved hymns and the example of a lifetime of Christian service
Scriven originally called his poem, “Pray Without Ceasing;” written after the death of Eliza…. and particularly to comfort his grieving mother in Ireland. It was later called, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Someone at this very moment may be going through great struggles… and heartache. You can find the same assurance in the friendship of Jesus that caused Scriven to write the song that has blessed millions for over 100 years. The truth of it is still there… for you right now:
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.