Hymns... does it matter..........

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Cindy,

this song was written by Horatio G. Spafford.
He was an attorney in Chicago who lost a fortune in the huge fire there in 1871 because he had invested heavily in real estate. About that same time, he lost his 4 year old son (only son) to scarlet fever.

He poured himself into rebuilding the city and helping the 100,000 who had been left homeless.

In Nov. 1873, he decided to take his wife and daughters to Europe to hear Moody and Sanky in evangelistic meetings in England, and then go on and take vacation.

But something came up, so he sent his wife Anna and their four daughters on ahead. They sailed on the French liner Ville du Havre.

On Nov. 22, 1873, the ship they were on collided with an iron sailing vessel, ripping a hole in it. It sank within 2 hours. There were 226 fatalities including Horatio's 4 daughters. His wife survived and was found clinging to a piece of the wreckage. There were 47 survivors who made it to Cardiff, Wales. When his wife arrived, she sent a cable to her husband that said, "Saved alone."

he immediately sailed to join her. On the way, the captain called him aside and told him that he believed that they were right over the spot where his daughters had died. Horation went to his cabin, but couldn't sleep. He wrote the words down, "It is well; the will of God be done." Later he wrote his famous hymn based on those words.

Interesting story, eh?

Very interesting, Margie. Thanks for finding this. Says a lot about someone who can lose so much and still be able to say, with God, It Is Well With My Soul.