Beulah Land
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is the gospel hymn by Edgar Page Stites; for the Southern gospel song "Sweet Beulah Land" by Squire Parsons, see here
Beulah Land is a well-known gospel hymn written by Edgar Page Stites (1836-1921) in either 1875 or 1876. The hymn, Stites' most popular, is set to music written by John R. Sweney (1837-1899). The hymn concludes with the chorus:
O Beulah land, sweet Beulah land!
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea where
mansions are prepared for me
And view the shining glory shore
My heaven, my home forever more.
Beulah land slang for Heaven
[edit] Background of hymn
Edgar Page Stites was born at Cape May, New Jersey, where his ancestors had settled after coming over on the Mayflower. Edgar was converted to Christ at the age of 19 during the great revival of Philadelphia, often called the Awakening of 1857 and 1858. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Methodist Church of Cape May and became a local “lay pastor.” As a home missionary, he also was involved in the starting of new churches in the South Jersey area.
In 1869, Stites, along with other Methodist ministers and laymen, founded the “Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association” to run a Methodist camp meeting south of Ocean Grove, New Jersey. By 1875, the camp was quite active. Popular hymn writers of the day would visit each summer: Ira D. Sankey, William H. Doane, William J. Kirkpatrick, John R. Sweeney, Eliza E. Hewitt, Fanny Crosby, and others.
One version of the origin of "Beulah Land" has it written for the Ocean Grove Camp in 1875. John R. Sweney, composer of the music, was the camp song leader, which lends credibility to this version.
A differing version of the origin of the hymn was given some years later by Sites himself:
"It was in 1876 that I wrote ‘Beulah Land.’ I could write only two verses and the chorus, when I was overcome and fell on my face. That was one Sunday. On the following Sunday I wrote the third and fourth verses, and again I was so influenced by emotion that I could only pray and weep. The first time it was sung was at the regular Monday morning meeting of Methodists in Philadelphia. Bishop McCabe sang it to the assembled ministers. Since then it is known wherever religious people congregate. I have never received a cent for my songs. Perhaps that is why they have had such a wide popularity. I could not do work for the Master and receive pay for it."
[edit] Other References
Alternative Piano Artist Tori Amos wrote a possibly related song entitled "Beulah Land" which was a B-side on her 1998 album From the Choirgirl Hotel.
