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Speaker: Glenn Rawson
Hi, this is Glenn Rawson. One of the most powerful ways to share history and heritage is by the telling of stories. We began sharing inspiring stories nearly 30 years ago. Each of those stories is true and was intended to inspire and strengthen faith. Over the years, those stories have reached millions around the world. This podcast is for you to listen, learn and enjoy.
First Story: The Little Cleric
00:34
I have noted when reading the Book of Mormon that it often describes certain men as “a large and a mighty man.”
Well, being neither large nor mighty that phrase has stuck out to me when I read the book of Mormon. It interests me that the Book of Mormon never says he was a small and puny fellow who couldn’t punch his way out of a wet paper bag. It never says that. It always says a large and a mighty man. Well, because of that and being just a little spit of a feller myself, I’ve always had a fondness for little people with big hearts of strength, will and courage.
This next story is about one of them. It is titled ‘The Little Cleric.’
Thomas Ken was born in 1637 at Hertfordshire, England. While still a child he was orphaned and subsequently raised by an older sister. In 1651, young Thomas became a scholar and student at Winchester college. In 1656, Thomas transferred to Oxford University, studying first in Hartford Hall and then in New College. He received his BA degree in 1661, his MA in 1664. He actually served for a time as a tutor in his college.
Young Ken was ordained a minister in 1662 and went out to serve on the Isle of Wight then in 1672 he went back to Winchester College where he was appointed curate in one of the lowest districts of the college.
Now, a curate is defined in the Anglican church as someone charged with the care of souls. In a parish Thomas Ken is remembered in history for several notable things – the first he loved to sing and write hymns; second though he was just a little guy, a man of small stature he was known for exceeding faith, courage, and charity. And lastly, he was also a powerful and compelling orator and teacher; he cared for the souls of his students at Winchester so much so that he combined his love and talents to write a manual of prayers for the use of scholars at Winchester College.
I might make mention of the fact here, a little known detail. On one occasion, the king of England, Charles, was coming to his town and Thomas Ken was asked to give up his home or make accommodations for the day for Charles’s mistress.
Defying king and clergy and popular opinion, Ken said no. In fact it is said by some that he even took steps to damage his home and make it unfit so that the mistress wouldn’t stay there. He defied the king, the little cleric.
In 1674, Thomas Ken published his manual of prayers for the use of scholars at Winchester College. In it, he charged his young readers to “be sure to sing the morning and evening hymn in your chamber devoutly, remembering that the psalmist upon happy experience assure you that it is a good thing to tell of the loving kindness of the Lord early in the morning and of his truth in the night season.”
Thomas Ken wrote a hymn for his students to sing each morning as they rose. The first verse of that hymn, his mourning hymn read as follows’
Awake, my soul, and with the sun
thy daily stage of duty run;
shake off dull sloth, and early rise
to pay thy morning sacrifice.
All praise to Thee, Who Safe Has Kept
And Hath Refreshed Me Whilst I Slept;
Grant, Lord, When I From Death Shall Wake,
I May Of Endless Light Partake
He wrote another hymn for his students to sing at the end of their day and as they retired to their beds. It went as follows:
All praise to You, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath the shelter of Your wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for this I pray,
The wrong that I have done this day.
May peace with God and neighbor be,
Before I sleep restored to me.
Lord, may I be at rest in You
And sweetly sleep the whole night thro’.
Refresh my strength, for Your own sake,
So I may serve You when I wake.
This little man with the big heart who cared so deeply for the devotion of his students and their relationship to their God became known as one of the ‘Fathers of English Hymnology’.
You may not know him for his morning and evening prayers but you will surely recognize him for the last verse he added to both of those hymns. It is known in history today as doxology and is sung the world over like the Christian life of its author; it is sung with majesty and power. It moves the soul with the great majestic words written by the little cleric with heart.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
I love that. So short. We don’t have the morning in the evening prayer but we have the last verse of both – the doxology.
Second Story: Jonas Parker
07:52
Well, again in remembrance of Memorial Day and in tribute to the heroes of our past, Wednesday, April 19, 1775, British regulars under the command of a Major John
Pitcairn had been sent ahead by his commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith on the road to Concord, Massachusetts.
The British had heard reports that American rebels were cashing weapons at Concord and their purpose was to find and seize those weapons. However, as they approached the small village of Lexington Major Pitcairn heard the sound of drums and small arms fire up ahead. He received reports of hostile American rebels waiting for him.
The major ordered his men to load and be prepared. Pitcairn’s men came on to the Lexington Green and saw before them 60 to 70 American rebels under the command of Captain John Parker. A raid in formation.
“Stand your ground, exclaimed Parker. Don’t fire unless fired upon but if they want to have a war let it begin here.”
Parker’s men were still turning out to join their fellows when with hoses and shouts Pitcairn’s men broke ranks and rushed furiously forward to face Captain Parker’s men. Major Pitcairn rode forward on his horse and from the left flank ordered Parker’s men to surrender their weapons. There was no reply from Parker or from his men – the rebels.
Why were they there? Why were Parker’s men there? Did it start a war? No, they were there as citizen defenders of their homes and families. Merely to observe the actions of the British forces and protect their homes. Seeing the overwhelming force arrayed against him, Parker ordered his men not to fire but to disperse. Still retaining their arms, Parker’s men slowly began to back away.
At that moment a shot rang out, who fired it and from which side has never been concluded. But it was enough, the British soldiers opened fire on the Americans. Men fell dead and were wounded immediately. Some of Parker’s men began to scatter and run for cover but others immediately returned fire. One of these was Jonas Parker – the Captain’s cousin. At the first volley, Parker emptied his rifle. A second volley thundered and Jonas Parker was wounded. Witnesses record that Jonas Parker raised his hand and shouted, “I will not run.”
He threw his hat to the ground and intuit his flints and was in the act of reloading his rifle when the British rushed forward and bayoneted him through. In the bedlam of smoke shouting and shooting, the redcoats pursued every American in sight.
When the battle was over, eight Americans lay dead and 15 wounded. And the American war of independence had begun. Among its first casualties – Jonas Parker; the man who would not run.
With all that we face today, is it not time to remember Jonas Parker and others like him? To remember where we started and why we are here and that this is and has been and will always be the promised land – the land of the Lord Jesus Christ and he controls it. Bless us, before it’s too late to remember who is the God of this land.
Third Story: William Lamartine Thompson 12:44
William Lamartine Thompson was born November 7, 1847 in East Liverpool, Ohio. He was the youngest son of seven children. William’s father Josiah Thompson was a successful
businessman and banker as well as serving for two terms in the Ohio state legislature. His mother Sarah Jackman Thompson spent a good deal of her time in social and charitable work. Josiah Thompson had considerable financial success there in Ohio and because of this his son William had the opportunity for a good education.
William improved his already growing musical abilities by attending music schools in Boston and eventually even in Germany. It seems that William Thompson watched and learned well from the legacy his parents left behind; of hard work, determination, love and service and these became motivating factors for the rest of his life.
When an obstacle was placed in his path, young William found a way to move forward. As time went on, writing songs became one of William’s passions but the music dealers of the day – the publishers would not publish his music – would not offer him what he thought his songs were worth. So instead of accepting their opinions and their rejections, William determined to self-publish two of his songs. One of them – My Home on the Old Ohio and Gathering Shells from the Seashore.
He published them himself. The songs were well received and from those proceeds, he earned enough money to open his own music store. By the 1880s, W.L. Thompson Music Company was one of the most successful businesses of that kind in the United States.
Thousands of music teachers and musicians ordered sheet music, instruments and other supplies from Thompson’s store. He founded and maintained a music and publishing company in his hometown and then eventually even in Chicago. William also along the way continued to write music and earned the title of “The Stephen Foster of Ohio” – the man who was discounted by music publishers of the day found his way to move forward and became a millionaire.
At age 44, William married Elizabeth Johnson and they had one son. Because of his financial success, William felt that he owed something to the Almighty so he turned his talents to writing sacred songs.
As both a lyricist and composer, Thompson applied his work ethic to the inspiration he often received. He wanted to be sure that he would always remember words or melodies that came to him and he kept pencil and paper handy. He said, “No matter where I am – at home or hotel or in 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. In this way, I never lose it.”
William Thompson’s gospel songs were introduced to Christian congregations around the world and translated into many other languages. People in the big cities. They were able to attend great revivals where William’s songs were sung but William felt that the poor people in rural communities should hear his music as well. They didn’t have the facilities or pianos for concerts well. This was an obstacle that William determined he’d solve. How? He loaded an upright piano on a two-horse wagon and drove out into the country to play and sing his own gospel songs to grateful audiences.
After all of that it is altogether fitting that this can-do attitude would be exemplified by a popular hymn written by Will Thompson. That hymn that still moves the world to move to greater faith, you guessed it – Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel.
The world has need of willing men who wear the workers seal
come help the good work move along put your shoulder to the wheel
put your shoulder to the wheel push along
do your duty with a heart full of song
we all have work let no one shirk
put your shoulder to the wheel
That’s not enough though. There was more from this great man. Following the example of his mother, Sarah, William contributed generously to his community in means and in time to his community and to his fellow man. For a man whose desire was to do good it is no surprise that he would compose this hymn also.
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
(Chorus)
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
William Thompson was known as a kind, quiet and unassuming Christian gentleman. He was greatly loved and admired by his associates his most famous hymn of them all, most of us do not know – ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling‘ has been printed in 790 hymnals and has been performed and recorded by many famous people, not the least of which most recently – Carrie underwood.
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
William Thompson was a personal friend of the famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody. This hymn was one of Moody’s favorites. Late in his life, Moody was very ill and expected not to recover. William paid him a visit. Moody – the man it was said who brought more than a million people to repentance and to his master said to Will,” Will, I would rather have written softly and tenderly Jesus’s calling than anything I’ve been able to do in my whole life.”
William Lamartine Thompson died in 1909 but his legacy of hard work, service and commitment to spreading the word of God through gospel music continues down to this day to inspire the world.
Last Story: The Crucifixion of Jesus 21:10
On this memorial day, when we speak of warriors, martyrs and heroes, may I close with this and mean no offense.
Jesus once said, “This is the gospel which I have given unto you. That I came into the world to do the will of my father because my father sent me and my father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross. And after that I had been lifted upon the cross that I might draw all men unto me that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the father to stand before me to; be judged of their works whether they be good or whether they be evil.
And again, in Doctrine and Covenants Section 35 verse 2, Jesus said, “I am Jesus Christ, the son of God who was crucified for the sins of the world; even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God even one in me; as I am one in the Father as the Father is one in me that we may be one. The savior’s mission was to die on the cross. He was born to die. His life and his blood were required to pay the sacrifice for sin. The cross was more than just a means of execution, it was an integral foreordained part of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Here’s the story.
Pilate gave the decree reluctantly for Jesus to be crucified as the Jews desired.
The soldiers took off the purple robe of royalty from him and dressed Jesus in his own clothes. They placed upon his shoulders the patibulum or the cross beam and forced him, in his weakened condition, to carry it outside the city where the soldiers then pressed Simón (a Sirenian) to carry the remaining distance to Golgotha or place of burial.
There, they stripped Jesus of his clothes and distributed the articles of clothing among themselves. Jesus was offered drugged vinegar to help with the pain but upon tasting it refused it. He would work out the infinite atonement to completion with the full capacity of his senses. He would feel it all.
He was then nailed to that cross beam and hoisted onto the upright pole where his feet were then nailed to the tree. There were at least five spikes cruelly driven into his flesh. Crucifixion was not a Jewish punishment, it was not even a Roman punishment; it was adopted by the Romans from antiquity and was reserved in that culture only for the worst of criminals.
It is said that a Roman citizen could not be crucified. Crucifixion was a horrible, slow tortured way to die. Victims were generally crucified along public highways as a further humiliation and warning to all. Then as an affront to the Jews, Pilate wrote Jesus’s accusation in all the common languages of the land and placed it above his head on the t-shaped cross. Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.
When the leaders demanded that Pilate change it, he refused. What I have written, I have written. Let it along.
Jesus was indeed their king, even if only Pilate the pagan would acknowledge it. As they nailed Jesus to the cross he prayed,” Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
…meaning the soldiers who crucified him. As he hung in holy agony, those who passed by and those standing by mocked, taunted and reviled him in a most cruel and humiliating manner.
At his side one of the thieves crucified with him took up the same jeering tirade but was rebuked by the thief on the other side. To this thief who defended him, Jesus said, “Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
Then, Jesus looked down from the cross in this his greatest hour and there saw his mother standing, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith to his mother,
” Woman behold thy son then saith he to the disciple behold thy mother.”
From that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. In a miraculous and marvelous manner, darkness came over all the earth from noon until about 3 pm. The sun was darkened. Then in the darkness, Jesus was heard to cry out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
The pains and sufferings of death by crucifixion were added upon by the infinite agonies of atonement. Yet by power incomprehensible, Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the tree.”
Well, if that cry someone moved with compassion, ran to give Jesus a drink of the vinegar notwithstanding the protests of the crowd. This time, Jesus accepted the drink. As soon as he’d received it he cried with a loud voice saying,” Father it is finished. Thy will is done, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
When he had said this, he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. My friends, I don’t care what the world says or how scholars and pundits want to mythologize the crucifixion of Christ. What I have told you is history. That story is true. It happened as the scriptures say it happened and it affects every one of us. The son of Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, our elder brother, finished his preparations unto the children of man. He had descended below all things and offered himself a sacrifice for our sins. He died for us, for you and for me. All mortal and eternal opportunities for happiness, peace, power and love could now come. We could have a future.
Thank you for listening. Many of the stories you heard today have been published and are archived at glennrawsonstories.com. If you would like more information you can communicate with us there. We will be back again with another podcast next week.
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