Description
The Pastor to Sailors
Edward Hopper was born February 17, 1816, in New York City. He grew up the son of a merchant, but trained to become a minister. He graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 1842, and was ordained. On November 18, 1842, he married Margaretta Wheeler.
In 1870, Edward was appointed pastor of a congregation known as the Church of the Sea and Land in New York City, which had been established some four years before. This church was located in New York within walking distance of the harbor and ministered to sailors and their families.
Hopper would serve out the rest of his days as pastor to the men of the sea. He was described as a humble and gentle soul who cared for those who came and went by sea, which souls were often characterized as a rough and sinful breed of men. Just as the Savior taught those He loved using imagery that they would understand, so too with those who love others in His name. About 1870, Edward Hopper wrote a poem drawing powerfully on images that every sailor of the time would understand. It came to be titled, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me. Dr. Hopper shared it anonymously with the world. It was published in 1871, in the Sailor’s Magazine. Shortly after, it was set to music by John Gould and began to make its way into the hymnals of different churches.
No one at the time knew that the humble pastor of the sailor’s church in New York was the author—until 1880. It is reported that the Seamen’s Friend Society of New York invited Edward to come and speak and share a new hymn for their anniversary celebration. He fulfilled the appointment, but rather than write a new hymn he produced, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, and finally the secret was made known. He is reported to have said of his hymn, “Happy is the man who can produce one song which the world will keep singing after its author shall have passed away.” Edward Hopper would be pleased to know that this powerful hymn has swept across the denominations and has been published in 1143 hymnals.
And of the imagery of a pilot of the sea…
Today, in seaports all over the world, the largest of ships crewed by the most experienced of seamen are still brought safely to port by the pilot. As one former seaman described it,
In maritime law, a Pilot is a person who assumes responsibility for a vessel from a particular geographic point for the purpose of navigating the ship through a river or channel, to a particular point or place. When this Pilot comes aboard, everyone on board is in “his hands.” We placed our security and safety in his capabilities. This is a position you can’t just assume. There are qualifications for a Ship’s Pilot license. The Pilot must exhibit skill in all areas related to providing a safe passage within his assigned area. A pilot must have the highest degree of skill as a sailor.
And thus it is with the Savior of all mankind. No one is more skilled and experienced to “pilot” us “over life’s tempestuous sea.”
Sources:
http://aletheiabaptistministries.org/Blog/in-hymns-and-songs/edward-hopper-1816-1888-jesus-savior-pilot-me-the-sailors-hymn/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_and_Land_Church
https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_savior_pilot_me
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/jesus-savior-pilot-me?lang=eng
copyright Glenn Rawson 2022
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