Towering o'er

At my church’s summer family Bible conference, a friend from Virginia, as well as a few different preachers from the pulpit, including Jordan, made reference to Oscar Woodall. For me, Oscar is someone who comes to mind frequently, always with the utmost affection. He had such a lasting influence on me, no matter how much my life still does not reflect what he tried to instill in me.

I was so, so fortunate that I was able to call the hospice and talk to Oscar one last time before he died. He told me once again that he loved me.

To this day, the single-most read article I have posted to this blog is a long profile I wrote on Oscar’s tremendous life and ministry. To read it, click through to the very first entry.

Among the many, many memories from phone conversations with Oscar (while I was living in Manhattan just after 9/11 and my dad's sudden death one month later), I always have a laugh in my head when I think about how, after reading his biography, “Search for Security,” (written by David Enlow in 1986) I called Oscar and went over the highlights of the book.

I admitted to him that even though the story wasn’t meant to be funny in any way, I couldn’t help but chuckle reading about a one-time house guest who suddenly confessed to Oscar that his name was not really Barney Time; it was Joe Van Barneycastle. Oscar laughed and said something to the effect, “Yeah, we had moments like that all the time.” I always think, “What fun it must have been to be in his world.”

Because the Barney anecdote says so much about the kind of person Oscar was and the ministry he led, I have typed out the passage from the book:

“In line with their philosophy of ministering, when mission officials asked the Woodalls if they would take a young man who gave his name as Barney Time, they said he needed a father figure to provide direction in his life. Barney had professed faith in Christ a week earlier at the mission.

“When Barney came,” Woodall says, “he told us that his mother was dead and that he was in the carnival business like his father. He couldn’t read or write, but seemed to have a tender spirit toward the Lord. We would have daily Bible reading and prayer.

“One evening, prior to their devotions, Woody found Barney sitting alone, somewhat downcast. When his host inquired as to what was on his heart, the guest began weeping.

“I have been lying to you people,” Barney said, “and I cannot lie to God or his people anymore. My name is not Barney Time; it is Joe Van Barneycastle. MY mother is not dead; rather, several weeks ago while under the heavy influence of drugs, I beat her severely. I am a fugitive from the law.”

*****

At the conference, we sung this old hymn, and were encouraged to look up the story of the writer, John Bowring. Here it is:

 1. In the cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

2. When the woes of life o'ertake me,

Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

3. When the sun of bliss is beaming

Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

4. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

Lyrics: John Bowring
Music: Ithamar Conkey

Tune: RATHBUN
Meter: 8.7.8.7.

---

In the Cross of Christ I Glory

John Bowring, 1792–1872

“In the Cross of Christ I Glory” is generally considered one of the finest hymns on the subject of the cross. It was written by John Bowring, one of the most remarkable men of his day as well as one of the greatest linguists who ever lived. It is said that he could converse in over 100 different languages before his death.

Some writers claim that John Bowring had visited Macao, on the South Chinese Coast, and was much impressed by the sight of a bronze cross towering on the summit of the massive wall of what had formerly been a great cathedral. This cathedral, originally built by the early Portuguese colonists, overlooked the harbor and had been destroyed by a typhoon. Only one wall, which was topped by the huge metal cross, remained. This scene is said to have so impressed Bowring that it eventually served as the inspiration for this hymn text.

The tune for this hymn was composed twenty-four years after Bowring’s text by an American organist and choir leader of the Central Baptist Church of Norwich, Connecticut. The composer, Ithamar Conkey, was sorely disappointed at one Sunday morning service when only one choir member appeared, a faithful soprano by the name of Mrs. Beriah Rathbun. Before the evening service Conkey composed a new tune for this text and named it after his one faithful choir member.