Hymn: a song of praise to God. It seems simple, but have you ever read the stories behind the beloved lyrics of your favorite classic hymns?
Each month in 2022 we are sharing the story behind one of our favorite classic hymns. We hope these stories will encourage you and help you worship, just like the hymnist, amid hurt, hope, fear, thanksgiving, joy, or loss.
This month we’re sharing the story behind All to Jesus I Surrender.
William J. Reynolds (Companion to the Baptist Hymnal) has quoted this hymn’s author Judson W. Van DeVenter’s account, stating that it was written “in memory of the time when, after a long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service. The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring, who later founded the city of Sebring, Florida. The Sebring camp meeting at Sebring, Ohio was also founded by him.”
SURRENDER was composed by Winfield S. Weden for this text, being first published in Gospel Songs of Grace and Glory, compiled by Weeden, Van DeVenter and Leonard Weaver (Philadelphia, 1896, No. 83). Of its original five stanzas, the present versions uses stanzas 1, 3 and 4. The original soprano-tenor duet of the stanzas (as in The Broadman Hymnal, 1940, No. 82) was altered in Baptist Hymnal (1956) to provide for four-part singing throughout.
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine. [Refrain]
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me. [Refrain]
