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Ruth Caye Jones

1902 - 1972 Person Name: Mrs. R. C. J. Hymnal Number: 29 Author of "Oh, I could Not Live Without Him" in Favorites Number 6 Born: 1902, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. Died: August 18, 1972, Erie, Pennsylvania. A self taught pianist and organist, Ruth married Bert Jones, and together they worked in the evangelism field. In 1948, they founded a radio ministry in Erie, Pennsylvania, broadcasting a weekly family devotional program from their home called "A Visit with the Jones." --© Cyber Hymnal™ (www.hymntime.com/tch)

Avis B. Christiansen

1895 - 1985 Hymnal Number: 71 Author of "Grace Abounded More" in Favorites Number 6 Avis Marguerite Burgeson was born in 1895 and lived in Chicago all her life. She attended the Moody Church, pastored for many years by Dr. Harry Ironside. In 1917, Avis Burgeson married Ernest Christiansen who later became a vice president of Moody Bible Institute. She was a modest and retiring woman, and sometimes used pen names: Avis Burgesson, Christian B. Anson and Constance B. Reid. She began writing poems in childhood, and before her death in 1985 had written thousands of them. She died in 1985. NN, Hymnary

Norman J. Clayton

1903 - 1992 Person Name: N. J. C. Hymnal Number: 39 Author of "Ev'ry Moment of Ev'ry Day" in Favorites Number 6 Norman John Clayton Born at Brooklyn, NY, the 9th of 10 children, he gave his heart to Jesus at age six at South Brooklyn Gospel Church, his mother being a founding member of the Baptist group. He was musically inclined, and became church organist at age 12, and also played trumpet. He remained an organist for the rest of his life. A songwriter, he usually began writing the music before the words. He would memorize scripture to assure his music was biblically-based. Much of what he wrote was for special occasions. When young he first worked on a dairy farm, then held an office job in NYC. Clayton entered the building trades industry, working for his father’s construction business, and during the depression, with a commercial bakery. He married Martha Adaline Wistendahl, and they had two children: Muriel and one other (no name found). In the early 1940s, Jack Wyrtzen invited him to be an organist with NYC ‘Word of Life’ rallies. For 15 years he provided music, was organist, vibraphonist, director of the inquiry room, and radio evangelist. He created his own publishing house, and from 1945-1959 he published 30 of his own songbooks. His company was eventually purchased by the Rodeheaver Company, and he joined them as a writer/editor, providing other songs during that period. He died at Carmel, NY. John Perry

James D. Vaughan

1864 - 1941 Hymnal Number: 65 Composer of "[I dreamed I had gone to that city]" in Favorites Number 6 Vaughan, James D(avid); b. Dec. 14, 1864, between Lawrence Co. and Giles Co., TN; d. Feb. 9, 1941, Lawrenceburg, TN; music publisher, composer and compiler of gospel songs in shape notation

Oswald J. Smith

1889 - 1986 Hymnal Number: 64 Author of "Fill Me with Thy Spirit" in Favorites Number 6 Smith, Oswald Jeffrey. (Odessa, Ontario, November 8, 1889--January 25, 1986, Toronto, Canada). Presbyterian. Attended Manitoba College, Winnipeg, 1909-1910; Toronto Bible College, 1907-1908, 1910-1912; McCormick Theological Seminary, 1912-1915; further study at Knox College, Toronto; several honorary doctorates. Pastorates in Toronto, 1915-1958; frequently conducted evangelistic meetings and crusades elsewhere. In 1928 he organized the virtually autonomous People's Church, which combines a vigorous evangelistic program in Toronto with an enviable overseas missionary network; in 1958 he relinquished its guidance to his son Paul, but remained its highly active minister emeritus. He published some 35 devotional and inspirational books, which he eventually combined into fourteen; most of his 1200 hymns and poems first appeared in church-connected magazines, but many are found in Poems of a Lifetime (London: Marshall, 1962). --Hugh D. McKellar, DNAH Archives

Beatrice Bush Bixler

1916 - 2013 Person Name: B. B. B. Hymnal Number: 78 Author of "I Like This Way Better" in Favorites Number 6 Beatrice Bush Bixler, one of the twentieth century’s most prolific song writers, pianists, and vocalists, penned the words and music to "Life is a Symphony." “Bea,” as she is known by so many made her entry into Christian music with the success of that song which was often included at Youth for Christ rallies around the mid-Western United States. It is a favorite of many, still today. In the sleepy little town of Waverly on the Southern Tier of New York State, in 1916, a little girl was born to Mr. & Mrs. Will Bush. She was a weak and unwell child and one day as her mother was hanging the laundry in their back yard to dry, a neighbor inquired as to Bea’s health. Her mother reported that it was less than acceptable, and the neighbor said she would ask the people of her local church to join her in prayer for the healing and health of this little one. Not long after, Bea made a recovery and became well and strong. Not long after her healing her family began faithful attendance at that very church. Bea, subsequently, had a healthy childhood, and would, while still a child, begin learning to play and to love the piano. She learned and improved so rapidly, that soon she was playing both by ear and by memorization; she was improvising; playing in the “evangelistic style” of the early twentieth century; and soon was playing in the evening services in that local church whose members had prayed for her healing. The church Bea, and her parents along with her mother’s seven sisters and their families would subsequently join, was the Waverly, New York Christian & Missionary Alliance Church [no less than seven full time pastors and missionaries of the C & M A came from the children of these eight sisters, and of their grandchildren over two dozen entered full-time Christian ministry].Her abilities were being widely recognized. Soon she was playing for the local youth organizations as well as in other area churches. Recognizing that she had God-given gifts in the area of music, Bea left for The Missionary Training Institute [now Nyack College] in Nyack, New York to major in piano and voice. There she progressed so far that it was acknowledged that the faculty there could take her no further and thus she transferred to Houghton College in Western New York. She excelled in piano, voice, and composition. Her grasp of musical theory was highly advanced. All during this time she was actively playing for Gospel quartets, choirs, local churches, and for college touring groups. During many of these years and immediately after the completion of her musical training she travelled with the Bosworth Brothers Evangelistic team as their pianist and lead soloist. Youth for Christ continued to use Bea as well. Not long after her educational stint at Houghton, Bea met and married the Rev. Clair Bixler, an ordained pastor in The Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. Together they would be pastor and wife in C & M A Churches and in The Missionary Church in Indiana, Illinois, and in New York. Together they raised four children two daughers and two sons Clair pre-deceased her some years ago. Bea’s incredible output of Christian hymns, Gospel songs, and choruses is noteworthy. No less than 450 pieces have been written, but unfortunately the majority have never been either recorded or reduced to the written page. A significant number were published in two books of her music exclusively, by Singspiration Music in the 1960s and 1970s. Her regular musical leadership in “Winning Women” retreats in the mid-West led to the publication of a book of her choruses. One LP of her must was released by Christian Publications, Inc. in the early 1960s, Bea was the featured pianist on the trombonist Douglas Yeo’s solo album, which also included readings by Bill Pearce. Yoe’s is the only available recording still available, and all of her songs are either not committed to paper, out of print, or are unpublished and in the hands of this current author whose intent it is to bring them into publication in the not-to-distant future. Bea ministered often at various district conferences across the Christian & Missionary Alliance, as well as at the General Council at various places. Bea had an uncanny ability to involve local musicians in duets with her, either with her at the piano and them at another instrument, or with them joining her in vocal numbers. I had the privilege of ministering in vocal duets and piano/organ concerts and church and conference ministries innumerable times over the past twenty-five years. She was always able to make one far-less-learned than herself, feel completely confident and every bit her equal when invited by her to join her in public ministry. Beatrice Bush Bixler has been lauded for her insightful and inspiration lyrics and her hauntingly exquisite chording by musicians and faithful Christians far and wide. She was named “Alumnae of the Year” by Nyack College in 1984. Bea was regularly used by the Hephzibah Heights and Hephzibah House organizations. Today, Bea lives in her hometown of Waverly, New York where she and Clare moved upon his retirement from active ministry. She is fast approaching her 95th birthday, and is sharp and lucid though she has lost most of her ability to see and to hear. Her music is still ready at her recall, and she continues as a champion of musical excellence to the glory of God. Her hymn of confession, I Am Not Worthy, a perennial favorite of so many, was her unswerving testimony. Her incredible musical vocation has spanned some eighty years. Rev. Jeffrey A. Mackey (friend of Beatrice Bixler)

Virgil P. Brock

1887 - 1978 Hymnal Number: 41 Author of "The Glory Road to Heaven" in Favorites Number 6 Brock, Virgil Prentiss. (Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, January 6, 1887--March 12, 1978, Rives Junction, Michigan). Son of Orlando H. and Elmira Brock. Education: Fairmount Friends Academy; Earlham College, B.A.; Cleveland Bible Institute and Training School; Trinity College, Honarary D.Sac.Mus. Member of the Quaker (Friends) Fellowship in the early years, but later was an evangelist in the Christian Church with membership in the First Christian Church of Warsaw, Indiana. In 1914, he married Blanche Kerr, who was his co-worker and collaborator for 43 years. They had one son, Dr. James Wilson Brock, professor of theatre at California State University, Northridge. Blanch Brock died January 3, 1958. In 1959, he married Martha Anderson, and they continued in church work until her death in 1969. He pastored several Quaker churches in the early years of his ministry, but most of his life's ministry was given to evangelistic endeavor. He authored more than 500 hymns and gospel songs, and one book, an autobiography, entitled You Asked for It. His two best-known hymns are: "He's a Wonderful Saviour to Me," published in 1918 by the Rodeheaver Co., and "Beyond the Sunset," published in 1936. Other hymns include "Sing and Smile and Pray," "Resting in His Love," "If You Could Know," "Keep Looking Up," "Men of God, Awake, Arise," and "I'll Still Live On." He resided at Winona Lake, Indiana, for many years, and was closely associate with Homer Rodeheaver; most of his hymns were published by the Rodeheaver Company. During the last six years of his life, he lived at Youth Haven Ranch, Rives Junction, Michigan. At the time of his death at 91, he was still being called upon to present programs. He is buried by this first wife in Warsaw-Winona Lake Cemetary, and engraved on the large memorial monument are the words and music of their most famous hymn, "Beyond the Sunset." --Carlton C. Buck, DNAH Archives

Alfredo Colom

1904 - 1971 Person Name: Alfredo Colom M. Hymnal Number: 60 Composer of "[Heav’nly joy is ringing]" in Favorites Number 6 Alfredo Colom was a prolific songwriter from Guatemala. He held public office, but ruined his life with alcohol and was considering suicide when an indigenous Guatemalan Christian gave him a New Testament. Eventually he surrendered his life to Christ serving in music and evangelism on the radio and in travels throughout Central and South America. Footnote from Singing the New Testament, hymn #36

John H. McNaughton

1829 - 1891 Person Name: J. H. M. Hymnal Number: 75 Author of "When There's Love at Home" in Favorites Number 6

Mrs. A. S. Bridgewater

1873 - 1957 Hymnal Number: 14 Author of "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" in Favorites Number 6 Bridgewater, Cordie. (North Carolina, ca.1873-ca.1957). Baptist. According to J. Wiegand, was living in Alabama (age 36) at the time of the 1910 census. Wife of A. Samuel Bridgewater. Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives