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John T. Grape
1835 - 1915 Person Name: J. T. Grape Composer of "[I've nothing to bring to thee, Jesus]" in Gospel Echoes John Thomas Grape USA 1835-1915. Born at Baltimore, MD, he became a successful coal merchant. He married Sophia F MacCubbin, and they had one daughter, Agnes. He was a member of Monument St. Methodist Church in Baltimore, where he played the organ, directed the choir, and was active in the Sunday school. Later, he directed the choir at the Hartford Avenue Methodist Church. The hymn noted below was composed by Grape in 1868, with lyrics composed by Envina Mable Hall of the same church in 1865 while sitting in the choir loft during a sermon. Both words and music had been given to the pastor, Rev George W Schreck, at different times, and one day he remembered he had been given both. Grape's tune had a refrain, so Ms Hall, hearing it, then added words to her poem for that, and the hymn was complete. At Schreck's urging they sent the hymn to Professor Theodore Perkins, publisher of “Sabbath Carols” periodical, and it became popular. Grape died in Baltimore.
John Perry
John T. Grape
F. B. Harris
1850 - 1909 Person Name: Flora L. Best Author of "I have nothing to bring to thee" in Gospel Echoes Birth: 1850, USA
Death: Sep., 1909
Flora Lydia (Best) Harris was the daughter of Dr. David and Elizabeth (Lockart) Best. She was the 1st wife of Rev. Bishop Merriman Colbert Harris. He was a minister in the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a writer and wrote on Japanese themes. In 1891 she translated the 10th century classic 'Tosa Niki' ('Diary or Log of a Journey From Tosa to Kyoto').
Mary Jane Haight-Eckert on Find A Grave web site
F. B. Harris
Flora L. Best
Author of "I Have Nothing to Bring" in The Emory Hymnal See Harris, F. B. (Flora Best)
Flora L. Best
John R. Sweney
1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Composer of "[I've nothing to bring to thee, Jesus]" in The Emory Hymnal John R. Sweney (1837-1899) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and exhibited musical abilities at an early age. At nineteen he was studying with a German music teacher, leading a choir and glee club, and performing at children’s entertainments. By twenty-two he was teaching at a school in Dover, Delaware. Soon thereafter, he was put in charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment of the Union Army for the duration of the Civil War. After the war, he became Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and director of Sweney’s Cornet Band. He eventually earned Bachelor and Doctor of Music degrees at the Academy.
Sweney began composing church music in 1871 and became well-known as a leader of large congregations. His appreciators stated “Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing” and “He had great power in arousing multitudes.” He also became director of music for a large Sunday school at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia of which John Wanamaker was superintendent (Wanamaker was the founder of the first major department store in Philadelphia). In addition to his prolific output of hymn melodies and other compositions, Sweney edited or co-edited about sixty song collections, many in collaboration with William J. Kirkpatrick. Sweney died on April 10, 1899, and his memorial was widely attended and included a eulogy by Wanamaker.
Joe Hickerson from "Joe's Jottings #9" used by permission
John R. Sweney
