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Open Thou Mine Eyes

Author: E. E. Hewitt Appears in 3 hymnals First Line: Waiting by the wayside Used With Tune: [Waiting by the wayside]

[Waiting by the wayside]

Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Jno. R. Sweney Incipit: 55456 53323 43222 Used With Text: Open Thou Mine Eyes

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

Author: E. E. Hewitt Hymnal: Joyful Sound #122 (1889) First Line: Waiting by the wayside Lyrics: 1 Waiting by the wayside For the coming Master, List’ning for his footsteps drawing nigh; All is dark and dreary, Waiting, sad and weary, Help me, Jesus, Master; hear, oh, hear my cry. Refrain: Open thou mine eyes, Open thou mine eyes To thy rays of healing streaming from the skies; Open thou mine eyes, Open thou mine eyes, Mercy now is streaming from the sunlit skies. 2 Waiting now no longer, Faith is growing stronger, With the gracious Master standing near; What is this glad greeting? Hasten to the meeting! Mercy now is streaming from the sunlit skies. [Refrain] 3 In my sin and sorrow Courage I will borrow From this sweet old story of his grace; Looking on my Saviour, Trusting in his favor, Now my eyes, long darkened, see his smiling face. [Refrain] Languages: English Tune Title: [Waiting by the wayside]

Open Thou Mine Eyes

Author: E. E. Hewitt Hymnal: Sacred Trio #288 (1889) First Line: Waiting by the wayside Tune Title: [Waiting by the wayside]

Open thou mine eyes

Author: E. E. Hewitt Hymnal: The Sacred Trio #288 (1892) First Line: Waiting by the wayside Topics: Cleansing and Healing

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

John R. Sweney

1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Composer of "[Waiting by the wayside]" in Joyful Sound 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

E. E. Hewitt

1851 - 1920 Author of "Open Thou Mine Eyes" in Joyful Sound Pseudonym: Lidie H. Edmunds. Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born in Philadelphia 28 June 1851. She was educated in the public schools and after graduation from high school became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. she went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916)