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[Will you heed the divine invitation]

Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: James McGranahan Incipit: 54333 36554 32222 Used With Text: Return to Thy Saviour Today

Author: James M. Gray Appears in 3 hymnals First Line: Will you heed the divine invitation Refrain First Line: O heart that hath wandered away Lyrics: 1 Will you heed the divine invitation, O hearken to heavenly love, And take of the cup of salvation, And taste the new life from above? The Spirit hath pleaded so often, Oh, how can you longer delay? May love of the Saviour now soften The heart that hath wandered away! Refrain: O heart that hath wandered away, Return to thy Saviour today! The promise is not for tomorrow, Return to thy Saviour today! 2 Do you think of the sins you’ve committed, The wages your folly has earned, The patience and love unremitted, Which you have so ruthlessly spurned? The “portion of goods” you have squandered, The losses you fain would repay, They call to the heart that has wandered, Return! O return while ‘tis day! [Refrain] 3 In that far away country you’re feeding, On husks that the world gives for bread; While voices from home are still pleading, “Come share in our plenty instead!” O heart, are you weary of straying, And worn with your wearisome quest? Come back to the Lord as we’re praying, For He is a haven of rest. [Refrain] Used With Tune: [Will you heed the divine invitation]

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

Return to Thy Saviour Today

Author: James M. Gray Hymnal: The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 2 #154 (1916) First Line: Will you heed the divine invitation Refrain First Line: O heart that hath wandered away Lyrics: 1 Will you heed the divine invitation, O hearken to heavenly love, And take of the cup of salvation, And taste the new life from above? The Spirit hath pleaded so often, Oh, how can you longer delay? May love of the Saviour now soften The heart that hath wandered away! Refrain: O heart that hath wandered away, Return to thy Saviour today! The promise is not for tomorrow, Return to thy Saviour today! 2 Do you think of the sins you’ve committed, The wages your folly has earned, The patience and love unremitted, Which you have so ruthlessly spurned? The “portion of goods” you have squandered, The losses you fain would repay, They call to the heart that has wandered, Return! O return while ‘tis day! [Refrain] 3 In that far away country you’re feeding, On husks that the world gives for bread; While voices from home are still pleading, “Come share in our plenty instead!” O heart, are you weary of straying, And worn with your wearisome quest? Come back to the Lord as we’re praying, For He is a haven of rest. [Refrain] Tune Title: [Will you heed the divine invitation]

Return to Thy Saviour To-day

Author: James M. Gray Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms and Gospel Songs #354 (1904) First Line: Will you heed the divine invitation Refrain First Line: O heart that hath wandered away Languages: English Tune Title: [Will you heed the divine invitation]

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

James M. Gray

1851 - 1935 Author of "Return to Thy Saviour Today" in The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 2 Born: May 11, 1851, New York City. Died: September 21, 1935, Passavant Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City. Gray accepted Christ at age 22. He was educated at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (Doctor of Divinity), and the University of Des Moines, Iowa (Doctor of Laws). In 1879 he became Rector of the First Reformed Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served 14 years. He then became dean (1904-25) and president (1925-34) of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, and directed publication of four editions (1921-28) of the Voice of Thanksgiving, official hymnal of the Institute. A conservative theologian, Gray was one of seven editors of the popular Scofield Reference Bible. He was a fine scholar and excellent Bible teacher, but his interests went beyond mere academics. He promoted the Sunday School, and took an interest in civic affairs and patriotic causes. He backed efforts at social betterment, supported Prohibition, and wrote about 20 books --www.hymntime.com/tch/

James McGranahan

1840 - 1907 Composer of "[Will you heed the divine invitation]" in The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 2 James McGranahan USA 1840-1907. Born at West Fallowfield, PA, uncle of Hugh McGranahan, and son of a farmer, he farmed during boyhood. Due to his love of music his father let him attend singing school, where he learned to play the bass viol. At age 19 he organized his first singing class and soon became a popular teacher in his area of the state. He became a noted musician and hymns composer. His father was reluctant to let him pursue this career, but he soon made enough money doing it that he was able to hire a replacement farmhand to help his father while he studied music. His father, a wise man, soon realized how his son was being used by God to win souls through his music. He entered the Normal Music School at Genesco, NY, under William B Bradbury in 1861-62. He met Miss Addie Vickery there. They married in 1863, and were very close to each other their whole marriage, but had no children. She was also a musician and hymnwriter in her own right. For a time he held a postmaster’s job in Rome, PA. In 1875 he worked for three years as a teacher and director at Dr. Root’s Normal Music Institute. He because well-known and successful as a result, and his work attracted much attention. He had a rare tenor voice, and was told he should train for the operatic stage. It was a dazzling prospect, but his friend, Philip Bliss, who had given his wondrous voice to the service of song for Christ for more than a decade, urged him to do the same. Preparing to go on a Christmas vacation with his wife, Bliss wrote McGranahan a letter about it, which McGranahan discussed with his friend Major Whittle. Those two met in person for the first time at Ashtubula, OH, both trying to retrieve the bodies of the Bliss’s, who died in a bridge-failed train wreck. Whittle thought upon meeting McGranahan, that here is the man Bliss has chosen to replace him in evangelism. The men returned to Chicago together and prayed about the matter. McGranahan gave up his post office job and the world gained a sweet gospel singer/composer as a result. McGranahan and his wife, and Major Whittle worked together for 11 years evangelizing in the U.S., Great Britain, and Ireland. They made two visits to the United Kingdom, in 1880 and 1883, the latter associated with Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey evangelistic work. McGranahan pioneered use of the male choir in gospel song. While holding meetings in Worcester, MA, he found himself with a choir of only male voices. Resourcefully, he quickly adapted the music to those voices and continued with the meetings. The music was powerful and started what is known as male choir and quartet music. Music he published included: “The choice”, “Harvest of song”, “Gospel Choir”,, “Gospel hymns #3,#4, #5, #6” (with Sankey and Stebbins), “Songs of the gospel”, and “Male chorus book”. The latter three were issued in England. In 1887 McGranahan’s health compelled him to give up active work in evangelism. He then built a beautiful home, Maplehurst, among friends at Kinsman, OH, and settled down to the composition of music, which would become an extension of his evangelistic work. Though his health limited his hours, of productivity, some of his best hymns were written during these days. McGranahan was a most lovable, gentle, modest, unassuming, gentleman, and a refined and cultured Christian. He loved good fellowship, and often treated guests to the most delightful social feast. He died of diabetes at Kinsman, OH, and went home to be with his Savior. John Perry