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Feet washing and hymns

Discussion in 'Baptist History' started by rlvaughn, Jul 25, 2008.

  1. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    I am looking to collect information about as many hymns as possible that:

    1. Mention the subject of washing the saints' feet.
    2. Mention Jesus washing His disciples' feet.
    3. Are sung at times when washing the saints' feet is observed (even if they don't specifically mention the subject in the hymn).

    Some details that would particularly interest me about these is, for example, {1} in which hymn book/hymnal are they found and what page, {2} are they written by Baptist writers or included in hymnals published by Baptists, {3} are they sung in Baptist churches though originating in another tradition, and {4} are they part of some other denominational tradition. I also wonder if many churches that don't observe feet washing ever include hymns about the historical event of Jesus washing His disciples' feet.

    I have already accessed Beebe's Baptist Hymn Book, Goble's Primitive Baptist Hymn Book, Thomas' Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Lloyd's Primitive Hymns and a few others. I expect most of the Primitive Baptist tune books will include mostly the same texts as the words-only hymn books. I expect some of the United and Old Regular Baptist books have these songs, but don't think they are indexed by subject, so may be a little harder to find. Books that are indexed by scripture texts might be easy to compare. Any help, directions, comments, etc. will be appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    rlvaughn:
    I used to print this in my song book The Baptist Song Book, on my web site, but no one ever sings it anymore, so I dropped it. We used to sing it at every feetwashing meeting when Brother Roy Akers was living. It was originally printed in the Baxter Osbourne and Roy Akers Song Book. They have both deceased and the book is no longer published. I happened to find it in one of my old books, printed about 1992.

    FEET WASHING TIME
    Oh, how I love old time meetings,
    When they sing and shout and pray,
    Give me that old time salvation,
    In an old fashioned way,
    Then we can praise our Lord supremely,
    And sweet blessings we shall find,
    It will fill our souls with glory,
    When it's feet washing time'

    In an old fashioned meeting,
    When it's feet washing time,
    Unleavened bread will be served,
    With the fruit of the vine'
    Take and eat this bread freely,
    While you eat, bear in mind,
    It represents my broken body,
    When it's feet washing time;.

    Drink from the cup, it is a symbol,
    Of my blood, pure and divine,
    Faithful deacons have made ready,
    For it's feet washing time,
    If you love one another,
    There will surely be a sign,
    Sinners surely will take notice,
    When it's feet washing time.

    Jesus Christ set the example,
    In the good man's upper room,
    Saying teach all faithful Christians,
    In the years that're yet to come,
    That they always should remember,
    It's an ordinance of mine,
    And it always should be practiced,
    When it's feet washing time.

    As we part, may we remember,
    That the day will surely come,
    When the saints will be together,
    In their sweet eternal home,
    Then you talk about a meeting,
    We won't need the sun to shine,
    For our sorrows will be over,
    For it's resurrection time.

    Written by Elder Roy Akers(deaceased) of Louisville, Kentucky around 1960.


    BBob,
     
    #2 Brother Bob, Jul 25, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2008
  3. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    I was born in 62 so this song is older than me. I read it a few times but can picture the melody. perhaps we'll sing it when we get to the foot washing in our home on high???

     
  4. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    It is not a hymn, but Michael Card wrote a song titled "The Basin and The Towel".
     
  5. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Why is it not a hymn. It is giving praise to the Lord??? Seems like a hymn to me, please explain?

    Main Entry: 1hymn Pronunciation: \ˈhim\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English ymne, from Old English ymen, from Latin hymnus song of praise, from Greek hymnos Date: before 12th century 1 a: a song of praise to God b: a metrical composition adapted for singing in a religious service
    2: a song of praise or joy
    3: something resembling a hymn : paean

    BBob, :wavey:
     
    #5 Brother Bob, Jul 26, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 26, 2008
  6. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Brother Bob, thanks so much for posting this. Could you give me a little more information on the Osbourne and Akers song book? Like, what was the name of it, when was it first printed, when was it discontinued, do any churches still have it? What page was the song on in their book, and also in your book?

    You also mentioned that it is not sung any more. What song or songs are now sung at the feet washing meetings? BTW, do you no longer have your web site? Are you still printing your song book?
     
  7. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Thanks, Brother White. May I say that I'm not using "hymn" in a strict or technical sense, just looking for songs on the subject. I looked up the song you reference and found it sung on YouTube here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I47c29GvFY

    If anyone wants to read the lyrics -- which I think are quite good -- click on the "more info" link to the right.

    What do you know about Michael Card? Is this song published anywhere in a book or on sheet music, or just sung on an album/CD/DVD?

    Robert Picirilli, a Free Will Baptist minister, also has a song titled "The Basin and the Towel." It is quite different in substance and style, beginning "That Thou, creation's Lord, didst think, to count the place of service meet!" I think it may be printed in a Free Will Baptist hymnal, but I'm not sure. I encountered it in J. Matthew Pinson's book on The Washing of the Saints' Feet.
     
  8. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    I mean that I doubt it would be found in a hymnal.
     
  9. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    I don't know for certain about this particular song, but many of his works are published and available in sheet music.

    Michael Card writes very well and sometimes in (what I would call) ballad style (that may not be the right word), rather than verse-chorus style. I have enjoyed his music for years.
     
  10. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    No, you will only find it in an Old Regular Baptist Song Book.

    BBob,
     
  11. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    You will find my web site in my signature. I will see if I can find any of the books around here at home that has the song in it.

    We just sing songs like Amazing Grace, Good Old Fashioned Way, The Day is Past and Gone, Tarry with me Oh my Saviour, I love my Saviour God, And must this body die, An alien from God, Bold Soldiers all, etc.

    The last song book printed was in 1991 by Elder Baxtor Osborne's wife (Dorthy), who is now deceased also. The book was called The Baptist Hymn Book, and the song was on page 163. I do not believe you will find a copy of the book. The only person who could help you find one is Elder Hillard Newsome, 3520 Fincastle Rd., Louisville, Kentucky 40213. Phone number is 1-502-452-1197. He is the clerk of Northern New Salem Association and would know if there are any books in existence.

    God Bless,

    BBob,
     
    #11 Brother Bob, Jul 26, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 26, 2008
  12. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Thanks, Brother Bob. I'll write Elder Newsome and see what I can find out. Also, what page was the song "Feet Washing Time" on in your book when you had it in there? Thanks.
     
  13. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    I think it was page 116. I had my wife search the attic and found a extra book, so I will be sending it to you. I guess you have enough history of me to describe the book to others.

    BBob,
     
  14. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Thanks, Brother Bob. Do you all use the Sweet Songster? I'm wondering whether it might have some feet washing hymns, since it is used by churches that practice feet washing?
     
  15. old regular

    old regular Member

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    Brother Robert,You may want to check the Lloyds and Gobel, they have several hymns used during communion, that contain feet washing and some of the old hymnals mark off that section. Trying to help Brother Mike Slone
     
  16. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Bro Mike;
    Maybe you can give Brother Robert some songs from sweet songster. I am sure or think that you use it more than I. I have others looking for me and will get back to Bro Robert on that. One of them is Bro Hay. I hate to say it, but the sweet songster is swiftly fading from the scene. I know some churches would fire back at you over what I just said, but it is the truth.

    BBob,
     
  17. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Thanks for the information, Bro. Mike. As you say some of the older books mark off the section. I haven't found that to be true with the Sweet Songster, which means looking at every hymn in the book, or at least the ones I'm not familiar with. If you know of any feet washing songs in that book I'd be glad to hear of them.
     
  18. Bethelassoc

    Bethelassoc Member

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    Songs from Goble

    Bro Vaughn,

    Sorry to be getting into this so late, but I have a copy of the D. H. Goble song book. It has a section for feet washing. There are four songs found there. The book doesn't have titles for the songs, so I wil type the pages verbatim (the first two numbers are the song numbers for the book):

    95 (0-0-258) C. M.

    Did Christ the great example lead
    For all his humble train,
    In washing the disciples' feet,
    And wiping them again?

    2 And did my Lord and Master say,
    "If I have washed your feet,
    Ye also ought to watch and pray,
    And wash each other's feet?"

    3 O blessed Jesus, at thy board
    I have thy children met;
    The bread I've broke, the wine I've poured,
    We've washed each other's feet.

    4 In imitation of my Lord,
    Who blood for me did sweat,
    I yield unto his sacred word,
    And wash the pilgrims' feet.

    5 Yea, blessed Jesus, I like thee,
    Would Christians often meet;
    The least of all the flock would be,
    And wash his children's feet.

    96 (0-0-259) L. M.

    Give me thy Spirit, O my God,
    Then I can well all trials meet,
    Deny myself and all my pride,
    And wash thy weakest servant's feet.

    2 Give me thy Spirit, O my God,
    Then shall I in thy footsteps trace,
    And show to all who read thy word,
    That I'm indeed renewed by grace.

    3 Give my thy Spirit, O my God,
    Then through my few remaining days,
    I'll yield obedience to thy word,
    And as I go, I'll sing thy praise.

    97 (0-1178-261) L. M. Altered

    Come, brethren, ye who love the Lord,
    And walk according to his word;
    Let true humility abound,
    And in his footsteps too be found.

    2 Remember when Christ was below,
    What condescension he did show;
    He did his dear disciples greet,
    And condescend to wash their feet.

    3 If I your Lord and Master be,
    And you my blest example see,
    You should each other kindly greet,
    And ought to wash each other's feet.

    4 And we who do this duty see,
    With others we'll not disagree;
    In lowest stoop we will them greet,
    We'll eat our herbs, and they their meat.

    98 (0-0-262) L. M.

    O That the Lord would count me meet
    To wash his dear disciples' feet;
    Greater than Christ I would not be,
    But learn from him humility.

    2 Wash me, and seal me thus thine own,
    Wash me, but not my feet alone,
    But wash my head, my hands, my heart,
    Wash me, and mine thou ever art.

    I also have German Baptist and United Brethren song books somewhere. If I find them I will look and see if they say anything as well.

    David

    Adding to it:

    I found in the beginning of the book this explanation:

    "The first number within the curves is the number of the hymn in Thompson's Hymn Book, the second, Beebe's; and the third, Lloyd's."
     
    #18 Bethelassoc, Aug 17, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 17, 2008
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