photo #8743611

James M. Black was the Youth Pastor at a church in Williamsport, PA, in 1893. One day he was on his way to the post office and thought he would take a shortcut through an alley which he had never used before. James did not know of the poverty and misery that alley contained. As he made his way through the alley, he noticed a ragged young girl, daughter of an alcoholic, sweeping a rear porch on her apartment. “Do you go to church?” he asked. “No sir, I have nothing proper to wear,” was her response. “What is your name?” he asked. “Bessie,” she replied. “Bessie, I will have my wife and another lady visit you soon!” he said as he quickly continued his way to the post office. James’ wife and another lady from the church visited Bessie and took her some dresses. Bessie started attending the services both Sunday morning and Sunday evening. An hour before the evening service, the young people met for training. It was James’ custom to have the young people recite a Bible verse when called upon for attendance. One Sunday evening when Bessie’s name was called, there was no response. James was very concerned because she had not been absent before. He was concerned that her drunken father might have refused to let her come, or maybe she was sick. After church that evening, James and his wife went to Bessie’s apartment to check on her. When they arrived, they found that she was very sick. Her father had no money for a doctor, so James called his own doctor and asked him to come to see the girl. The doctor came immediately and diagnosed Bessie with pneumonia. On their way home, James thought about how sad it was when they called Bessie’s name at the young people’s meeting and she was not there. When James reached his home, all of a sudden, like a dayspring, the first stanza came in full. He then went to the piano and played the music just as you will find it in the hymnals today — note for note. It has never been changed. Bessie died just a few days after the diagnosis and the song was first sung at Bessie’s funeral by the young people of the church.