How Great Thou Art”
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“How Great Thou Art” Text Author: Gustav Boberg 1859-1940 Harmonizer: Author: Stuart K. Hine 1899-1989 TUNE: O STORE GUD Published in 79 Hymnals How Great Thou Art In polls regarding popular or most favorite hymns, How Great Thou Art is at or near the top every time. This wildly popular hymn is deeply regarded by believers throughout the world and has been translated into many languages. The unique story of the hymn How Great Thou Art begins with Mr. Carl Gustav Boberg (1859-1940). He was a Swedish pastor, editor, and member of Swedish Parliament Boberg was a writer and publisher of collections of poetry and a number of hymns. He was also responsible for publishing the first two hymnals of the Swedish Covenant. The story goes that Mr. Boberg was enjoying stroll when a thunderstorm appeared in the distance. As the winds began to blow and the storm rose Mr. Boberg was affected. After the storm was over, Mr. Boberg looked out across the Bay and heard a church bell peal in the distance. The words to this Swedish poem began to form in his heart -- O store Gud, när jag den verld beskådar Som du har skapat med ditt allmaktsord… O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands hath made. Boberg’s poem O Sore Gud (O Mighty God) was published in 1891 in Witness of the Truth, the weekly newspaper for which Boberg was Editor. It was later translated in German. In 1927, it was published in a Russian version of the German text. Stuart K. Hine, 1899- 1989 was born in Great Britain. Hine and his wife were English missionaries to the Western Ukraine of Russia. Their primary Christian effort was through evangelism and music. While on mission he found a version of the Russian text; using a traditional Swedish melody, he sang it at an evangelistic meeting with his wife. Translating the first three stanzas into English, which he later sang at an evangelistic meeting in England during World War I. In 1949 he published the first three verses in both English and Russian in Grace and Peace, a Russian evangelistic paper which Hine edited. He later added the fourth stanza. Dr. J. Edwin Orr of Fuller Theological Seminary, is said to have brought the hymn to America. After hearing it sung in India, he introduced it to various Christian groups in America. In 1954, Dr. Cyrus Nelson of Gospel Light Publications copyrighted and published the song. In 1954, How Great Thou Art was sung by George Beverly Shea at the London Crusade of the Billy Graham evangelistic team. He later sang this song over 100 times during a revival in New York at a Billy Graham Crusade. This caused the hymn to receive rejuvenated notoriety again in Sweden and America and be published in several songbooks. Today millions across the world continue to sing this great hymn of the faith as a hymn of praise, glory, and honor toward God. Sources: www.hymnary.org; www.wikipedia.com; www.gmahalloffame.org/site/stuart-k-hine/ .