486 When We Walk With the Lord
James H. Sammis, d. 1919
The origin of this hymn is related in Ira Sankey’s Story of the Gospel Hymns:
“Some years ago,” says Professor Towner, musical director of Moody Bible Institute, “Mr. Moody was conducting a series of meetings in Brockton, Mass., and I had the pleasure of singing for him there. One night a young man rose in a testimony meeting and said, ‘I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust and obey.’ I just jotted that sentence down, and sent it with the little story to the Rev. J. H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister. He wrote the hymn and the tune was born. The chorus,
‘Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.’
was written before the hymn was.”
James H. Sammis was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and became a business man in Logansport, Indiana. As an active Christian layman, he was much interested in the Young Men’s Christian Association, and finally gave up his business connections to serve as a General Secretary in the “Y”. After further education at Lane and McCormick Seminaries, he entered the ministry and served as pastor of Presbyterian churches in Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. In 1909, he went to California as a teacher in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, continuing there until his death, June 12, 1919.
MUSIC. TRUST AND OBEY. The composer of this tune, D. W. Towner, 1850-1919, was born in Rome, Pa., and became a member of a group of singers and evangelists associated with D. L. Moody. He was a capable leader of choirs and large assemblies. In 1893, he became director of the musical department of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, a position he held until his death. In recognition of his services, the University of Tennessee honored him with the degree of Doctor of Music, in 1900.