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A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
June 2012


This is a very personal hymn as the author, James Montgomery, clothes the Biblical text of Matthew Chapter 25 verses 34-40 with descriptive verse.  The scriptural question of, “When saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?” is brought to life in the second verse as, “…Just perishing for want of bread.  I gave him all; …” Similarly, the third verse describes, “…or thirsty, and gave thee drink?” as “…Thrice from the stream he drained my cup…”  The remaining verses continue in like manner, identifying blessings associated with service to the Lord, and leading to the climactic final lines, “These deeds shall thy memorial be; Fear not, thou didst them unto me.”  As we sing these words we hear the Savior’s injunction in verse 40 “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  The text points to specific events in the Savior’s life but clearly also could be applied to a stranger in any period of time, thus eloquently enlivening the parable for all Christians. 

 

This hymn is believed to have first appeared in a collection of poetry about 1834, and was titled “The Stranger.”  It has also been known as “The Stranger and His Friend,” and “Man of Grief.”


A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief – Text

 

A poor wayfaring Man of grief

Hath often crossed me on my way,

Who sued so humbly for relief

That I could never answer nay.

I had not power to ask his name,

Where-to he went, or whence he came;

Yet there was something in his eye

That won my love; I knew not why.

 

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,

He entered; not a word he spake,

Just perishing for want of bread.

I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,

And ate, but gave me part again.

Mine was an angel’s portion then,

For while I fed with eager haste,

The crust was manna to my taste.

 

I spied him where a fountain burst

Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.

The heedless water mocked his thirst;

He heard it, saw it hurrying on.

I ran and raised the sufferer up;

Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,

Dipped and returned it running o’er;

I drank and never thirsted more.

 

‘Twas night; the floods were out; it blew

A winter hurricane aloof.

I heard his voice abroad and flew

To bid him welcome to my roof.

I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest

And laid him on my couch to rest;

Then made the earth my bed, and seemed

In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

 

Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,

I found him by the highway side.

I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,

Revived his spirit, and supplied

Wine, oil, refreshment – he was healed.

I had myself a wound concealed,

But from that hour forgot the smart,

And peace bound up my broken heart.

 

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned

To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.

The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,

And honored him ‘mid shame and scorn.

My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,

He asked if I for him would die.

The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,

But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

 

Then in a moment to my view

The stranger started from disguise.

The tokens in his hands I knew;

The Savior stood before mine eyes.

He spake and my poor name he named,

“Of me thou hast not been ashamed.

These deeds shall thy memorial be;

Fear not, thou didst them unto me.”

 		 
The author, James Montgomery, was born in 1771 at Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, shortly after his parents arrived there from County Antrim, Ireland.  His father, of Scottish descent, had embraced the tenets of the Moravians, became a minister and was come to Irvine to take charge of the Moravian congregation there.  The Moravian Church credits its founding to John Hus, a Catholic priest and reformer who was burned at the stake in 1415 for his teachings and claims to be the oldest protestant church.  Before 1722 its members were found in the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, hence the name in English speaking countries.  A proselytizing effort then spread the church to Germany, throughout Europe and to other countries. Young James Montgomery was born into this faith and his devout Christian upbringing is evident in his writing.   The family returned to Ireland in 1775, and then James was sent, at the age of seven, to a Moravian Seminary at Fulneck, near Leeds, England.   It was hoped that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a minister; however, his passion for poetry became evident at an early age. Although secular works were not studied at Fulneck, James obtained by stealth writings of Blair, Milton, Thompson and others.  By the age of twelve he had written some small poems himself.    In 1783 his parents left for the islands of the Caribbean commonly known as the West Indies to work as missionaries.  The tropical climate and diseases took their toll as was common and his mother, Mary, died seven years later at Tobago.  His father, John, succumbed to yellow fever the following year, 1791, at Barbados, leaving James an orphan at the age of 20.  Leaving Fulneck in 1787 he had entered employment, but found it distasteful and tried taking his manuscripts to London to find a publisher.  This was not successful, and he found a situation in a store in the little town of Wath until he obtained a position at the Sheffield Registerin 1792.  Fortuitous circumstances in the flight of the proprietor and editor, Mr. Gales, who was an ardent reformer, to avoid prosecution, led to James becoming the editor and then the proprietor of the newspaper.   James continued to write poetry while running the newspaper for many years.  After failing to obtain fame with his youthful efforts by emulating other poets, which fact he recognized in a statement, he found his own voice and gained some notoriety with several of his epic poems.   He was also a champion of reform, and spent some time imprisoned for libel as there was no such thing as a free press in England at that time.  One of his commissioned poems encouraged the abolition of the slave trade in the West Indies, which was common on British sugar plantations at the time.  He was also a prolific hymn writer and in his lifetime wrote 400 hymns, some of which are still sung today.  Four of his hymns are found in the 1985 LDS Hymnbook, including “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.”   In 1907 John Julian said of James Montgomery that his poetic genius was of a high order, his ear for rhythm was exceedingly accurate and refined, and his knowledge of Holy Scripture was most extensive.  His devotional spirit was of the holiest type and “he has bequeathed to the Church of Christ wealth which could only have come from a true genius and a sanctified heart.”   James Montgomery died in 1854 at his residence, The Mount, Sheffield, England.  







Although “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” was apparently not one of James Montgomery’s most widely popular hymns, it has earned a share of immortality in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by its association with the day church founder, first Prophet and President, Joseph Smith, Jr. and his brother, Hyrum, were martyred.   John Taylor had learned the hymn while serving as a missionary in England and it was included in a hymnal published by the Church there in 1840.  As was typical of the time, the hymnal did not include music, only text.  The hymn had been recently introduced to the church members living in Nauvoo, Illinois.  On June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were being held in the Carthage, Illinois jail on false charges, John Taylor and Willard Richards accompanied them.  Their spirits being very depressed, John Taylor sang this hymn, then after a period of time, Hyrum requested that he sing it again.  Shortly after the second rendition, a mob attacked the jail and the two defenseless brothers were brutally shot and killed.  

 

Music by the Methodist Reverend George Coles has been associated with the hymn. However, the music in the 1985 LDS Hymnbook is believed to be a variation written in 1889 by Ebenezer Beesley at the request of John Taylor who was then President of the Church.  The melody John Taylor had sung in Carthage Jail was a more upbeat version of the one written by George Coles.  The version produced by Ebenezer Beesley was again different and has been used by the Church since the 1889 Psalmody was published.  The elegant melody flows smoothly and rhythmically giving the feeling of time passing as the verses describe the various scenes.

 

George Coles and Ebenezer Beesley were both English born Americans.  George Coles was born in 1792 at Stewkley, England.  He converted to Methodism at age 13 and began preaching at age 22.  He immigrated to America in 1818 and was known as the Editor of the Methodist newspaper, “The Christian Advocate and Journal,” and “The Sunday School Advocate.”  He was also a musician of considerable ability.   He died in 1858 at Somers, New York.

Ebenezer Beesley was born in 1840 at Oxfordshire, England.  His family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to Utah in 1859.  Ebenezer settled in Salt Lake City and was very active in studying music, directing choirs, composing music, compiling song books and served as director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1880 to 1889.  Eleven hymns in the 1985 LDS Hymnbook have his music.  He passed away in 1906.