The Ministry of Song - Softcover

Havergal, Frances Ridley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 193723651X ISBN 13: 9781937236519

Publisher: Havergal Trust, The, 2017

Synopsis

A sterling volume of poems, The Ministry of Song was Frances Ridley Havergal’s first published book. First published in 1869 by the Christian Book Society, 22 King William Street, Strand, London, this was taken up and published in 1871 by James Nisbet & Co., her primary publisher while she lived and after she died. First published when she was thirty-two, Frances (December 14, 1836 to June 3, 1879) inscribed this book “To my Father.” After Rev. William Henry Havergal (January 18, 1793 to April 19, 1870) died, the inscription in the first Nisbet edition was changed to be “To my Father’s Memory.” Like her father, Frances was a remarkably gifted musician, the finest sort, and her poetry is very musical, exceptionally and finely so, true music through words without notes, full of rhythms and cadences and musical aspects. Note that this first book published by her was a collection of poems entitled The Ministry of Song (no notes nor staves, full of music), and her 1878 volume of poetry Loyal Responses (also words only, full of music) had the sub-title “Daily Melodies for the King’s Minstrels.” There are many examples of her poems that exemplify music in the words. Poetry is the part of language closest to music, at the edge or border where language and music meet, and Frances’ poetry reflects her deep, profound musicianship. Just as Havergal’s poem “Seulement pour Toi” (“Only for Thee,” written on July 23, 1876 and posthumously published in Under His Shadow in 1879) needs (requires) a person with an advanced knowledge of French to see the beauty and power of that French poem, similarly a true musician can see rich details in the warp and woof of Frances’ poetry and other works which are very reflective of a true musician, which others who are not musicians might easily miss. Apart from her performance and compositions, which were so valuable for those who heard her, she was a musician to the core, and her musical gifts enrich her other works, her poetry and prose. Her works, both poetry and prose, are notably consistent in the fineness of both the ideas and the presentation of the ideas. The content of the ideas is more important than the presentation of the ideas, though both content and presentation are so very important. Both her life lived out in the world and her works written on paper sought to glorify her Master and to help others to know Him.

About this title

About the Author:

About the Author Frances Ridley Havergal’s formal education ended when she was seventeen, with one term at a young women’s school in Dusseldorf, Germany, yet she was a true scholar all her life. Fluent in German and French and nearly so in Italian, she read and loved the Reformers in Latin, German, and French. Knowledge was never an end in itself, only a means to know better her Lord and Saviour and to help to bring others to know Him. The Bible was her only Book, and she studied deeply the Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture, memorized nearly all the New Testament and large portions of the Old Testament, and loved the Author with all her being. Frances was brought to a saving knowledge of Christ when she was fourteen, and the rest of her life was consecrated to her Savior, the Lord Jesus. Keenly aware of her own sinfulness and inability, her sole desire was to please and glorify Him alone. Very finely gifted, she was truly diligent with her gifts: her poetry is among the finest Christian verse in the English language, after George Herbert; her prose works are deeply beneficial; a musician to the core, she left behind important compositions. Like her works, her life richly touched the ones near her and countless many who met or heard her. The Lord Jesus Christ was her alone, only beauty, and she glowed Him and His truth. These books are taken from the newly prepared edition of The Complete Works of Frances Ridley Havergal. Never wanting attention to herself, Frances’ desire of her heart was for herself and for others to know her King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Her works are a gold-mine of help and enrichment. As her sister Maria, wrote, Knowing her intense desire that Christ should be magnified, whether by her life or in her death, may it be to His glory that in these pages she, being dead, “Yet speaketh !” David L. Chalkley and Glen T. Wegge, editors

About this edition

• Publisher: Havergal Trust, The
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 193723651X
• ISBN 13: 9781937236519
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Chalkley David L., Wegge Glen T.