In Times Like These

Ruth Caye Jones was a pastor’s wife and a mother of five living in Pennsylvania. Late in 1943, the realities of the war were weighing heavily on the home front. As she read the Pittsburgh newspapers, she was deeply distressed by the mounting military casualty lists, the slow progress of Allied troops, and severe nationwide food rationing.

Seeking comfort, she opened her Bible to 2 Timothy 3:1, which reads: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." Recognizing that her generation was living through those exact perilous times, she felt a strong prompting from the Holy Spirit.

While going about her daily household chores, the lyrics and melody began flooding her mind simultaneously. She pulled a small notepad out of her apron pocket and quickly penned the words and simple musical notes before she could forget them. Her lyrics also pulled heavily from Hebrews 6:19, which speaks of hope as a steady "anchor of the soul," giving life to her famous chorus about gripping the "Solid Rock."

The song was published in 1944 and resonated deeply with a hurting world. Years later, while watching a Billy Graham crusade on television, she wept as she listened to the famous baritone George Beverly Shea perform her song. She later said, "I can't believe I had any part in writing this song. I just feel that God gave it to me, and I gave it to the world."

In times like these we need a Savior
In times like these we need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

One writer said it like this: "Our lives are like the open seas—calm and pleasant one day; stormy and tempest-tossed the next. But in times like these we can be very sure our anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock."

The night Dolly came to Albany

Not long after Dolly Parton began her career, she and her then-singing partner, Porter Wagoner, came to Albany and performed at the Clinton County Fair. The date was July 24, 1973. At the time, they were one of the most heavily-booked acts operating out of Nashville.

By July 1973, Dolly had already become one of the most success­ful songwriters In Nashville. She and Porter came to Albany because, at the time, Porter was concentrating their shows in the smaller, more rural areas of the country in order to bring their music to people who would not ordinari­ly have a chance to see them. Accompanying them to Albany was comedian Speck Rhodes, who was known for his missing front teeth and his bright and colorful wardrobe, and the famous Wagonmasters band.

At the fair, Dolly sang, "Coat of Many Colors," which was already massively popular. She also sang her first #1 hit, "Joshua." Her song, "Jolene," would be released almost three months later. That night Porter and Dolly sang all their hit duets, like "If Teardrops Were Pennies" and Daddy was an Old time Preacher Man." It was a most memorable occasion, a great night to be at the Clinton County Fair and WANY broadcast it live on the air!

Dolly gained a national audience of millions of viewers by virtue of that TV show and one year after appearing at the Clinton County Fair she split from Porter in order to expand her career as a solo artist. Coming soon would be her massive hit, "I Will Always Love You," a song she wrote on the very bus that brought her to Albany fifty-three years ago. She dedicated it to Porter. The rest of the story you know.

Near the Cross

The hymn, "Near the Cross," sometimes referred to as "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross," or, "In the Cross" is considered to be one of writer Fanny Crosby's best-known hymns. It is based on Galations 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

"Near the Cross" was written by her in 1869, to a tune that had already been composed by William Howard Doane, who often collaborated with Crosby. The song is in F major and was composed in 6/8 time.

Though blinded at six weeks of age, it is believed that Crosby (1820-1915) was the author of over 8,500 gospel songs. The exact number isn't known, because she used more than one hundred “nom-de-plumes,” or “pen names,” many of which are not known. It has been written that at times she would write as many as six or seven hymns in one day. Other than Doane, she collaborated with a couple of other prominent gospel song composers of the day, William Bradbury and Ira Sankey.

The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody was said to have asked Crosby the following question toward the end of her life: “If you could have just one wish granted, what would it be?” Sensing that he expected to reply that her wish would be to have had her sight reatored, she replied, “If I could have one wish, I’d wish that I might continue blind the rest of my life.” Moody was taken back and asked, “How can you say that?” Crosby was said to have responded, “Because, after being blind for all these years, the first face I want to see now is the face of Jesus.”

The theme of “Near the Cross” captures the hope and joy of heaven that is so characteristic of Crosby’s hymns: “Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.”

Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river

Near the cross, a trembling soul
Love and mercy found me
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed its beams around me

Near the cross! O Lamb of God
Brings its scenes before me
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadows o'er me

Near the cross I'll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river