I HAVE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS
(Popularly know as Lily of the Valley)
– by Charles W. Fry
For a long time, I had thought this hymn, recognised by me in my Yoruba language as “Oun nikan l’arewa ti okan mi fe,” was a Yoruba folk song.
I knew the song as a child. I probably heard it from my mum, a Baptist adherent. And if you want the children to learn something quickly, teach their mothers.
But this great hymn was written by Charles William Fry, (May 30, 1838 – August 24, 1882) an English musician who, along with his three sons and wife, formed the first Salvation Army Brass Band.
A bricklayer by trade, like his father, Fry was a versatile musician, playing the violin, cello, piano, cornet, and harmonium, and leading an orchestra and band at the Wesleyan chapel in Alderbury. He also helped the Christian Mission in Salisbury, and his family band accompanied Salvation Army founder William Booth in evangelism campaigns, thus becoming the first bandleader of the Salvation Army.
“The Lily Of The Valley” a gospel standard hymn which appears in almost all Protestant hymnals was written during one of his performance for the Salvation Army.
Not much about him was recorded. He died on August 24, 1882. He must have lived a profoundly Christian life that on New Year’s Day 1884, a monument to “The first bandmaster of the Salvation Army” was unveiled over his grave. On it was inscribed a verse Fry had written earlier probably as a song:
“The former things are past,
And ended is the strife,
I’m safe home at last!
I live an endless life!”
The message in this short inscription on his grave is how many people, born again Christians inclusive do see death as a transport to take us home? How many people are even sure that when they die, they will get home safely? Some people live as if they will never die!
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LYRICS:
I HAVE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS
I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2
He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3
He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
