Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

The author of the hymn, Henry Jackson van Dyke, was born in Pennsylvania in 1852, and became a minister of a church in New York City. Henry later became professor of English literature at Princeton, and the author of a number of books, including the still popular "The Other Wise Man." He went on to occupy a number of eminent positions, including:

-American Ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxenbourg (appointed by his friend, Woodrow Wilson)

-Lieutenant Commander in the United States navy Chaplains Corps during World War I

-President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters

In 1907, Henry van Dyke was invited to preach at Williams College in Massachusetts. At breakfast one morning, he handed the college president a piece of paper, saying, "Here is a  hymn for you. Your mountains (the Berkshires) were my inspiration."

When he was later asked about this hymn, van Dyke replied, "These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time--hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thoughts of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope."

Taken from the book: Then Sings My Soul