Hymns & Hymn Writers: Beneath The Cross of Jesus

The song’s meter is 7.6.8.6.8.6.8.6 and is set to the tune of ST. CHRISTOPHER. The lyrics were written by Elizabeth Clephane around 1869, and the music was added to composed around 1881.

Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane (1830-1869), Lyricist

Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 18, 1830. The family shortly relocated to Melrose on the Tweed River near the home of Sir Walter Scott. Her father’s name was Andrew Clephane (who died in 1838), and her mother’s name was Anna Maria Douglas (who died in 1844). She was one of three daughters, and she also had a brother named George.

The poem was printed in a popular Scottish magazine, The Family Treasury, which was edited by W. Arnot and appeared as anonymous. The lyrics were discovered by Ira D. Sankey who set them to music and made the hymn popular. But we sing these words to the tune created by Frederick Maker. There were two stanzas of the poem omitted in the hymn:

O safe and happy shelter,

O refuge tried and sweet,

O trysting place where heaven’s love

and heaven’s justice meet!

As to the exiled patriarch

that wondrous dream was given,

so seems my Savior’s Cross to me -

a ladder up to heaven.

And

There lies beneath its shadow,

but on the further side,

the darkness of an open grave

that gapes both deep and wide;

and there between us stands the cross,

two arms outstretched to save,

like watchman set to guard the way

from that eternal grave.

She is also the author of “The Ninety & Nine” which was believed to be based on her brother George who had left for some time. “The Ninety & Nine” set to music by Sankey and called CLEPHANE. She and her sister were philanthropists, even selling their homes and goods to give to the poor. Elizabeth Clephane died February 19, 1869 at Bridgend House which was a place referred to in Sir Walter Scott’s literary works. She was only 39 years old. Both her parents died at a young age as well. Both “The Ninety & Nine” and “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” were made into hymns years from her poems after her decease. She was buried near her parents in Edinburgh’s St. Cuthbert churchyard.

Frederick Charles Maker (1844-1927), Composer

Frederick Charles Maker was born in Bristol, England on August 6, 1844. His parents’ names were Charles and Mary Maker, and his father worked as a leather cutter. Frederick had both a brother and step-brother. In 1871 he married Elizabeth, and they had a boy and a girl.

He was an organist and played for several churches in the area, plus he worked with choirs too. He was a professor of music at Clifton College in Bristol. The tune for this song is entitled ST. CHRISTOPHER and it first appeared in The Bristol Tune Book in 1881. He also composed the music to “Dear Lord and Savior of Mankind” and “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”.

Maker died January 1, 1927 in Bristol, England. He is buried in Bristol Canfield Cemetery.

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

The sacrifice of Jesus by dying on a Roman cross is as much a cornerstone of Christianity as the resurrection. After all, the Son of God, deity, died upon that cross. Truly Jesus’ death was the pinnacle act of God’s love for us. Jesus came for the purpose of saving mankind: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16–17 NKJV). Jesus came for this purpose, which he stated: “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27–28 NKJV).

We are dependent upon what Jesus did at the cross. There is no other way for salvation: “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11–12 NKJV). The third verse of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” captures this well: “Upon that cross of Jesus, Mine eyes at time can see the very dying form of One who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart, with tears two wonders I confess; The wonders of His glorious love, and my own worthlessness.” Every soul is of value to God because Christ died for the sins of the whole world. We have made ourselves worthless because of sin, but Christ redeemed us.

Paul wrote, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11 NKJV). Will you accept God’s grace through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ? We are called by the gospel: “to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV). Will you listen and respond to this call?

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SOURCES:

“Elizabeth Clephane.” No Pages. Cited 30 September 2018. Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Clephane.

“Frederick Charles Maker.” No Pages. Cited 30 September 2018. Online: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:Frederick_Charles_Maker.

“Frederick Charles Maker.” No Pages. Cited 30 September 2018. Online: https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/f/frederick-charles-maker.

C. Michael Hawn. “History of Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus.” Cited 30 September 2018. Online: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-beneath-the-cross-of-jesus.

Clinton Macomber. “Frederick Charles Maker.” No Pages. Cited 30 September 2018. Online: https://bereanbibleheritage.org/extraordinary/maker_frederick.php.

Curtis A. Cates. Lessons in Lyrics. Memphis, TN: Memphis School of Preaching,1998.

Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson. Favorite Women Hymn Writers. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Brooks, 1990.

John P. Wiegand, Editor. Praise for the Lord. Nashville, TN: Praise Press, 1997.

Maxie B. Boren, Editor. Hymns and Songs We Sing. Fort Worth, TX: Brown Trail Church of Christ, 2002.

Robert Guy McCutchan. Our Hymnody. Nashville, TN:  Abingdon Press, 1937.

V. E. Howard, Editor. Church Gospel Songs & Hymns. Texarkana, TX: Central Printers & Publishers, 1983.