Hymns & Hymn Writers: Trust and Obey

This hymn was created in 1887 by John H. Sammis and Daniel B. Towner. It is one of my favorite invitation songs. Growing up, I often thought I would someday walk down the aisle to the singing of this song; but when I was baptized on July 29, 1977 it was a Friday and there was no worship service that sunny day. I had asked the saints that gathered then to sing that song at my baptism in New Philadelphia. As I recall, John Frame led the singing and Ralph Miller was among the first to congratulate me at the baptistery changing room. I had put the decision off for some time, but I finally decided the wait was over. It was time to “Trust and Obey.” I was ten years old, and I have never doubted what I was doing, why I was doing it, or ever regretted making that decision. I have not always been consistent, but I was always committed to Jesus the Christ.

John Henry Sammis (1846-1919), Lyricist

John Henry Sammis was born July 6, 1846 in Brooklyn, NY. Some sources state his middle name was Hanna rather than Henry. He was converted in Logansport, IN and active with the Y. M. C. A. He started as a businessman, but decided to become a Presbyterian minister. He studied for this pursuit at both the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati. He is credited with writing 100 hymns which were compiled by T. C. Horton and R. A. Torrey in a book, Trust & Obey and Other Songs, in 1918. He began his work with the Bible Institute in Los Angeles in 1901, and he remained there until his death. He was married to Mary Trowbridge Sammis, and they had an adopted daughter named Louise. John H. Sammis died June 12, 1919 in Los Angeles, CA.  He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919), Composer

Daniel Brink Towner was born in Rome, PA in 1850.  He learned music first from his father who was an accomplished music teacher.  There were other influences he had such as P. B. Bliss, George F. Root and others. He married Mary E. McGonigle who was also known for her singing as well. He later became the Head of the Music Department for Moody Bible Institute.  He was conferred Music Doctor by the University of Tennessee. He also wrote the music for “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”, “My Anchor Holds”, “Calvary”, “The Hand That Was Nailed to the Cross”, and “Anywhere With Jesus”.  He is credited with some 2,000 songs both in lyrics and music. He died on October 5, 1919 and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, IL.  His tombstone marker includes the title “Trust and Obey” which was his most popular song. 

Trust and Obey

How often have you heard someone state “Baptism does not mean anything?” Or, “There is nothing special about the water?” It is certainly true that there is nothing special about the water in a baptistery, but it is a major error to believe baptism does not mean anything!  

Is it not strange that some things that ought to come as a natural reaction are still phrased as a command? For example, should we have to be commanded to love God? Still, we read, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29–30 NKJV). When you come to realize what baptism signifies, do you really need to have such commanded of you? Notice the signifying of baptism: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4 NKJV). When you realize this fundamental truth of Christianity, it should motivate you as it motivated Saul of Tarsus when he heard: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16 NKJV). He did not delay. He trusted and obeyed! Do you really need a command to do what is right? Here is your command: “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38 NKJV). As we sing these words, we implore you to be immersed into Christ, to “trust and obey.”

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SOURCES:

“Daniel Brink Towner.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6274696.

“Daniel Towner.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. htttp://www.hymnary.org/person/Towner_Daniel

Hall, J. H. “Dr. D. Brink Towner.” Biography of Gospel Songs and Hymn Writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1914, 294–297.

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

“John H. Sammis.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Sammis.

“John Hanna Sammis.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42742068/john-hanna-sammis.

“John H. Sammis.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. https://hymnary.org/person/Sammis_John.

“John Henry Sammis 1846–1919.” No Pages. Cited 25 August 2019. http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/s/a/m/sammis_jh.htm.

Sammis, John H. Trust and Obey and Other Songs. Los Angeles, CA: T. C. Horton, 1918.

Wiegand, John P., Editor, Praise For The Lord, Nashville, TN:  Praise Press, 1997.