History of the Hymn
Is Your All on the Altar ? Elisha Hoffman
Elisha A . Hoffman , was born in Orwigsburg , Schuylkill County , Pennsylvania [ United States ], on the seventh day of May in the year of our Lord 1839 . His parents , Francis A . and Rebecca A . Hoffman , were Pennsylvania Germans . His father was a minister of the Gospel in the Evangelical Association , and rendered over sixty years of service in preaching the Word .
Elisha was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia , the city of Brotherly Love , and graduated in the scientific course from the Central High School . Afterwards he took up the classics and completed a classical course in Union Seminary of the Evangelical Association . For eleven years he was connected with the Association ’ s publishing house in Cleveland , Ohio .
His musical education was limited . He is not a graduate of any School of Music , but he is a natural musician . All the musical knowledge he has was gained by personal application . Mr . Hoffman ’ s first impressions of music came from hearing the voice of sacred song in the home . His parents both had sweet voices and sang well . It was their custom , in the hour of family worship , both morning and evening , to sing one or two hymns . At an early age , the children became familiar with these hymns and learned to love them and to feel their hallowing and refining power . Their lives were marvelously influenced by this little service of song in the home . A taste for sacred music was created and developed , and song became as natural a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body .
Under the power of such an environment , Mr . Hoffman came to consciousness of a princely possession with which God had endowed him — the ability to express his intuitions and conceptions in meter and song . His inner being thrilled with inspirations , longing for expression , and he used the power with which God had clothed him in the production of the many songs which bear his name . His first composition was given to the world when he was eighteen years of age . Since then heart , brain and pen have been very prolific in the birth of songs .
Over two thousand of his compositions are in print . He has assisted in the compilation and editing of fifty different song books , some of which have received marked favor and have been issued in large editions . All have accomplished a measure of good and have proved a blessing to the world . Many separate compositions have been translated into the languages of different countries and from these many countries have come letters expressing gratitude to the author for their helpfulness and inspiration .
In the larger number of his musical compositions Mr . Hoffman is the author of both the words and music . When a melody is born in his soul , appropriate words seem to be immediately associated with the melody ; or , when a conception in his mind crystallizes into a hymn , usually there is present the suggestion of a melody that will give adequate and fitting expression to the mental conception . There are exceptions , but this is the rule which governs him in his musical writings .
Among his most popular and useful songs are : “ What a Wonderful Saviour !,” “ Enough for Me ,” “ Are You Washed in the Blood ?,” “ No Other Friend Like Jesus ,” “ I Must Tell Jesus ,” “ Is Your All on the Altar ?,” and many others .
Like his dad before him , Mr . Hoffman has been an evangelistic minister of the Gospel for many years , and at present is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor , Michigan , where he has served for over thirteen years . While his ministry in the churches which he has served has been fruitful , his songs in the good which they have done have constituted a still larger ministry . Through his songs he preaches to many thousands who never hear his voice .
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