Yes, Nan, I enjoyed reading "Hymns at Heaven's Gate" also. His daughter (who wrote it) was a beautiful young matron at the time I remember her. Don't know if she actually lived in Takoma Park when we did, but that's where I met her. She had a son about 10 at the time. Some of the stories told there are legend. The choir members were just like a family, and when they went on choir tour they grew very close.

I don't recall (if I ever knew) just which years he taught at Avondale. But we lived in D.C. during WWII, and he came to visit us there at least once.
Did he ever return to teaching at PUC after Avondale?

Meant to say earlier that my mom's 10 years +/- in the choir were "before, during, and after" her college years.

I remember the story of Prof. Greer driving the choir bus on the tour. In order to stay awake he'd eat chocolate bars.

What a perfect close to your husband's funeral service, Beryl -- singing "We Have This Hope!" It's true, isn't it, that the hope in the coming of the Lord sustains us until we can be reunited with our loved ones.

I can just hear the brass quartet and the organ, together with an entire congregation, singing those powerful words and music! Thanks for telling us about it. It must have been very emotional for you. Even singing hymns in church tends to make me teary-eyed to this day.

I have such fond memories of singing hymns in church growing up. I think my favorite musically would be Fairest Lord Jesus. My favorite for words and how deeply it touches me would be When Peace Like a River. Then, the one that probably makes me smile most from my childhood, would be Blessed Assurance, or maybe To God Be the Glory.

I like Seeking the Lost

re Prof Greer - he was at Avondale in the early fifties I think, I do not know where in the US he went after that appointment.

"I think my favorite musically would be Fairest Lord Jesus."

That takes me back to 1950!! That was my graduation year at Avondale. I will always remember Prof. Greer's choir, on Sabbath morning, slowly walking down the aisle, singing "Fairest Lord Jesus" as they entered the chapel, taking their places in the choir loft for the Sabbath morning service. It was a lovely part of the "ritual".

Beryl

Beryl were you at Avondale with (Pr) Doug Martin?

I was flower girl at his wedding in 1951 when he married May Shirley....and years later delivered one of their grandsons.

Pr Martin certainly perpetuated the musical legacy he received.

I have really enjoyed reading these posts!! I can't even begin to tell my favorite hymn as there are too many!! I have always loved, "The Old Rugged Cross", and "I Come To the Garden Alone". Just to name a couple.

When I was a child riding back home from where ever, my sister would start singing "We are Nearing Home" when we started getting close to home!! That is a special memory.

I will have to go to our ABC and look for the book mentioned, "Hymns At Heaven's Gates." Sounds very interesting.

"Fairest Lord Jesus" is another favorite of mine, as well, as is "Redeemed".

On that note, I think that I will have very pleasant dreams tonite.

Morning Glory

Good to see you on, Morning Glory! :) Please come again soon!

No, Nan, I wasn't. I had actually completed most of the Bible Worker's course here in Western Australia, at the Western Australian Missionary College, as it was named at that time. I only had to do the final year at Avondale.

Incidently, if any ex WAMSCO students are around, this is the college's centennial year. The big celebrations will be in October.

WAMSCO began as the Darling Range school, then became WAMSCO as a boarding school, catering for older students, and is now Carmel College, with only a few boarding places, now mainly a years 8 - 12 secondary school with limited boarding capacity.

There are a lot of memories! If I could have those days over again!!

God bless,

Beryl