Philip Doddridge, writer of the well-known hymn, '0 Happy Day!" was born in England in 1702—the youngest of a family of twenty children. He was so small and weak at birth it was thought that he could not possibly live. The nurse wrapped the tiny baby in cotton and laid him in a little box.
But the Lord uses the "weak things of the world to confound the mighty." The child lived and grew into godly manhood. When barely out of his teens Philip Doddridge was an able preacher of the Word of God.
He was also a gifted hymn writer, and composed 364 hymns. Perhaps his best known hymn is "0 Happy Day!"—the new convert's outburst of joy in finding peace, rest and full satisfaction in his Savior and God.
In connection with "0 Happy Day" we quote the following interesting narrative: "It was prayer meeting night in January 1898. In an old hall in St. Louis, the pastor rose to dismiss the faithful company who had braved the freezing rain to attend the meeting. But with a love for lost souls, he invited anyone who desired the prayers of Christians to go forward while the last hymn was sung.
"A timid, earnest-looking, well-dressed young lady came forward and quietly knelt at a chair. This created intense interest. Several prayed aloud for her, while her tears told of great seriousness and conviction of sin.
"Ten o'clock came, and some were still on their knees, while others, without book or organ began to sing softly:
" 'O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee my Savior and my God.'
"Soon the entire audience was singing in sweet unity. When they came to the lines:
"`Tis done, the great transaction done,
I am my Lord's and He is mine,"
the penitent woman, still on her knees, lifted her clasped hands in prayer, while her face was as radiant as if from the throne of God."
One who was present that night said later: "To see that woman of culture and modesty rejoicing in the revelation of God's love was worth more than all the books written on the evidences of Christianity."