"Will you please go to this address in your city and try to secure Mrs. Lemmel's written permission for the use of her hymn in my new compilation for the Chinese? There has been some difficulty about this, but I desire especially to include it in this volume, 'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.'”
This request came to a dear young couple from a beloved servant of God whose life has been largely devoted to the work of the Lord in the Orient.
Of course C _ and S _ would gladly execute this commission. But didn't Mr. W _ say something about it being difficult? Perhaps they would find Mrs. Lemmel coldly aloof, austere, and proud of her accomplishments. Their timid hearts shrank from such an encounter. Only their love for the Savior and for him who had made the request strengthened them for what might be an unpleasant ordeal.
Looking to the Lord for wisdom and strength, they phoned the home where Mrs. Lemmel was living with other elderly ladies and secured an appointment.
It was a beautiful summer's day when our young friends drove out to the far end of the city and up to the pleasant private home. When they entered the living-room thy found a group of older women seated watching the television. Could Mrs. Lemmel be among them? Their hearts sank, for how could they explain their mission with all eyes centered on the T. V.? To their great relief, they were told: "No, she's in that room around the corner.”
What a lovely picture those dear young folks can still enjoy in retrospect! Soft, warm sunlight flooded the tiny immaculate bedroom into which they were ushered. A pleasant breeze flowing through the open window cooled the atmosphere. A bed, a tiny piano, a charming water-color and some plaques on the wall, perhaps two dressers with several items on them, and a rose-colored rocker: these were the furnishings. But, as the center and dominant spirit of the room, in the rose-colored rocker sat a well-looking lady, sturdy in build, but not really heavy. Her full face wore a wide smile and the bright welcome of her face was framed in beautiful, snow-white hair, all done up in tiny curls. She wore a long gown with a sweater about her shoulders and slippers on her feet. Altogether, she presented a picture of well-being rarely found in one past ninety years of age, as was Mrs. Lemmel. But her eyes were closed; she was blind.
The moment that C _ and S _ came into the room, as if she could see them Mrs. Lemmel reached out both hands to them and called them warmly to her. All their fear fled as they sat near this dear old lady; and, instead, their hearts were filled with love as she held their hands and listened to their errand.
While S _ was telling Mrs. Lemmel of Mr. W _ ‘s desire to use her hymn in China, the old lady's emotions seemed to flow through her hand into C _ ‘s to which she clung. At times, as if she could scarcely control the joy flooding her heart, she would squeeze C _'s hand harder and harder and even her quickened pulse from time to time indicated her inward delight.
Then when S__ told her that her hymn would be translated into three foreign languages for the children to sing, she burst forth with "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" And her poor eyes filled with tears.
"Of course you may have permission to use the hymn," she said, and proceeded to have C_ write such a statement for her to sign. Then, in her sweet, happy voice, she related some incidents in connection with her hymn.
Many years ago, while Mrs. Lemmel still had her sight, she composed "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." She had sent it to a publisher but did not yet know the results until one day at a Bible conference. As she walked into a room she became aware that a large group of people were singing—"her hymn"! "For a while I just wasn't there!" she said.
As time went on, missionaries carried the hymn far and wide, even into the midst of a head-hunting tribe. One day as some people were fearfully entering the domain of this tribe, they heard the voices chanting. The guide turned reassuringly to them and said: "You don't need to fear. They are singing: Turn your eyes upon Jesus! The old chief of that tribe died with that hymn on his lips.”
Another incident involving this hymn comes from a soldier-lad during the Korean War. One night he was exceedingly lonely and sad and longed for peace and comfort. He turned on the short wave radio, and over the night air came the encouraging words of Mrs. Lemmel's hymn:
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free!
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there:
O'er us sin hath no more dominion,
For more than conqu'ers we are!
His word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Chorus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face!
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.