Man of Sorrows

  Phillip moved to Chicago in 1864. Not soon after his move he got a wonderful notice from Uncle Sam.  "Report for induction to the United States Army…"  At age 26, Phillip was curious about why his number came up.  After all, the war was winding down to its conclusion. Much of the South was ransacked and and destroyed. General Sherman had done his assignment, all too well.  Atlanta was destroyed and the Confederate troops were divided and nearly destroyed. So why Phillip?
  Phillip was born July 9, 1838 near Rome, PA. As many of his peers were, including the President, Abraham Lincoln, Phillip was born in a log cabin to his father Isaac, a devout Methodist who had a passion for singing.
  Meanwhile in Chicago, Phillip completed his education and began composing and performing music.  Known as a teacher who could sing, it wasn't long before he was known as a singer who could teach.  But, he reported for military service to the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry.  His military life was short; only a few months before the war was over.
  It was not long before his talent and abilities began to allow him to make a living through performing.  Through these performances a man by the name of Dwight L. Moody heard Phillip perform and teach.  Moody began to encourage Phillip to become a full-time evangelist.  He began to work for a music publisher at Root & Cady Musical Publishers.
  Phillip wrestled with the purity of his music.  He was like many artists then and now, dissatisfied and frustrated by not being able to put on paper, his deepest feelings and emotions.
  He was invited to perform a concert on Good Friday, April 14, 1865. As the concert began, a curious and unusual murmur began to make the whole audience distracted from his performance.  Phillip stopped his concert and asked someone what was going on.
  "The President has been shot!" said one of his attendants. Phillip began to lead the gathering there in Chicago in prayer. The concert ended practically before it began. All hearts and minds were pointed toward Washington D.C. and welfare of President Lincoln.
  By morning, the newspapers were reporting the ultimate outcome. "Lincoln Assassinated by Southern Actor." Phillip, who admired Lincoln, was shocked and deeply saddened by the events. President Lincoln was such a man of sorrows, known as a melancholy man with wisdom and deep convictions.
  It was that day when Phillip sat down and penned those immortal words, "Man of Sorrows! what a name. For the Son of God, who came. Ruined sinners to reclaim!  Hallelujah, what a Savior!"
  Finally, the words flowed from his heart at the heartache of the loss of his President.  How much the life of Lincoln paralleled the life of our Lord. "Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned He stood – Sealed my pardon with His blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!"
  Those melancholy men…those (S)saviors…the scorned…the scoffed…the murdered.  To you Mr. Lincoln, we offer your life as a reflection of living your life as Christ did His. Your life laid down for our country.  His life laid down for our Kingdom citizenship.
  You may now know the composer as Phillip P. Bliss.  Bliss authored some of our most beloved Hymns: Almost Persuaded, Hallelujah What a Savior, Wonderful Words of Life the melody of It Is Well With My Soul. The perfection of his compositions about the Great Savior, inspired by the death of this country's savior.
  In 1876, after many years of success, Phillip and his wife lost their life near Ashtabula, OH as the train they were passengers in, fell from a trestle, killing them both, leaving behind two sons, aged 4 and 1.  Man of sorrows.