Holy Ghostwriter: Fanny or Bing - Whose Hymns?

(Another encounter with mythical pastor Jeff Mutton of Good Lord Community Church in Middlefield.)

“Isaac Watts was a rock star.”

The other four stopped in the middle of their coffee sips and looked up at Pastor Jeff Mutton as he walked into Pam’s Cafe for their Monday clergy breakfast.

“Good to see you, too, Jeff,” Father Tony replied. “Where’s your head today?”

“I was just imagining the old hymn writers as today’s musicians,” Jeff said. “Nothing earth shattering, it’s just that if Isaac Watts were alive today, he’d probably be playing guitar and living in Nashville.”

“Okay, and if Matthew West lived in the 1700s he’d be in London wearing a powdered wig. What’s your point?” Rev. Bill asked.

“It’s just that every generation raises up their favorite hymn writers — songwriters — and everyone sings what is popular, and then some of those songs disappear into the dust bin while others stick around forever.”

“That, too, is a little obvious, but why are you on this kick?” Rev. Bill asked.

“We use an old hymnal at church...” Jeff said

“You use a hymnal?” Tony chimed in.

“For 50 years now, same hymnal. A whole half century,” Jeff said. “And I know all the hymns, and many are by ancient rock stars — Watts, Wesley, Bliss, Crosby...”

“Bing Crosby?” Tony asked.

“Not even going to dignify that one,” Jeff responded. “They each wrote hundreds, even thousands of songs, were the rock stars of their time, and very few of theirs have endured till now...”

“Or at least until 50 years ago when your hymnal was new,” Tony said.

Ignoring the comment, Jeff added, “So what makes one hymn disappear into oblivion, and another last forever?”

“Simple,” Rev. Bill said, digging into his newly arrived French toast. “The songs that last keep touching hearts, either by their words and tune, or by the memories they evoke for people when they are sung.”

“Memories?” Jeff asked.

“When I hear some songs, they remind me of older people I knew when I was growing up, hearing them sing,” Bill said. “Each time I sing them it builds on those memories; they also get passed on for new people and new memories.

“And where the Spirit is involved, the Gospel keeps moving forward,” he concluded.

“And the Bing Crosby hymns live on,” Tony said.

“Turn the page on that joke,” Jeff said.

“Can’t, we use video,” Tony smiled.