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e'L Joseph Scriven buried at Bewdley ,‘ 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' ‘1 was written by Port Hope Man “What a Friend We Have in Jesus," one of the world‘s best known religious hymns, was written in a small frame house in Port Hope, and the man who wrote it is buried a few miles north in a cemetery beside high» way 28 near Bewdley. He is Joseph Scriven, native of Seapatrick, County Down, Ireland. And his song is known world- wide: Whnt I friend we have in J99“!- All sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer. Oh. what peace we often for- feit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. 1 All because we do not carry ‘ Everything toGod in prayer. The hymn was discovered by a friend who visited him while he was sick in his little house in Port Hope. When the friend asked ifhe had written the poem that was on the table, Scriven implied that “The Lord and I did it betweenus.” .’ It badbeenalong route that .‘had brought Scriven to this .‘area, and it was only after death, that his name was famous. Educated at Trinity College in Dublin he was the son d a Royal Marina captain, and as a boy, had dreams himself of the military life and attended Ad- discombe Military Seminary in London. But his health failed and he dropped plans for the military. When his hride-to-be drowned the evening before their wed- ding, Scriven decided to make a new life, and came to Canada to forget. The year was 1844 and he was 25 years old. Arriving in the Wilds of the Rice Lake area, he taught school and became a tutor to the Pengelleys who were at Rice Lake. Some years later, a romance developed with Eliza Roche, but she died in 1855 after a brief illness and before they could be married. Twice, the ill- fated Scriven had lost his lady love. it was Eliza's death that prompted the writing of What a M3-J V I993 But by his death, his hymn had caught on, and those who knew him semed that greatness had been amongst them. Scriven was buried in the Pengelley family cemetery and a large monument was erected at his grave, bearing the stan- ms of the hymn. You can see it _â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"- van now sung around the world was written when Scriven’s finances died â€"â€"â€"â€" Friend We Have in Jesus. He sent a copy of it to his mother who was still living in Ireland. As the years rolled by, he became more distrased. His health was poor, he was short of money and he had a far of becoming physically helpless. On October 10, 1886, the people of Bewdley were shocked to find Scriven’s body in the flume of a dam near Rice Lake. It was never known whether his death was an accident or suicide. w «‘ ' .A I {L today on the east side of high- way 28 just south of Bewdley village. The hymn continues to inspire people throughout the world. It has been sung in Russia. It has been sung at the Vatican. It was sung at Terry Fox’s funeral. And here, where it was writ- ten, it has a special significance as a reminder of a man who kept his faith while his world closed inaround him. SCRIVEN'S STONE NEAR HWY. 28 Scnven Stam p proposed A proposal that a stamp he issued in 1986 to honor Joseph Scriven, a Port Hope resident for many years and author of the hymn What A Friend We Have In Jesus, has been made to Canada Post Corp, according to the latest issue of the United Church Observer. The proposal has been made by (he Pembroke centre of the Royal » Canadian College of Organists, the Observer story states. The centre has contacted the federal postal department. the president of Canada Post, and the headquarters of the College of Organists in search of support for the stamp. A 1986 issue is requested because that year will be the 100th an- niversary of Scriven‘s death, says the Evening Guide’s Wesle ville correspondent,Edna Barrowc Ough. Mrs. Barrowclough notes that she will make a motion that a letter be sent in support of the stamp when the executive committee of the East Durham Historical Society meets this week. Scriven is buried in the private cemetery of the Pengelley family in Bewdley. The words of the famous hymn are inscribed on his tombstone. ~34, IO ,2 3