Stories Behind The Hymns
TELL MOTHER I'LL BE THERE
Stories Behind The Hymns By: Warren Shiver

WARREN SHIVER

TELL MOTHER I'LL BE THERE

AUTHOR & COMPOSER:
CHARLES FILLMORE
(1860-1952)
ARRANGED BY: ROBERT HARKNESS
(1880-1961)

 

President William McKinley was born to Nancy Allison McKinley. He had five sisters and three brothers, but he always seemed to be his mother's favorite. He was named after his father, and maybe this had something to do with it, but he was always devoted to his mother. Mrs. McKinley would tell friends that William would grow up to me a Methodist preacher someday. It was true that he was a devout Christian, taught a Bible class, and was later superintendent of the Methodist Church Sunday School, but what his mother did not know was that he would not become a preacher, but would attend law school and become a successful lawyer, congressman, Governor of Ohio, and United States President.

Every day of his life, he either telegraphed or wrote his mother. Never was a man so devoted to his mother as President William McKinley. After becoming president, he had a direct line run from the White House to her home in Canton Ohio in case of an emergency. He, also, had a private train at full steam twenty-four hours a day, standing by in case his mother needed him.

In mid-October 1897, President McKinley took a train from the White House to Canton, Ohio, to walk his mother to church one more time, just as he had done when he lived at home. That same winter "Mother McKinley" became ill. Soon the message came by telegraph that she needed William to come and comfort her in her last hours. President McKinley wired back immediately, "Tell mother I'll be there." Mrs. McKinley died Dec. 12, 1897 in the arms of her fifty-four year old son, President McKinley.

Tragically, four years later, President William McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo, NY while making a speech. With no bitterness even toward his assassin, the dying president said, "God's will be done." Then he called for a hymn to be sung that his mother had taught him, "Nearer My God to Thee." He was buried in Canton, Ohio beside his mother.

One of the greatest hymn writers of that day, Charles Fillmore, was reading a newspaper account of McKinley's telegram to those sitting with his gravely ill mother, (Tell mother I'll be there), and was inspired to write a hymn in 1898 using as a title the dramatic message. For years in America this hymn was very popular in May and especially on Mother's Day.

This hymn is not sung as much now as it was in the early 1900's, but it should be revived. Evangelist Charles M. Alexander said," Tell Mother I'll Be There" has converted more men than any other song written in a decade. A song which critics have tried to cut to pieces, both words and music, but I have never found a song, which would take its place. One night in Liverpool while the choir was singing "Tell Mother I'll Be There", one hundred and sixty men arose and publicly accepted Christ before all the people". The hymn was arranged by Robert Harkness.

Stories Behind The Hymns is written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe,NC. Shiver has been fascinated with the true stories behind the hymns since he was a 12-year old attending East Gaffney Baptist Church in Gaffney, S.C. He began studying the stories behind the hymns in 1957. If you have questions or comments, he can be reached by email at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by mail at PO BOX 775,Biscoe,NC 27209.

The 300-page softback book, 104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, costs $14.95. The book will be shipped to Gaffney Ledger and Weekly Ledger readers postage free or books may be picked up at The Gaffney Ledger office on Floyd Baker Boulevard. Books may also be ordered on the website, www.myfavoritehymnstories.com., or by sending a check or money order to Warren Shiver, P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, N.C. 27209.

Tell Mother I'll Be There

Verse 1
When I was but a little child how well I recollect
How I would grieve my mother with my folly and neglect;
And now that she has gone to Heav'n I miss her tender
care:
O Savior, tell my mother, I'll be there!
REFRAIN:
Tell mother I'll be there, in answer to her prayer;
This message blessed Savior, to her bear!
Tell mother I'll be there, Heav'n's joys with her to share;
Yes, tell my darling mother, I'll be there.
Verse 2
Though I was often wayward, she was always kind and
good;
So patient, gentle, loving when I acted rough and rude;
My childhood griefs and trials she would gladly with me
share:
O Savior, tell my mother, I'll be there!
REFRAIN:
Verse 3
When I became a prodigal, and left the old rooftree,
She almost broke her loving heart in mourning after me;
And day and night she prayed to God to keep me in His
care:
O Savior, tell my mother, I'll be there!
REFRAIN
Verse 4
One day a message came to me, it bade me quickly come
If I would see my mother ere the Savior took her home;
I promised her, before she died, for Heaven to prepare:
O Savior, tell my mother, I'll be there!
REFRAIN
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