Hymn Stories: This is My Father’s World
Adapted from 101 Hymn Stories – Kenneth W. Osbeck Author: Maltbie D. Babcock 1858-1901
Composer: Franklin L. Sheppard 1852-1930
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
Maltbie D. Babcock was born in Syracuse, New York, on August 3, 1858, of a socially prominent family. Later he became recognized as one of the outstanding Presbyterian ministers of his generation. He was a champion baseball pitcher and swimmer, idolized by the young men of his church for his physical prowess and his strong convictions and principles. Intolerant of injustice, he one day intervened when an older boy was bullying one younger than himself and was using unsavory language. Rev. Babcock simply picked the bully up by the nape of the neck and the seat of the pants and threw him over the fence.
He was also a skilled musician, performing on the organ, piano and violin, and was known to be a great lover of nature. While a pastor in Lockport, New York, he would often take a morning walk to the top of a hill north of town to admire the view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside. His favourite expression was “I am going out to see my Father’s world.”
This hymn was taken from a sixteen-verse poem written by him and published posthumously in 1901. In it, he portrays the message of God’s presence, personality, power and purpose.
The tune for the text was arranged from an old English melody by one of Babcock’s closest friends, Franklin L. Sheppard. The tune name, “Terra Beata” is Latin for “blessed earth.”