Daniel Webster Whittle

Major Daniel Webster Whittle (November 22, 1840, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts - March 4, 1901, Northfield, Massachusetts) was a 19th-century American gospel song lyricist, evangelist, and Bible teacher.

Daniel Webster Whittle
Born(1840-11-22)November 22, 1840
DiedMarch 4, 1901(1901-03-04) (aged 60)

Life and career

Whittle was associated with the evangelistic campaigns of Dwight Lyman Moody.[1]

Marrying Abbie Hanson in 1861 the night before he deployed with Company B of the 72d Illinois Infantry, he served in the American Civil War. He was wounded at Vicksburg and marched with General William Tecumseh Sherman’s forces through Georgia. Whittle was breveted with the rank of major at the end of the war and is still widely known among hymnologists as Major Whittle. Settling in Chicago to work for the Elgin Clock Company, he became closely associated with Moody, who successfully encouraged him to go into evangelistic work. [2] One of Whittle’s war experiences served as the basis for the gospel song "Hold the Fort" by Philip Paul Bliss,[3] of whom Whittle edited a biography.[4] He was also known to have worked with Bliss' sister, Mary Elizabeth Willson.

Whittle wrote mostly under the pseudonym "El Nathan" although editors of later hymnals routinely credit his actual name. Of his approximately 200 hymns, "I Know Whom I Have Believed" and "Showers of Blessing" are among the most familiar. James McGranahan wrote the tunes for both of those and for Whittle's "Banner of the Cross" as well. The name of the tune associated with "I Know Whom I Have Believed" is EL NATHAN, Whittle's pseudonym.[5] The tune for Whittle's "Moment by Moment" (first line "Dying with Jesus") was composed by Whittle's daughter Mary "May" Whittle Moody.

Writings of Daniel W. Whittle
  • Memoirs of Philip P. Bliss edited by D.W. Whittle. Chicago: A. S. Barnes and Company, 1877. B00085OH8S
  • Jonathan and other poems. BiblioBazaar, 2009 September. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell company, 1900. ISBN 978-1-103-39065-6
  • The Wonders of Prayer. BiblioBazaar, 2009 February 10. ISBN 978-1-103-39065-6.

Example of hymn: "I Know Whom I Have Believed"

I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known;
Nor why—unworthy—Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
[REFRAIN]
But I know whom I have believèd
And am persuaded that he is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day.

— "I Know Whom I Have Believed", Gospel Hymns Nos. 1 to 6 Complete. New York: The Biglow & Main Co. and The John Church Co. 1894. The refrain is drawn verbatim from Paul in 2 Timothy 1:12.

References
  1. Hall, Jacob Henry (1914). "Major D. W. Whittle: Evangelist and hymn writer". Biography of gospel song and hymn writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  2. Hall, Jacob Henry (1914). "Major D. W. Whittle: Evangelist and hymn writer". Biography of gospel song and hymn writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  3. "D. W. Whittle". Bible Study Tools. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  4. Whittle, Daniel Webster (1877). Memoirs of Philip P. Bliss. Chicago: A. S. Barnes & Company. p. 17. Retrieved 2012-07-19. P P Bliss - P P Bliss.
  5. "Daniel Webster Whittle 1840-1901". Christian Biography Resources. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
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