Janice Pibworth with the story of the hymn written by Ada Ruth Habershon1 (1861-1918), who died 100 years ago this year
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He can hold me fast.
Refrain:
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold,
He will hold me fast;
For my love is often cold,
He must hold me fast.
(Refrain)
I am precious in his sight,
He will hold me fast;
Those He saves are his delight,
He will hold me fast
(Refrain)
He’ll not let my soul be lost,
Christ will hold me fast;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
This hymn, written by Ada Ruth Habershon, has made a comeback through a new arrangement by Matthew Merker, with a few amendments and an additional verse. He wrote that it was at a time of struggles and considering God’s enduring power and grace that he looked afresh at Ada Habershon’s old hymn.
Keith and Kristyn Getty, having heard it for the first time, knew it was a unique jewel that would be a comfort and encouragement to God’s people, particularly those in difficult situations. So they recorded this hymn and brought it to the attention of others.
Written by request
The original song was written in 1906 by Ada Ruth Habershon, as a result of a request by Robert Harkness, who then went on to compose its music. Robert Harkness (1880-1961) was an Australian who attended one of R. A. Torrey’s and C. M. Alexander’s huge revival meetings in Australia and it was while he was there that he was invited to be Alexander’s pianist. He came to Christ shortly afterwards and made several round the world tours with the evangelists. He wrote and composed the music for over 2,000 hymns and gospel songs.2
Robert Harkness wrote: ‘During a campaign in Toronto, Canada, a young convert with whom I was dealing expressed the fear that he would not be able to hold out. A day or two later in a letter to Miss Ada Habershon, of London, I mentioned the need for a song which would give definite assurance of success in the Christian life. The weeks passed and a couple of months later during a great campaign in Philadelphia, USA, I received a batch of seven new songs written by Miss Habershon. As Dr Torrey preached his sermon one afternoon (instead of listening!) I occupied the time in setting the seven lyrics to music. One of these was ‘He will hold me fast’. The same evening it was introduced by Chas. M. Alexander to an audience of 4,000 people. Its success was immediate, and it has continued to be a great favourite.’3
President Nixon
This hymn became a firm favourite in many parts of the world – even President Nixon sang it as a solo at the first Sunday Service held in the White House, which was conducted by Billy Graham. After George Beverly Shea had sung ‘How Great Thou Art’: ‘President Nixon sat down at a piano upstairs and began accompanying himself as he sang “He will hold me fast, for my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast”. When asked where he learned that old gospel song the president related than when he was 13 or 14 his father took him to Paul Rader meetings in Los Angeles; that was the signature song the choir sang every night and it made a deep impression on him.’4
Moody and Sankey
Having been converted, Ada Habershon found many ways of serving her Lord. Ada, who was from a middle-class family, became engaged in the work of the Gray’s Yard Ragged School and Church in London where she helped with the tramps and poor of the area. As well as holding Sunday services she was involved in the education of the poor. The meetings were held in a room which was so unsuitable due to its overcrowding and poor ventilation that she wanted to build a new place, which she eventually did, having raised nearly £10,000! She made visits to the fleets of the North Sea and worked alongside the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. She wrote and distributed many tracts worldwide.
At the 1884 Moody and Sankey Mission in London, where thousands attended, Ada became one of the choir members and between meetings Sankey asked her to sing with him. G. C. Stebbins, an American who wrote many tunes for Sankey’s collection of hymns, stayed at the Habershon home during this mission. While there, Ada sang duets with him and they discussed hymn-writing.
Torrey-Alexander mission
On Good Friday 1905, at a Torrey-Alexander Mission, Alexander asked Ada to write some hymns for his missions. She said that she couldn’t write to order but that she would pray about it. Within five days she had written 12 new songs. By the next year she had supplied him with over 200 ‘hymns and spiritual songs’ and went on to write nearly 1,000 hymns for him.
When in Sydney Australia, Alexander, who was on his second world tour of gospel campaigns,1906-7, asked Robert Harkness, the composer of the music, to play ‘He will hold me fast’ to a small group of people including an Australian journalist. Alexander said: ‘I wish you knew the writer of these words – Miss Ada R. Habershon … she looks like being the best gospel songwriter in the world. She is an invalid nearly all the time, but those who suffer know best how to touch the heart. … Miss Habershon is well-read too; has the Bible in her head as well as in her heart, and all her songs have a scriptural foundation. She is direct: makes a picture in every line. “He will hold me fast”is a stirring piece.’2
C. M. Alexander believed that songs for the gospel missions should have an easy flowing melody, so that it could be learned easily, and a theme for each hymn. Often each verse would have a picture or image to make it memorable and sometimes an accompanying chorus. This enabled the hymns to be learned rapidly by the ever-changing audiences of the world missions.
Kept from suicide
On another occasion at the Philadelphia campaign of 1908, Alexander told of an incident that had happened in New York. He was hearing a friend preach, in a theatre, when he was recognised by someone and asked to take the platform. He then tried to teach the congregation the two verses he could remember of ‘He will hold me fast’ and after singing the chorus three times he asked if anyone who knew the song would come up and sing. A man who also was called Alexander came up, so they sang an ‘Alexander duet’! Alexander said: ‘I felt that the message was going home to someone in special need.’
Months later Alexander heard that there had been a woman who had been on her way to commit suicide when she passed the door of the theatre where the gospel message was being preached and thinking it was a place of entertainment went in to have a bit more fun before taking the fatal step, but on hearing the words of the hymn ‘He will hold me fast’, and the ensuing prayer, ‘she gave her heart to the Lord’ and said that she would face the struggles of life with his help.
There are many stories where this hymn has been used of God to speak to people in their need.
Janice Pibworth was for many years a headteacher in Bedfordshire, where she lives. In her retirement, one of her interests has been researching the life and works of Ada Ruth Habershon.
FOOTNOTES
1. For a short biography of Ada Ruth Habershon, see p.16 of en, April 2018, ‘Will the circle be unbroken?’. See also Ada Habershon’s autobiography and memoir A Gatherer of Fresh Spoil (compiled by her sister Ellen Mary Habershon), 1918
2.Charles M. Alexander A Romance of Song and Soul Winning by Helen C. Alexander and J. Kennedy Maclean, 1920
3. ‘He will hold me fast’ Robert Harkness, Hymntime
4. Billy Graham’s account in Presidential Praise: Our Presidents And Their Hymns (2017) by C. Edward Spann, author, and Sr. Michael E. Williams, editor.
