During the next ten days, we mark the anniversaries of the deaths of both Anthony Johnson Showalter, who died in Chattanooga on 16 November 1924 and Elisha Albright Hoffman, who died in Chicago on 25 November 1929.



Showalter had been moved by the news that two of his former students had lost their wives within days of each other to compose a melody, and penned a refrain on the text of Deuteronomy 33:27: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. At Showalter's request, Hoffman wrote the verses of this favorite of campground, meeting, and church.



Leaning On The Everlasting Arms



What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.



Refrain



Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.



O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

O how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.



Refrain



What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.