Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (June 28, 1851 – April 24, 1920), also known as Eliza Jane Hewitt, was an American hymn writer, teacher and Presbyterian.[1] She was the author of numerous Christian religious songs. In the beginning, she was active in Olivet Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Later she joined the Calvin Presbyterian Church, where she taught the primary class in Sunday school until her death.[2] [3]
Born on June 28, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was the daughter of sea Capt. James Stratton Hewitt and his wife Zeruiah Stites Edmunds.[4] She completed her school education at the Girls' Normal School in Philadelphia where she graduated as a valedictorian of her class.[5] She later started teaching at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, but her professional career was cut short by a serious spinal problem, in 1887, caused by a student who struck her across the back with a heavy slate for being disciplined.[6] [7] As a result, she was put in a heavy cast for six months.Though she partially recovered, she remained an invalid for an extended period of her life. During her prolonged convalescence, she studied English literature and started writing poems for the primary department of her church. She soon became a prolific writer of children's verses.[5]
Despite her health problems, she showed interest in Sunday school work. She began teaching the primary class in Sunday schools. She later became Sunday school superintendent at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, and the Calvin Presbyterian Church.[4] She prepared study materials for Sunday schools and regularly contributed for children's periodicals.[8]
She used the pseudonym Lidie H. Edmunds for some of her poems.[3] A number of her hymns have been translated into different languages including Norwegian. Some of her poems were set to music by different composers including John R. Sweney, B. D. Ackley, Charles H. Gabriel, Edmund Simon Lorenz, Homer Rodeheaver and William J. Kirkpatrick.[9] [2]
She was a close friend of Fanny Crosby, prolific hymnist.[10] She often attended the Methodist camp meetings at Ocean Grove, New Jersey.[11] [4]
Her cousin, Edgar Page Stites, was also a hymn writer.
She lived all her life in Philadelphia. She died on April 24, 1920, in Philadelphia. She was buried in Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.[6]
Some of her popular poems include[2] [3] [4]