John R. Sweney

31 December 1837—10 April 1899

JOHN R. SWENEY was born in West Chester, Pa., December 31, 1837. He gave marked indications of musical ability at an early age. While yet a boy he began to teach music in the public school and to lead music in the Sunday-school. This musical work determined his whole future life. His love for music and his success in it led him to choose it for a profession. While thus teaching and leading it was his custom to occasionally compose for his school.

At the age of nineteen he began the study of music in earnest under Professor Bauer, a celebrated German teacher. He took lessons on the violin and piano. About this time he was chosen leader of a choir, and was also in constant demand for children’s concerts and entertainments, as well as the conductor of a glee club. At the age of twenty-two he was called to teach at Dover, Delaware, where he was successfully at work when the War broke out. He then took charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment, and continued till bands were disbanded by the government.

After returning from the war he was appointed Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, then located at West Chester, Pa. Previous to this time he had written several pieces for the piano, which were published. Three years after, the Pennsylvania Military Academy was removed to its present location, Chester, Pa., but at the solicitation of many friends he remained in West Chester, and put his energy into his teaching there, especially his band, until “Sweney’s Cornet Band” became famous in that part of the state.

About 1869 he was recalled to the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and moved to Chester, where he was professor of music in that institution for twenty-five years. In 1876 the academy conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Music, and in [1883], the degree of Doctor of Music was conferred on him by the same institution. In 1871, having connected himself with the church in Chester, he began the composition of sacred music, and soon became widely known, and was in great demand as leader of large congregations.

For many years he led the vast assemblies at the well-known summer meetings at Ocean Grove, N.J. He also had charge of the music at Lake Bluff, near Chicago; at New Albany, Ind.; Old Orchard, Me.; Round Lake, N.Y.; Thousand Islands, and many other places; in fact, he was one of the most popular and successful song leaders in the country. It was a common saying among evangelists that “Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing.” For ten years or more he had charge of the music at Bethany Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school in Philadelphia, of which school the Hon. John Wanamaker was superintendent—one of the largest Sunday-schools in the United States.

Mr. Sweney wrote over one thousand sacred songs. Among his most popular ones are: “In the Morning,” “Light after Darkness,” “Sunshine in the Soul,” “More about Jesus,” “Tell Me How,” “Oh, ’tis Glory,” “The New Song,” “I Will Shout His Praise in Glory,” etc., but the most popular and widely known, and the one that is sung in almost every language, is “Beulah Land.”

His first Sunday-school book, the Gems of Praise, was issued in annual numbers beginning in [1873] and finished in 1876. He was then associated largely with Mr. Wm. J. Kirkpatrick in issuing the following books: The Garner, The Quiver, The Ark of Praise, Songs of Redeeming Love—Nos. 1 and 2, Joy to the World, Wells of Salvation, Gospel Chorus (male voices), Our Sabbath Home, Melodious Sonnets, Joyful Sound, On Joyful Wing, Precious Hymns, Quartette, Trio, Temple Trio, Revival Wave, Infant Praises, Emory Hymnal, Showers of Blessing, Temple Songs, Prohibition Melodist, Sunlit Songs, Radiant Songs, Songs of Triumph, Glad Hallelujahs, Songs of Joy and Gladness—Nos. 1 and 2, Hymns of the Gospel—New and Old (published in London, England), two anthem books called—Anthems and Voluntaries and Banner Anthems, and in connection with the Hon. John Wanamaker, Living Hymns. Mr. Sweney also wrote a number of services and cantatas, and associated with Mr. Kirkpatrick a temperance cantata entitled, “The Water Fairies.” He also edited a number of other books.

Mr. Sweney was editor or associate editor of about sixty books. He spent a busy life and was very popular. He was the right man in the right place. “Blessed is the man who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.” “Know thy work, and do it; and work at it like Hercules.” Mr. Sweney passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife and children, April 10, 1899—A life well spent in the service of Sacred Song.

Mourn not the dead whose lives declare
That they have nobly borne their part,
For victory’s golden crown they wear.
Reserved for every faithful heart.

by J.H. Hall
Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers (1914)

Professor John R. Sweney, a noted musician and composer of hymns, died at his residence, in Chester, on Monday afternoon. His illness dates from the Landisville campmeeting last summer. John Robson Sweney was born in West Chester, in 1837. He began to study music at the age of nineteen, his vocal teacher being Professor Barilli. He received instructions in musical composition from Theodore Bauer. Before he began his course with these tutors, however, he taught music to his fellow pupils at the West Chester school. At the age of twenty-two he was teaching music at Dover, Delaware, and when the Civil War broke out Dr. Sweney took charge of the Third Regiment Band of Delaware and went to the front. He was badly frozen in the service, and this afflicted him all through his later life. After the war closed, Mr. Sweney was appointed professor of music at the Pennsylvania Military College, subsequently receiving the degree of Bachelor of Music.

He married Miss Lizzie A. Gould, by whom he had two children, Colonel F.G. Sweney and B. Hillyard Sweney, of Chester. His second wife was Miss Lizzie E. Hinkson, of Chester, by whom he had one child, Miss Josephine Sweney. Mrs. Sweney survives her husband.

Professor Sweney’s great forte was in the leadership of immense assemblies and the pathos of his solo music. He led the assemblies at Round Lake, the Thousand Isles, Lake Bluff, Ill.; Old Orchard, Me.; Island Heights, and New Albany, Ind. Professor Sweney also led the Ocean Grove Campmeeting during the summer and the Bethany Sunday School.

The Semi-Weekly New Era (Lancaster, PA)
15 April 1899

Featured Hymns:

More about Jesus, would I know
Tell me the story of Jesus

Related Resources:

Chester Times (11, 14 April 1899).

J.H. Hall, “John R. Sweney,” Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers (NY: Fleming H. Revell, 1914), pp. 148–152: Archive.org

George C. Stebbins, “John R. Sweney,” Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories (NY: George H. Doran, 1924), pp. 285–286.

Melvin R. Wilhoit, “John R. Sweney,” A Guide to the Principal Authors and Composers of Gospel Song of the Nineteenth Century, dissertation (Louisville: SBTS, 1982), pp. 268–280: SBTS

Harry Eskew, rev. Mel Wilhoit, “John R. Sweney,” Grove Music Online:
https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2258373

John R. Sweney, Hymnary.org:
https://hymnary.org/person/Sweney_John

Collections of Hymns:

Gems of Praise

No. 1 (1873): WorldCat
No. 2 (1873): WorldCat
No. 3 (1873): WorldCat
Complete (1876): Archive.org

Goodly Pearls for the Sunday School (1875): Archive.org
The Royal Fountain

No. 1 (1877): WorldCat
No. 2 (1880): WorldCat
No. 3 (1882): Archive.org
No. 4 (1884): Archive.org

The Garner (1878): Archive.org
Joy to the World (1878): Archive.org
Quiver of Sacred Song (1880): Archive.org
Wells of Salvation (1881): Archive.org
Anthems and Voluntaries for the Church Choir (1881)
Songs of Redeeming Love

No. 1 (1882): Archive.org
No. 2 (1887): Archive.org

Ark of Praise (1882): Archive.org
Hymns of the Heart (1882?):
Songs of Triumph (1882): WorldCat
The Welcome Voice (1884): Archive.org
Our Sabbath Home Praise Book (1884): Archive.org
Re-union Carols (1884): WorldCat
Melodious Sonnets for Sacred Service (1885): Archive.org
Songs of Joy and Gladness

No. 1 (1885): Archive.org
No. 2 (1891): Archive.org

Precious Hymns (1885): Archive.org
The Gospel Chorus (1886): WorldCat
On Joyful Wing (1886): Archive.org
Songs of Perfect Love (1886): WorldCat
Infant Praises (1887): Archive.org
Glad Hallelujahs (1887): Archive.org
Prayer Meeting Hymn Book of Olivet Presbyterian Church (1887): WorldCat
The Banner Anthem Book (1887): WorldCat
Showers of Blessing (1888): Archive.org
The Prohibition Melodist (1888): Archive.org
Temple Songs (1888): Archive.org
Joyful Sound (1889): Archive.org
Redemption Songs (1889): Archive.org
Hymns of the Gospel New and Old (1890): Archive.org
Sunlit Songs (1890): Archive.org
Living Hymns (1890): Archive.org
Finest of the Wheat

No. 1 (1890): WorldCat
No. 2 (1894): WorldCat

Cheerful Songs (1891): HathiTrust
Radiant Songs (1891): Archive.org
Organ Score Anthem Book

No. 1 (1892): Archive.org
No. 2 (1894): WorldCat

Temple Songs: Seaside Edition (1892): Archive.org
Gates of Zion (1892): WorldCat
Winning Songs (1892): Archive.org
Junior Songs (1892): Archive.org
Glory in the Highest (1892): WorldCat
Christmas Garlands (1892): WorldCat
Unfading Treasures (1893): HathiTrust
Voices of the Resurrection (1893): WorldCat
Among the Birds: A Children’s Day Service (1893): WorldCat
Praise in Song (1893): Archive.org
The Orient Star (1893): WorldCat
The Voice of Victory (1894): WorldCat
Christmas Sunbeams (1894): WorldCat
Over the Fields (1894): WorldCat
Silvery Echoes (1894): WorldCat
Songs of Love and Praise

No. 1 (1894): Archive.org
No. 2 (1895): Archive.org
No. 3 (1896): Archive.org
No. 4 (1897): Archive.org
No. 5 (1898): Archive.org
No. 6 (1900): Archive.org

Hymn-Songs (1895): WorldCat
King Triumphant (1985): WorldCat
Around the World with Christmas (1895): WorldCat
Dew Drops (1895): Archive.org
Easter Harmonies (1896): WorldCat
The Arch of Promise (1896): WorldCat
Sweney’s Anthem Selections (1897): WorldCat
Gospel Hosannas (1898): Archive.org
Bright Melodies (1899): Archive.org