Yesterday, Today, Forever

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

Troubled times in today’s world give rise to worry and doubt Click To Tweet

Oft our trust has known betrayal,
Oft our hopes were vain,
But there’s one in every trial
Constant will remain.

Yesterday, today, forever,
Jesus is the same;
We may change, but Jesus never;
Glory to His name!

Like a rock ‘midst dashing billows
Holding fast its place,
Jesus is in all life’s sorrows
When we trust His grace.

Do your duty, shirk it never,
Leave the rest with God;
Stand your ground, today, forever;
Victory through the blood!

Troubled times in today’s world give rise to worry and doubt, but the writer of Hebrews assures us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
This verse is the basis for the above song penned by Richard Slater and Albert Simpson. Slater was an early-day Salvationist who became known as “The Father of Salvation Army Music”.

Richard Slater inherited his father’s musical talent, and when he was only seven years old, he played in a mission’s fife and drum band, later becoming a Sunday School teacher at the mission. He learned to play the violin and became a music teacher, as well as a member of the Royal Albert Hall Orchestral Society.

In 1882 Richard attended a number of Salvation Army meetings and soon became a Salvationist. He began working in the Army’s new Music Department at Clapton in 1883, and took charge of the department until he retired as a brigadier in 1913. In retirement, Brigadier Slater resumed his Music Department appointment temporarily in 1923, and was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel. In his lifetime, he wrote more than 500 songs, mostly published in The Musical Salvationist , for songsters(choirs). He also wrote marches, selections and other arrangements for band journals. Other publications by Richard Slater were A Dictionary of Music , and a booklet, Salvation Army Song Writers .

The author of the chorus of the song was Albert Simpson, who was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada and received most of his education in Canada. He became a pastor and served mainly in U.S. churches, eventually founding the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. He wrote about 170 hymns, most of them published in Alliance hymnbooks.