Old-Time Hymns With 'Blood' in the Title Quiz

Answer: John Newton

John Newton, of course, is the correct answer. He wrote the words to 'Jesus, Who Bought Us with His Blood' in 1779 with the tune set to 'Bal­ler­ma', composed by François H. Bar­thél­é­mon. The music was then adapted by Ro­bert Simp­son in 1833, according to Cyberhymnal.org. Incidentally, Newton also wrote 'Amazing Grace' in 1779.

The Website reports that a marble plaque, containing the words written by Newton himself, serves as an epi­taph outside the church he served at, St. Ma­ry Wool­noth Church on Lom­bard Street in Lon­don, England. The plaque states:

"JOHN NEWTON, Clerk
Once an infidel and libertine
A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
restored, pardoned, and ap­point­ed to preach
the Gospel which he had long laboured to destroy.
He min­is­tered,
Near sixteen years in Ol­ney, in Bucks,
And twenty-eight years in this Church."

Here are the words to 'Jesus, Who Bought Us with His Blood':

"Jesus, who bought us with His blood,
And makes our souls His care;
Was known of old as Israel's God,
And answered Jabez' prayer.

Jabez! a child of grief! the name
Befits poor sinners well;
For Jesus bore the cross and shame,
To save our souls from hell.

Teach us, O Lord, like him, to plead
For mercies from above;
O come, and bless our souls indeed,
With light, and joy, and love.

The Gospel's promised land is wide,
We fain would enter in;
But we are pressed, on every side,
With unbelief and sin.

Arise; O Lord, enlarge our coast,
Let us possess the whole;
That Satan may no longer boast
He can Thy work control.

Oh, may Thine hand be with us still,
Our Guide and Guardian be;
To keep us safe from every ill,
Till death shall set us free.

Help us on Thee to cast our care,
And on Thy Word to rest;
That Israel's God, who heareth prayer,
Will grant us our request."

Answer: Rutherford B. Hayes and Queen Victoria

Rutherford B. Hayes was president of the United States and Queen Victoria was the monarch ruling over the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth at the time Elisha A. Hoffman wrote 'Are You Washed in the Blood?' Hayes was the 19th president of the U.S., serving from 1877 to 1881. Queen Victoria was queen from 1837 until her death in 1901.

Hoffman, a Presbyterian minister who wrote more than 2,000 hymns, was born May 7, 1839, in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'Are You Washed in the Blood?'

"Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

[Refrain]

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

[Refrain]

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

[Refrain]"

Answer: United States

Fanny Crosby was an American and is credited with writing as many as 8,000 hymns. However, some Web sites state she could've possibly written as many as 9,000 hymns as a number of her compositions were published under pseudonyms.

She wrote a number of hymns with 'blood' in the title. In addition to 'Redeemed and With the Price of Blood', Crosby wrote 'The Blood Has Made Me Whole', 'Saved By the Blood', 'The Blood Washed Throng' and 'Washed in the Blood of My Redeemer'. ('Redeemed and With the Price of Blood' is not to be confused with another Crosby hymn, 'Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It'.)

She wrote 'Redeemed and With the Price of Blood' in 1881 and John R. Sweeney composed the music. Crosby was born on March 24, 1820, in Brewster, New York and died February 12, 1915 at Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'Redeemed and With the Price of Blood':

"Redeemed, and with the price of blood,
Which Thou hast shed for me,
I stand, a monument of grace,
A witness, Lord, for Thee.

Refrain:
Redeemed, and made by simple faith
An heir of heaven above!
Oh, love surpassing human thought!
Oh, vast, unmeasured love!

Redeemed, no longer dead in sin,
But raised by pow'r divine,
My tongue, rejoicing, cries aloud,
All glory, Lord, be Thine.

[Refrain]

Redeemed, my heart is filled with praise,
My soul true comfort knows,
And daily feels the calm of peace
That like a river flows.

[Refrain]

Redeemed, I'll tell it o'er and o'er;
Redeemed my song shall be,
My watchword through the vale of death,
My passport home to Thee.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Maryland

Maryland is the correct answer. The Preakness, the second jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing in the United States, is held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, home of the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens and Major League Baseball's the Baltimore Orioles.

Mountain Lake Park is in Garrett County, Maryland. According to Wikipedia, as of the 2010 census, the town's population was 2,092.

Lewis E. Jones, writer of 'There Is Power In the Blood' was born Feb­ru­a­ry 8, 1865 in Yates City, Illinois and died Sep­tem­ber 1, 1936 in Santa Barbara, Cal­i­for­nia. According to Cyberhymnal.org, Jones was a classmate of noted U.S. evangelist Billy Sunday at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois.

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'There Is Power in the Blood', sometimes shortened to 'Power In the Blood':

"Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain:
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;
There's wonderful power in the blood.

[Refrain]

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There's wonderful power in the blood.

[Refrain]

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood.

[Refrain]"

As stated in a previous quiz I compiled about the wording to 'There Is Power In the Blood', Robert Cottrill of Wordwisehymns.com writes about growing opposition to hymns that contain the word 'blood' in the title, but strongly defends the old-time songs.

"There has been a modern trend in some circles to remove references to the shed blood of Christ from our hymnody, and even from translations of the Word of God." Cottrill writes. "It is considered to be in poor taste, and offensive to the tender sensibilities of modern worshipers. (I even heard one man argue that Jesus could have paid for our sins if He were strangled rather than crucified!) This is heretical folly. The Bible is very clear about it:
'The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Lev. 17:11)'"

Cottrill is a former Bible college teacher at Briercrest Bible College (Caronport, Saskatchewan), and Millar College of the Bible (Pambrun, Saskatchewan). He is also a frequent contributor to Hymntime.com.

Answer: Canadian confederation takes place

Canadian confederation took place in 1867, nine years before the United States marked its centennial, George Custer made his last stand and Alexander Graham Bell made the world's first telephone call. And as pointed out in the question, Robert Lowry also wrote the words to 'Nothing But the Blood', also known as 'Nothing But the Blood of Jesus', in 1876.

Lowry was a professor of literature at the University of Lewisburg, later renamed Bucknell University, in Lewisburg Pennsylvania and became an ordained Baptist minister. He served as pastor at various churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Lowry was born March 12, 1826 in Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia and died No­vem­ber 25, 1899 in Plain­field, New Jer­sey.

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'Nothing But the Blood':

"What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

[Refrain]

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

[Refrain]

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

[Refrain]

Now by this I'll overcome --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I'll reach my home --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

[Refrain]

Glory! Glory! This I sing-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is the correct answer. William Booth had a burning zeal to win the destitute and the downtrodden of the world to Christ and that passion led to the establishment of the Salvation Army in London, England. Over the years, the Salvation Army established churches in a number of countries and is now one of the largest relief organizations in the world.

William J. Pearson, writer of the old-time hymn 'It Is the Blood that Washes White', was born in Der­by, Der­by­shire, Eng­land in 1832. Pearson, a preacher in Debry, moved to London in 1874 and became a key member of the Salvation Army in its early days. "He lat­er rep­re­sent­ed The War Cry, worked as quar­ter­ly col­lect­ion of­fi­cer, and had a well known faith heal­ing min­is­try," the Website Cyberhymnal.org states. "He made a num­ber of con­tri­bu­tions to The War Cry and The Mu­sical Sal­va­tion­ist."

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'It Is the Blood that Washes White':

"It is the blood that washes white,
That makes me pure within,
That keeps the inward witness right,
That cleanses from all sin.

It is the blood that sweeps away
The power of Satan's rod,
That shows the new and living way
That leads to Heav'n and God.

It is the blood that brings us nigh
To holiness and Heav'n,
The source of victory and joy,
God's life for rebels giv'n."

Answer: Denmark

The Little Mermaid statue and Lego building blocks are both connected with Denmark, the home of Erik Ludvigsen Pontoppidan who wrote 'Faith In the Blood'.

Pontoppidan was born in Arhus, Denmark in 1698 and according to Cyberhymnal.org, he was a private tutor for (among others) the Duke of Plon. The Website reports Pontoppidan also served as a minister at at Nordborg Castle; vicar at Als; minister at the royal court in Copenhagen; bishop of Bergen, Norway (1747-1754) and pro-chancellor at the University of Copenhagen. 'Faith In the Blood' was translated into English by by A. Sam­u­el Wall­gren.

Here are the words to 'Faith in the Blood':

"If asked whereon I rest my claim
To full salvation's joy,
If nothing more I need to name,
Or other words employ,
Besides our Savior's blood and wounds,
To me all-satisfying grounds;
I answer then, 'My claim is good!
'Tis based on Jesus' blood.'

This is my hope's foundation firm,
Which ever shall endure;
Yea, at the end of life's brief term,
I'll rest thereon secure,
And dreaded death shall lose its sting,
As of my Savior's wounds I sing;
His precious blood shall be the key
That opens Heav'n for me."

Answer: Blindness

Fanny Crosby is credited with writing at least 8,000 hymns, even though she was blind. Crosby is quoted in various periodicals as saying an incorrect diagnosis by a doctor caused her blindness when she was six weeks old.

Wikipedia offers a slightly different view, suggesting she was blind at birth.

"At six weeks old, Crosby caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes," Wikipedia reports. "Mustard poultices were applied to treat the discharges. According to Crosby, this procedure damaged her optic nerves and blinded her but modern physicians think that her blindness was more likely congenital and, given her age, may simply not have been noticed by her parents."

Crosby is also quoted as saying her blindness was part of God's master plan for her.

"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation," Crosby is quoted in the book 'Fanny Crosby; America's Hymn Queen, Glimpses of Christian History'. "If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

Here are the words to 'Saved by the Blood'

"We're saved by the blood
That was drawn from the side
Of Jesus our Lord,
When He languished and died.

Refrain:
Hallelujah to God,
For redemption so free;
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Dear Savior, to Thee.

O yes, 'tis the blood
Of the Lamb that was slain;
He conquered the grave,
And He liveth again.

[Refrain]

We're saved by the blood;
We are sealed by its power;
'Tis life to the soul,
And is hope every hour.

[Refrain]

That blood is a fount
Where the vilest may go
And wash till their souls
Shall be whiter than snow.

[Refrain]

We're saved by the blood,
Hallelujah again;
We're saved by the blood,
Hallelujah, Amen.

[Refrain]"

There's a second hymn called 'Saved by the Blood'. It was written by S.J. Henderson in 1902.

Here are the words to Henderson's hymn called 'Saved by the Blood':

"Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,
Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Refrain:
Glory, I'm saved! Glory, I'm saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I'm saved! Glory, I'm saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

[Refrain]

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The angels rejoicing because it is done;
A child of the Father, joint heir with the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

[Refrain]

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The Father He spake, and His will it was done;
Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

[Refrain]

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
All hail to the Father, all hail to the Son,
All hail to the Spirit, the great Three in One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

[Refrain]"

Answer: The Passover in Exodus

The words 'When I see the blood, I will pass over you' is in reference to the Passover as reported in Exodus 12. According to Scripture, the Israelites started observing the Passover when God unleashed the last of ten plagues against the Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The last plague resulted in the deaths of the firstborn of all the Egyptians, including their livestock, as reported in Exodus 11.

Exodus 12 tells of the Israelites placing blood from a slain lamb on their doorposts as a sign to God the occupants of the house were not to be subject to the deaths of the firstborn. In other words there was to be a "passover".

Many evangelical Christians make a connection between the blood on the doorposts and the blood of Jesus Christ, claiming, just like the Israelites, they have been saved by the blood. 'When I See the Blood', however, is a tribute to Jesus, although the refrain does hearken of the the events associated with Passover.

There is a bit of a mystery surrounding details about the hymn. No one knows for certain when it was written and while the name of one author of the hymn is known, the name of the co-author is unknown. Cyberhymnal.org, for example, states the hymn was written "sometime in 1800s" by John G. Foote and a co-author identified simply as E.A.H. No one knows for certain who E.A. H. was, but there is speculation on the Web he was Eli­sha A. Hoff­man, the author of more than 2,000 hymns and editor of more than 50 hymn books. He is also the author of the old-time hymn 'Are You Washed In the Blood?'

Here are the words to 'When I See the Blood:

"Christ our Redeemer died on the cross,
Died for the sinner, paid all his due.
All who receive Him need never fear,
Yes, He will pass, will pass over you.

Refrain:
When I see the blood, when I see the blood,
When I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you.

Chiefest of sinners, Jesus will save;
As He has promised, so He will do;
Oh, sinner, hear Him, trust in His Word,
Then He will pass, will pass over you.

[Refrain]

Judgment is coming, all will be there.
Who have rejected, who have refused?
Oh, sinner, hasten, let Jesus in,
Oh, He will pass, will pass over you.

[Refrain]

O great compassion! O boundless love!
Jesus hath power, Jesus is true;
All who believe are safe from the storm,
Oh, He will pass, will pass over you.

[Refrain]"

Answer: 1 John 1:7

The verse in question comes from 1 John 1:7. The verse, in its entirety in the New King James Version Bible, states, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

In a nutshell, the vast majority of old-time hymns that contain the word 'blood' in the title can be linked to 1 John 1:7.

Johnson Oatman Jr., the author of 'In the Blood From the Cross', is credited with writing 5,000 Gospel hymns with one of his most popular being 'Count Your Blessings'.

Here are the words to the old-time hymn 'In the Blood from the Cross':

"In the blood from the cross,
I have been washed from sin;
But to be free from dross,
Still I would enter in.

Refrain:
Deeper yet, deeper yet,
Into the crimson flood;
Deeper yet, deeper yet,
Under the precious blood.

Day by day, hour by hour,
Blessings are sent to me;
But for more of His power,
Ever my prayer shall be.

[Refrain]

Near to Christ I would live,
Following Him each day;
What I ask He will give;
So then with faith I pray.

[Refrain]

Now I have peace, sweet peace,
While in this world of sin;
But to pray I'll not cease
Till I am pure within.

[Refrain]"

For the record, here is an incomplete list of other hymns that contain the word 'blood' in the title, but are not featured in this quiz:

'Blood of His Covenant'
'Cleansed In Our Savior's Precious Blood'
'Covered By the Blood'
'His Blood Availed for Me'
'His Blood Has Made Me Whole'
'I Saw a Bloodwashed Pilgrim'
'I've Entered the Land Dearly Bought by His Blood'
'Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness'
'Jesus, Whose Blood so Freely Streamed'
'Let Thy Blood in Mercy Poured'
'Lord, Through the Blood of the Lamb That Was Slain'
'Not All the Blood of Beasts'
'Of One Blood God Hath Made'
'Saved Thru Jesus' Blood'
'The Blood of Christ, Thy Spotless Lamb'
'The Blood That Jesus Once Shed for Me'
'The Blood-Washed Throng'
'The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power'
'There Is a Blood-washed Multitude'
'There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood'
'Through the Cleansing Blood of the Dying Lamb'
'Under the Blood' (Guirey)
'Under the Blood' (Hewitt)
'Washed In the Blood of the Lamb' -- not to be confused with 'Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?'
'Washed in the Blood of My Redeemer'
'Where the Blood Can Heal!'

Then there are hymns such as 'Alas and Did My Savior Bleed' that make reference to 'blood' in the title.