Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ
I found something very interesting about Hymn 505 in the LSM Hymnal, which I always liked to sing:
" There's a Man in the Glory", Lyrics by Mary E. McDonough (1863 - 1962)
LSM has the words here: Words: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/505
I even found a copywrite notice under this hymn on another site LSM has the words to the hymnal at.
The song is sung nicely here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_R07hyUzdM
Now here's where is gets weird (to me, as a former member of TLC beginning in 1978).
I learned by internet search that Mary E. McDonough wrote a book called "God's Plan of Redemption" that is filled with teachings concerning the tripartite man (uses the three circle diagram) and God's work to transform Christians into His image and glorious bride that are amazingly similar to Witness Lee's teachings I learned in the late 1970's - 1980's. The last page of an internet link to that book includes this hymn at: http://marymcdonough.ccws.org/appropriated/index.html
Here is a web site that talks about the tripartite man and Mary E. McDonough's (and others') teaching concerning it.
Now maybe some former members of TLC from the early 1960's can enlighten me about the relationship between Mary E. McDonough, Watchman Nee, and Witness Lee. Because there is a lot of copying of content going on here, and I'm not sure how this all came about. Nor do I know why Mary's hymn is now copywrited by LSM. 
To be fair. I do remember Witness Lee mentioning the other authors mentioned on the site, saying his teachings were built on what they had seen (he often said he "stood on their shoulders" and saw further). I don't remember anything about this Mary E. McDonough though.
Now why is this important? Because I had no idea how similar Witness Lee's teachings were to hers, and of course I gave Watchman Nee and Witness Lee the credit for them (because I didn't know). And, I'll bet many others did the same. |
Mystery Solved?
I found an explanation of who Mary E. Mc Donough was on hymnal.net
2014
Steve Miller
Detroit, MI, United States states:
"Mrs. McDonough was born in New Hampshire and eventually settled in the Boston area. She became acquainted with A. B. Simpson through his annual conventions held at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Mrs. McDonough wrote "God's Plan of Redemption" as a Bible study course to present the truths of the gospel in a logical, convincing manner to the young people at that time. She felt that the teaching of evolution in schools and the higher criticism that many preachers were falling into were pernicious teachings which drew many away from the faith. She addressed the problem with a logical presentation of the Bible truths from a biological viewpoint. The book first appeared in the United States and was later published in Britain in 1922 by Mrs. Penn-Lewis. Mrs. McDonough was a very private person and conducted her ministry from her apartment and a local bookstore. This hymn appears as a poem at the end of her book, making no mention of the author. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin"
I note that T.A. Sparks quoted "There's a Man in The Glory" Hymn Word for word in a message he gave, without naming the author.
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/002916.html
Witness Lee also mentioned this Hymn as one he liked a number of times. He was reported to also be a fan of the diagrams in "God's Plan of Redemption" written by Mary E. Mc Donough, and first published in the early 1920's.