The query concerning the authorship of the hymn “Beulah Land” typically results in Edgar Web page Stites, who copyrighted the lyrics in 1876. Stites tailored and expanded an earlier poem, “Beulah,” by Mary Ann Kidder, revealed in 1870. Whereas Stites is credited with the generally sung model, understanding its evolution requires acknowledging Kidder’s authentic contribution. John R. Sweney composed the music for the hymn.
This hymn holds a major place in American non secular historical past, notably inside Methodist and Baptist traditions. Its evocative imagery of a peaceable, heavenly realm resonated with congregations looking for solace and religious consolation. Rising in the course of the post-Civil Struggle period, it supplied hope and a imaginative and prescient of everlasting relaxation. The hymn’s enduring reputation stems from its easy, highly effective message of religion and its connection to a deeply rooted want for religious achievement. Understanding its origins reveals a layered historical past of poetic and musical inspiration.
