Sweet By and By

Sweet By and By

Sanford F. Bennett

There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar;

For the Father waits over the way, To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore, The melodious songs of the blest,

And our spirits shall sorrow no more, Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

To our bountiful Father above, We will offer our tribute of praise,

For the glorious gift of His love, And the blessings that hallow our days.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

Sanford F. Bennett was a pharmacist in Wisconsin. One of his closet friends, Joseph Webster, was a local musician who also suffered with depression. In 1868, Bennett was filling a prescription for a customer when Webster came in looking sad. When asked what was wrong, Webster replied, "It's no matter, it will be all right by and by." Immediately Sanford Bennett sat down at his desk and wrote the first verse and chorus of one of our most beloved hymns. He never even looked up at the two customers who came in. When he was finished he handed it to Webster and said, "Here is your prescription, Joe. I hope it works." Over 140 years ago "Sweet By and By" was written in a drugstore in less than thirty minutes and it is still sung today.
*Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.