Something New

I am acquainted with the following hymn because of its publication in The Southern Harmony, by Baptist composer and editor William “Singing Billy” Walker. (p. 254). He also included it in his book The Christian Harmony in 1867 (p. 93). Since Walker did not credit the tune in The Southern Harmony, and only credited himself with the alto that he added to The Christian Harmony, the tune apparently was written earlier by someone else.

Something New sung by Christian Harmony singers may be found and listened to HERE (starts at 20:58). (An interesting recording of a man in 1959 trying to remember it can be found HERE.)

I have always thought the first stanza excellently captures the fickle state of man in his human nature, and thus have quoted it on occasion in that context. The seven stanzas below are as found in The Southern Harmony.

1. Since man by sin has lost his God,
He seeks creation through;
And vainly strives for solid bliss,
In trying something new.

2. The new possessed like fading flowers,
Soon loses its gay hue:
The bubble now no longer stays,*
The soul wants something new.

3. Now could we call all Europe ours,
With India and Peru;
The mind would feel an aching void,
And still want something new.

4. But when we feel the power of Christ,*
All good in him we view;
The soul forsakes her vain pursuits,
In Christ finds something new.

5. The joy the dear Redeemer gives,
Will bear a strict review
Nor need we ever change again
For Christ is always new.

6. Come, sinners, then and seek the joys
Which Christ bids you pursue;
And keep the glorious theme in view,
In Christ seek something new.

7. But soon a change awaits us all,
Before the great review;
And at his feet with rapture fall,
And heaven brings something new.

* “The bauble now no longer takes” is probably the original wording.
* “the Saviour’s power” is probably the original wording.

Some sources give A Select Collection of Songs Designed for the Use of the Pious of Every Denomination (A. & J. Shirley, Portland, ME, 1816) as the earliest known printing of this poetry. I do not have access to check that book. The earliest versions I have found are in:

• 5 stanzas in A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians, by John Mackenzie (Woodstock, VT: David Watson, 1819).
• 10 stanzas in Crumbs for Zions Travellers, Or, The Poor Mans Hymn Book, by John Butterwicke (Leeds: George Wilson, 1821).

I also found five stanzas, credited to “Rel. Adv.”, in The Latter Day Luminary (Vol. VI, No. III, March 1825, p. 96). I am including below the version in Crumbs for Zions Travellers, since this is the longest version I found. Crumbs is a small book of 18 hymns, the subtitle of which states “Containing many Original Hymns, Never before Published.” However, since this hymn was printed 5 years earlier, it is probably not an original hymn by Butterwicke. However, some of the extra stanzas might have been added by him. (On the other hand, all 10 could have been in the Shirleys’ Select Collection.)

It is unknown to me who this John Butterwicke is. He lived on Briggate Street in Leeds. I found a “John Butterwick” who died in 1843. He was a bookseller on Briggate Street, age 67. It seems likely this could be the same person (The Leeds Mercury, Saturday, February 4, 1843, page 5). If I deciphered correctly, this John Butterwick died on Monday, January 30, 1843. The first hymn, “The Latter Day’s Glory,” has a bright millennial outlook (whether premillennial or postmillennial, I am unsure). In hymn No. 9 he mentions “one sect” that God has blest, which preach “against dread wars and shedding blood” and with which the land would have rest if “the world with them was filled.” This sounds like praise of non-resistant Anabaptists, and may suggest something of his belief system. This is as far as I have been able to identify either the person or his beliefs.

1. Since man by sin has lost his God,

He seeks creation through;

And vainly hopes for solid bliss,

In trying something new.

2. The new possessed (like fading flowers),

Soon loses its gay hue:

The bubble then no longer takes,

The soul wants something new,

3. O! could we call all Europe ours,

And India and Peru

The soul would feel an aching void,

And still want something new.

4. But when to Jesus Christ we fly,

All good in him we view,

The soul it then no longer roves,

Nor wants a something new.

5. No those that’s fled to him by prayer,

They’d bid this world adieu;

Give me but Jesus is their cry,

Then take your somethings new.

6. Adieu to all your somethings new,

Is still their constant cry;

For Jesu’s love is all their theme,

And will be till they die.

7. Farewell to your short pleasures here,

The shadows you pursue;

For we’ve got Jesus Christ with all,

And he is always new.

8. And when to that bright world we rise,

And our dear Jesus view,

Through all eternity we’ll praise.

For he’ll be always new.

9. When twice then thousand years are gone,

We’ll range the plains all through,

And still unnumbered pleasures rise,

For heaven is always new.

10. Then sinners will you go with us,

Those pleasures for to view;

For there is room for all the world,

And glories every new.

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Note: Anabaptist was originally a broad term used to describe (and often malign) those who rejected infant baptism and baptized believers upon a profession of faith (called a “rebaptism” by those observing the infant rite, but considered the first baptism by “Anabaptists.” More often today the term is limited to the form of anabaptism represented by Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites, etc.