“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. – Revelation 20:12

We are thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of how some of the great hymns of our faith were written. Each synopsis has been compiled through the research of Jerry Vargo and is shared by permission. It is our hope that these stories will be a help and encouragement to your Christian walk. This week we read the full and powerful story behind the lesser known hymn, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”

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James M. Black was the Youth Pastor at a church in Williamsport, PA, in 1893. One day he was on his way to the post office and thought he would take a shortcut through an alley which he had never used before. James did not know of the poverty and misery that alley contained.

As he made his way through the alley, he noticed a ragged young girl, daughter of an alcoholic, sweeping a rear porch on her apartment.

“Do you go to church?”  he asked.

 “No sir, I have nothing proper to wear,” was her response.

“What is your name?” he asked.

 “Bessie,” she replied.

“Bessie, I will have my wife and another lady visit you soon!” he said as he quickly continued his way to the post office.

James’ wife and another lady from the church visited Bessie and took her some dresses. Bessie started attending the services both Sunday morning and Sunday evening. An hour before the evening service, the young people met for training. It was James’ custom to have the young people recite a Bible verse when called upon for attendance.

One Sunday evening when Bessie’s name was called, there was no response. James was very concerned because she had not been absent before. He was concerned that her drunken father might have refused to let her come, or maybe she was sick. After church that evening, James and his wife went to Bessie’s apartment to check on her.

When they arrived, they found that she was very sick. Her father had no money for a doctor, so James called his own doctor and asked him to come to see the girl. The doctor came immediately and diagnosed Bessie with pneumonia.

On their way home, James thought about how sad it was when they called Bessie’s name at the young people’s meeting and she was not there. When James reached his home, all of a sudden, like a dayspring, the first stanza came in full. He then went to the piano and played the music just as you will find it in the hymnals today — note for note. It has never been changed.

Bessie died just a few days after the diagnosis and the song was first sung at Bessie’s funeral by the young people of the church.

1. When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]

[Refrain] When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

2. On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]

3. Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]