Lyrics:

1. ‘Tis sweet to sing the matchless love
Of Him who left his home above
And came to earth–oh, wondrous plan–
To suffer, bleed, and die for man!

(Chorus)
For Jesus died on Calvary,
That all thru him might ransomed be.
Then sing hosannas to his name;
Let heav’n and earth his love proclaim.

2. ‘Tis good to meet each Sabbath day
And, in his own appointed way,
Partake the emblems of his death,
And thus renew our love and faith.

3. Oh, blessed hour! communion sweet!
When children, friends, and teachers meet
And, in remembrance of his grace,
Unite in sweetest songs of praise.

Text: George A. Manwaring, 1854-1889
Music: Ebenezer Beesley, 1840-1906
Tune name: HANCOCK

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

Written By: George A. Manwaring

George Manwaring (March 19, 1854 – July 7, 1889)^[1] was a hymnwriter of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Some of his works have become favorite LDS hymns and are found in the 1985 LDS Church hymnal.

George Manwaring was born in England to Henry Manwaring and Sarah Barber. The family converted to the LDS Church, and in 1871, as was the custom at the time, made their way to the United States and to Utah Territory. They settled first in Salt Lake City, then permanently in Springville.^[1]

Manwaring was a bass in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir beginning in 1885.^[2]

Several of George’s poems were put to music and made hymns. Some of these have been included in the 1985 LDS Church hymnal.

• Joseph Smith’s First Prayer (describing what is known as the First Vision)
• Lord, We Ask Thee Ere We Part
• Sing We Now at Parting
• ‘Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love
• We Meet Again in Sabbath School

Music By: Ebenezer Beesley

Ebenezer Beesley (14 December 1840 – 21 March 1906) was a Latter-day Saint hymn writer and composer. The music for twelve of the hymns in the 1985 English-language hymnal ofThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by him.

Beesley was born in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England.^[1][2] His parents joined the LDS Church when he was quite young and he was baptized a member of the church on September 22, 1849.

In 1859, Beesley emigrated to Utah Territory in the George Rowley Handcart Company with his family, including first wife Sarah Hancock Beesley.^[3] They first lived in Tooele, Utah, but later they moved to Salt Lake City. In the 19th Ward in Salt Lake City, Beesley served as both choir director and music director for Sunday School. He studied under George Careless.^[1]In 1863, Beesley joined the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra, where he played the violin.^[4]

Beesley was a contributor to the Juvenile Instructor magazine. He also was one of the men appointed by John Taylor to oversee the publication of the Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody, which was the first LDS Church hymnbook to include music.^[1]

In 1880, Beesley became the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In September of that year, Beesley led the choir’s first excursion outside of Salt Lake City on a trip to American Fork, Utah where they performed with the local choir for a large group of citizens.^[5] Beesley served as the choir director until 1889.^[1]

After serving with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Beesley taught in Tooele and then for a time in Lehi, Utah. He then moved back to Salt Lake City where he died.^[1]

In the 1985 LDS Church hymnal the music for the following hymns was composed by Beesley:

• hymn #5 “High on a Mountain Top”
• hymn #16 “What Glorious Scenes Mine Eyes Behold”
• hymn #32 “The Happy Day At Last Has Come”
• hymn #76 “God of Our Fathers, We Come unto Thee”
• hymn #77 “Great Is the Lord”
• hymn #156 “Sing We Now at Parting”
• hymn #177 “Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love” Tune name=Hancock
• hymn #185 “Reverently and Meekly Now”
• hymn #232 “Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words”
• hymn #280 “Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning”
• hymn #282 “We Meet Again in Sabbath School”