Born: May 28, 1836, Hoosick, New York.
Died: January 3, 1918, Bennington, Vermont.
Buried: Hoosick Rural Cemetery, Hoosick, New York.
Hawks’ poems first began appearing in newspapers when she was 14 years old. She married Charles H. Hawks in 1857. They lived in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the Hanson Place Baptist Church, where Robert Lowry was pastor. When her husband died in 1888, she moved to Bennington, Vermont to live with her daughter and son-in-law (W. E. Putnam). She wrote 400 hymns in her life, mostly for use in Sunday schools.One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me.After writing the lyrics, Hawks gave them to her pastor, Robert Lowry, who added the tune and refrain. The hymn was first published at the National Baptist Sunday School Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1872. Some years later, after the death of her husband, Hawks wrote:
I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace.
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby; Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
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I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
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I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
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I need Thee every hour, most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.
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Thine, most gracious Lord, O make me wholly Thine— Thine in thought, in word and deed, For Thou, O Christ, art mine.
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Wholly Thine, wholly Thine; Thou hast bought me, I am Thine; Bless?d Savior, Thou art mine; Make me wholly Thine.
Wholly Thine, my Lord, To go when Thou dost call; Thine to yield my very self In all things, great and small.
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Wholly Thine, O Lord, In every passing hour; Thine in silence, Thine to speak, As Thou dost grant the power.
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Wholly Thine, O Lord, To fashion as Thou wilt, Strengthen, bless and keep the soul Which Thou hast saved from guilt.
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Thine, Lord, wholly Thine, For ever one with Thee— Rooted, grounded in Thy love, Abiding, sure and free.
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