Christian Hymn te’ tangthu: Dai Hithiat-a Tawldamna Mun

Near to the Heart of God
(James 4:8)
Cleland B. McAfee (1866-1944)
Cleland B. McAfee (1866-1944)

A muibun taktak hymn i cih “Mi khat’lungtang pan hong phulkhia-a midangte’ lungtang a sukha la ahi hi” ci-in gen lehang kikhial-in ka um kei hi. Hih la “Dai Hithiat-a Tawldamna Mun” zong tua bang la mah ahi hi.

Cleland B. McAfee in 1901 kuma a phuah hi a, Chicago, Illinois-a First Presbyterian Church ah pastor a sep laitaka a phuah ahi hi. Ni khat a it mahmah a sanggampa’ tanute nih gawl natna diphhteria tawh thakhat-in si, cih thu za-a, dah mahmah hi. Tua banga dah lua mahmah-a a om laitakin amah leh amah a kihehnep nading leh a innkuanpih dangte a hehnep nadinga hih la a phuah ahi hi. A sak masaknapen zong a sanggampa Howard’ inn ah a sanggampa’ tanu nihte kivuina hun sung mah hi pah hi. A Nipi kik ciangin ama’ biakinn mahmah ah choir-te in nekkawm nekna ah sa kik uh hi. A sanggam dang khat mah ahi Lapsley in ngaihsa lua a, ama’ pastor sepna Berkeley, California-a First Presbyterian Church ah a ciah ciangin pua pah hi. Tua panin mun khempeuh ah kizel hi. Tua huna kipan tuni dongin mite a hehnem den la khat hi den hi.

Hih laphuakpa Cleland Boyd McAfee pen America gam Ashley, Missouri ah September 25, 1866 ni-in suak hi. Union Theological Seminary ah pilna a sin khit ciangin Parkville, Missouri-a Park College ah 1881-1901 sung sangsia sep leh college pastor sep thuahkhawm hi. Tua khit ciangin New York-a First Presbyterian Church leh Brooklyn, New York a Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, pawlpi nih ah pastor sema lawhcing mahmah hi. 1912-30 sung Chicago-a McCormick Theological Seminary ah professor of systematic theology-in om hi. Mipil Laisiangtho siam mahmah, thugen zong a siam mahmah khat hi a, laibu tampi zong gelh hi. A pawlpi sung General Assemby ah elected moderator-in kikoih hi. Tua banga Pasian’ na muibun taka a sepna tampite sangin tuhun ciangin “Dai Hithiat a Tawldamna Mun” la a phuakpa a hihna tawh kiphawk zaw hi.

A nasepna pan pension a lak khit ciangin Jaffrey, New Hampshire ah tenga February 4, 1944 ni-a a sih dongin laigelh, thuhilh, laihilh, lecture pia kawikawi cih bangin a hun zang hi.

Hih la bel 1903 kumin The Choir Leader kici labu sungah kihel a, Dayton, Ohio a Lorenz Publishing Company-te’ khet ahi hi. Tuni dongin evangelical labu kici peuhmah ah kihel veu hi.

Rev. Zam Khat Kham
Christian Hymn te’ tangthu 2005