Christian Hymn te’ tangthu: Gunpi Ah I Kikhawm Ding Hiam?

Shall We Gather at the River?
(Kilaakna 22:1)
Robert Lowry (1826-1899)
Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

1864 kum khuakhal sung nisat mahmah ni khat, Baptist pastor Dr. Robert Lowry Brooklyn, New York-a a inn sung a laisimna inndei sungah tu-in tawllet (padenpauh) ah dakkhia hi. Tua hun laitakin tua gamah pul natna naksia takin tunga nisim-in mi tampipi si-in kivui ngelhngelh hi. A tutna mun panin sivui-a pai mite leh sivui khina a ciahkik mite en hi. Khitui naptui tawh dahmai kah mai-a om mi tampite a muh ciangin a lungsim na mahmah hi. “Sihna gunpiau ah i kikhen mahbangin nuntakna gunpiau ah i kimukik ding hiam?” ci-in amah leh amah kidong hi. Kilaakna 22:1 a, “Tua ciangin vansawltak in nuntakna guntui hong laka, crystal bangin cim sitset a, Pasian le Tuuno tokhom pan luangkhia in” (ZIV) a cihna mun phawk hi. A organ omna munah kiheii phei-a, hih la, a mal leh a aw thakhat-in phuak hi.

Robert Lowry bel gospel laphuaksiam masate’ laka a kizahtaak mahmah khat ahi hi. America gam Philadelphia khua ah March 12, 1826 ni-in suak hi. Kum 17 a phak ciangin Zeisu Khazih a Honpa-in sanga piangthak hi. 1854 kumin Bucknell University pan pilna sangpi tawh a sangkahna zo a, tua university mah ah 1869-75 sung professor of literature sem hi. Tua sang pan mah-in doctorate degree ngah hi. Pastor zong sema, a masapen-in Philadelphia khua gei-a West Chester Baptist Church ah sem hi. Tua khit ciangin New Jersey, New York City, leh Brooklyn te ah pastor sem kawikawi hi. 1899 kum, ama’ kum 73 pha-a a sih ciang dong lawptak-in Pasian’ na sem hi.

A nuntak sung tawntung Pasian’ nasem minthang khat-in om hi. Laisiangtho siam, thugen siam khat hi a, pawlpi sung vaihawm zia zong siam hi. Music leh hymn lamsang zong uk mahmah a, ahi zongin nuntakna taktak-a nasepin bel nei ngei lo hi. Lamal leh la-aw tampi phuaka, labu tampi mah a khetkhiat hangin a nuntak sung tawntung Pasian’ thu genna mah bulphuhpi-in nei den hi.

Ahi zongin, 1868 kumin gospel musician minthang William Bradbury a sih ciangin Biglow Publishing Company-te in music editor dingin amah tel uh hi. Dr. Lowry in zong tua nasep sanga, music khetkhiatna lamah mi muanhuai mahmah khat hong suak hi. Sunday school labu 20 val khenkhia a, a kikhen ngei Sunday school labu lakah a hoihpente hi, kici hi. Ama’ gelh laibute laka khat ahi Pure Gold bang bu awn khat (1,000,000) val kizuak zen hi. Robert Lowry’ hanciamna hangin America gama Pasian’ la kiphuahna leh Pasian’ la kisakna nakpi-in khangto hi, ci-a kiciamteh ahi hi.

Ama’ hun lai-in Gospel lamal leh la-aw phuahna ah amah a pha ding mi om lo mai ding hi, ci-a kiciamteh ahi hi. Hih la “Gunpi Ah I Kikhawm Ding Hiam?” (Shall We Gather at the River?) banah, “Han Thuk Sungah Lum Hi” (Christ Arose), “Bang Dang Hi Lo, Zeisu’ Si Hi” (Nothing But the Blood of Jesus) cih late a mal leh a aw a phuah ahi hi. Tua banah, “Lam Tawntung A Hong Paipih Hi” (All the Way My Savior Leads Me), “Nang Kong Deih Tawntung Hi’ (I Need Thee Every Hour), “Zion Khua I Pai Hi” (We’re Marching to Zion), “Hong Honpa Na Sih Dong’ (Savior, Thy Dying Love), leh “Where Is My Wondering Boy Tonight?” cih late zong a aw a phuah ahi hi.

Rev. Zam Khat Kham
Christian Hymn te’ tangthu 2005