BLESSÈD QUIETNESS
Manie Payne Ferguson (1850 – 1932)
Born: 1850, Carlow, Ireland.
In 1886, Manie and her husband Theodore Pollock Ferguson founded a mission in Los Angeles, California. This eventually expanded into what was known as the “Peniel” missions along the West Coast of America, and in Africa, Asia, South America, and elsewhere. The main focus of the missions, especially in later years, was ministry to single women.
BLESSÈD QUIETNESS
Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.
Refrain
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heav’nly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.
Refrain
Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.
Refrain
See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessèd fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.
Refrain
What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!
Refrain
I have never sung this hymn but the words are so powerful I wanted to share them. I loved the story of the hymnwriter starting missions and especially caring for single women…
Ht: Cyberhymnal
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
This one’s new to me, too.
I like it very much.
Kim, Hope you find some quiet rest today…blessings.
I grew up singing ‘Blessed Quietness.’ The refrain, especially, is one of my ’singing around the house as I work’ songs.
Maybe my parents liked it because they were surrounded by seven children!
Rosemary, we were both blessed with large families…quietness was a rare and beautiful thing. 🙂
Hymns are such beautiful poetry! I really like this one. I recovered your comments by the way
Lana, I really did appreciate the poetry of this hymn especially since the tune doesn’t enter my head automatically…
You found a nice old PB hymn…thanks for the memories!
Jody, PB ehh, glad to oblige…Hope you have some blessed quietness in between feeding the hordes!
I have often wondered if my Great Aunt Manie Payne Ferguson was known to others. She was my Grandpa’s sister. Although I never met her, I remember going to the mission in Los Angeles when I was a small
child. I have one of her hymn books at home. It is nice to know that her
hymns have lasted such a long time
Donna, I know that your comment here is old, but if you see this, I would love to hear from you. I’m researching the hymn “Blessed Quietness” and would love to correspond with you about what you know about your great-aunt and the history of the hymn. –Kendra @ ksandfrog@juno.com. Thanks!
Mannie Payne Ferguson was my great-great aunt, my grandmother spoke fondly of her, but I did not know much about her until recently.
I sang this hymn in Pilgrim Holiness Churches in my early years. This church was later renamed the Wesleyan Church. Today, in the midst of the busy Christmas season, and the problems that often arise in this time, feeling frazzled as I surveyed chore after chore, the hymn suddenly came to mind…a gift from God to me. Found your blog when I searched for the lyrics. Great post.
What a wonderful piece,What is this that makes hymns to have a magical touch, they’ve lasted for over hundreds of years unlike the current music that lasts only a year or so, when i play Blessed Quietness on the keyboard i just feel flown to heaven.I love it these writers were really and fully in holy harmony with GOD.
My husband and I are planning on singing SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD this Sunday in church. We just happened to run across it in an old hymnal and loved the words as it speaks of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Manie Payne Ferguson for your inspiring hymn. BLESSED QUIETNESS is also one of our favorite hymns.