The Story Behind More about Jesus

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born in 1851, graduated as valedictorian of her normal school class and went on to teach in the public schools in Philadelphia. All of this suddenly ended when she suffered a debilitating back injury and became bed-ridden for an extended period of time.

Could she have been bitter? Certainly. Could she have complained to God about the unfairness of it all? None of us would have blamed her if she did.

But the truth is, she didn't. From her bed, she studied English literature and began to sing and write.

She took this time to learn more about Jesus. This was her prayer to her Lord, that he open her eyes so she would see more of Him and reflect more of Him.

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

Some of her poems became known to Professor John R. Sweeney, who set them to music.

Eliza's back condition improved and she was able to resume some of her duties, though she struggled with pain the rest of her life. She became Sunday school superintendent of the Northern Home for Friendless Children and later at Calvin Presbyterian Church. She died in 1920.