Yes brother Richard, It is used very often in homes and churches.
Now we are moving on to the next hymn writer from the church.
OVER YONDER
“And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Henry de Fluiter Henry de Fluiter
1. Come, let us sing of homeland, Down by the crystal sea;
Wonderful land where Jesus Buildeth a mansion for me.
2. Water of life there floweth, Fruit in abundant store;
Citizens of that country Hunger and thirst nevermore.
3. Come go with me to homeland, Jesus invites you there;
Help spread the invitation, Tell it to men everywhere.
Refrain
Over yonder, down by the crystal sea,
Over yonder, There’s where I long to be,
No more sorrow, toil, grief, nor care,
In the homeland bright and fair, Over, Over there.
He wrote a 4th stanza and it was not published in our Hymnal, and it is beautiful also.
4. There is a wondrous city, Streets of transparent gold;
Not half its glorious beauty Has e’er to mortals been told.
Most of the songs Henry De Fluiter wrote are replete with scripture nearly every line revealing his reading and study of God‘s Word. The first time I met Uncle Henry (as the King’s Heralds called him) was in 1961, we were recording for the broadcast in the studio. He lived on the street right behind the VOP. He was 96 years old, and was near blind. He would back his car out on the street and would drive at the curb hitting it with his tire, and would make three turns to the right until he came to the VOP building. He came in the side door and was holding up a new song he had written for the Quartet. He was a delightful, loving man. This Hymn is 431 in the Church Hymnal. - John Thurber 2012