Lelia Naylor Morris

Lelia Naylor Morris (April 15, 1862 – July 23, 1929) was an American Methodist hymnwriter. Some sources give her first name as Leila, but her obituary, grave marker, and other sources give her name as Lelia. She is sometimes known as Mrs. Charles H. Morris, as (Mrs.) C. H. Morris, or as (Mrs.) C. H. M., having adopted her husband's forenames upon marriage after the custom of the time.

Biography Morris was born in Pennsville, Ohio. While still a child, she moved with her family to Malta. Later, she and her sister and her mother ran a millinery shop in McConnelsville. In 1881, she married Charles H. Morris. The couple were active in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and attended camp meetings at places such as Old Camp Sychar in Mount Vernon and Sebring Camp in Sebring. In the 1890s, she began to write hymns and gospel songs; it has been said that she wrote more than 1,000 songs and tunes, and that she did so while doing her housework. In 1913, her eyesight began to fail, after which her son constructed a blackboard for her that was long with oversized staff lines, so that she could continue to compose.

Around 1928, she and her husband moved to live with their daughter in Auburn, New York, where she died. She is buried in McConnelsville Cemetery in McConnelsville.

Songs

"Are You Looking For The Fullness" "Bring Your Vessels, Not a Few", 1912 "Can the World See Jesus in You" "For A Worldwide Revival" "Hallelujah for the Blood" "Holiness Unto the Lord", a.k.a. "Called unto Holiness", 1900 "Hymn, to Fight!" "I Know God's Promise is True", 1899 "Nearer, Still Nearer", 1898 "The Stranger of Galilee" "'Tis Marvelous and Wonderful" "Where with God the Saint shall reign" "A New Touch of Fire"