eHymns.org

Born: January 21, 1870, Marion, New York.

Died: July 29, 1957, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Buried: Baldwin City, Kansas.

Runyan was the son of a Methodist minister. He showed an interest in music when very young, and by age 12 often served as church organist. He became a Methodist minister at 21, and held various pastorates in Kansas, 1891-1903. He was appointed evangelist for the Central Kansas Methodist Conference, and served for some 20 years.

Runyan wrote his first Gospel song in 1915 and was greatly encouraged by Daniel Towner of Moody Bible Institute. In 1924, Runyan went to John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and served as pastor of the Federated Church, and editor of the Christian Workers’ Magazine. Moving to Chicago, Illinois, he was associated with the Moody Bible Institute, and served as editor for Hope Publishing Company until his retirement in 1948. He received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Wheaton College, Illinois, in 1948. His works include:

* Revival Praises (with Arthur McKee) (Chicago, Illinois: The Runyan Music Publishing Co., 1925)

Sources

* Erickson, p. 381
* Young, p. 823

Music

1. Gates Will Open Wide, The (© 1925)
2. Faithfulness
3. What God Hath Promised
4. Processional
5. Runyan

Hymns

1. Again He’ll Come
2. I Sing of a Savior (© 1924)
3. If We Brightly Shine
4. In the Hollow of His Hand (© 1929)
5. Like as a Mother Comforteth
6. Lord, I Have Shut the Door (© 1923)
7. More Precious to Me (© 1925)
8. Savior for Me, The
9. To Thy Temple Holy

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/r/u/n/runyan_wm.html