Cleleand B. McAfee (1866 - 1944) was a Presbyterian pastor, writer, and professor. He wrote these words after two young daughters of his brother Howard died from diphtheria within 24 hours of each other. The choir at Park College, Parkville, Missouri, sang the new hymn at their Saturday night rehearsal, and were so moved by it that they went to Howard McAfee’s quarantined house and sang it outside the window.