John B. Matthias
Musician · 1767–1848 · Germantown, Pennsylvania
Best known for
Songwriter
John B. Matthias was a Pennsylvania-born Methodist Episcopal circuit-riding preacher who, while serving the Long Island parish of Huntington in 1836, wrote both the words and music to “Deliverance Will Come” — better known by its later refrain title “Palms of Victory.” The hymn entered the standard bluegrass and country-gospel repertoire and remains the song for which he is remembered.
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- Born January 1, 1767, in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
- Moved to New York City as a young man and worshipped at the John Street Methodist Church.
- Licensed as a Methodist preacher in 1793 and ordained a deacon by Bishop Francis Asbury in 1797.
- Entered the Methodist “itinerant connection” in 1811 and was ordained an elder in 1813.
- Served a long string of New York pastorates as a Methodist Episcopal circuit rider.
- Wrote “Deliverance Will Come” (later widely titled “Palms of Victory”) in 1836 while pastoring at Huntington, Long Island.
- Failing eyesight forced him into retirement at Hempstead, Long Island, in 1841.
- Died May 27, 1848.
