(Obituary for William Grum)
VICTORY AHEAD
“…This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
INTRO.: A gospel song which reminds us of the victory that overcomes the world through faith is “Victory Ahead.” The text was written and the tune was composed both by William Grum, who was born on July 14, 1878, at Camden, New Jersey, to Benjamin and Caroline “Carrie” Grum. His early years were spent at 215 Market Street in Camden, where his father had a confectionary. He grew up as a member of Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church. The family had moved to 544 Vine Street by 1900. Benjamin Grum worked then as a letter carrier, a position he would hold until his retirement in the 1920s. William Grum married in the early 1900s. His wife, the former Lena Purdy, bore him two children, daughters Lena and Beatrice. A talented musician, singer, and composer of religious music, Grum’s best known composition perhaps is the hymn “Victory Ahead,” written in 1905. It was later owned by R. E. Winsett.
By 1912, William Grum had entered the ministry. He served at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and the Kaighn Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Camden, and at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Gloucester City, NJ, where he was stationed when the Census was taken in January of 1920. The family home was at 335 Main Street. When daughter Beatrice Crum graduated from Camden High School in 1923, the family was back in North Camden, living at 547 Vine Street. Benjamin and Carrie Grum were still living at 544 Vine Street in April of 1930 when the Census was enumerated. Mrs. Grum remained at the address after her husband passed, and was still living there in the fall of 1933.
By 1930, Grum had been sent to serve at the Woodlynne Methodist Episcopal Church in Woodlynne, NJ. The Grum family made their home in April of 1930 at 2220 Woodlynne Avenue, the corner of Woodlynne Avenue and Linden Street, in Woodlynne. Sadly, Grum died suddenly while visiting his mother at the family home at 544 Vine Street in Camden, New Jersey, in 1931. William Grum also had talent as a painter. He had completed a large painting, “The Old Rugged Cross,” which stood 15 feet wide by 18 feet tall, shortly before his death. The painting was presented posthumously to the Bible class at the Kemble Methodist Episcopal Church in Woodbury NJ, in the spring of 1932. Grum’s father, Benjamin Grum, passed away on May 31, 1933. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church for use in Churches of Christ, “Victory Ahead” has not appeared in any to my knowledge. I first saw it in the 1939 Favorite Songs and Hymns published by the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Co.
The song exhorts us to look forward to the final victory which will come to God’s people.
I. Stanza 1 refers back to Israel’s victory over Jericho
When the hosts of Israel led by God,
Round the walls of Jericho softly trod,
Trusting in the Lord, they felt the conqueror’s tread,
By faith they saw the victory ahead.
A. God led the people of Israel in their conquest of Canaan: Josh. 2:9
B. It was He who gave the instructions for them to march around Jericho: Josh. 6:1-5
C. By trusting in the Lord, they experienced victory: Josh. 6:20-21
II. Stanza 2 refers back to David’s victory over Goliath
David with a shepherd’s sling and five stones,
Met the giant on the field all alone,
Trusting in the Lord, he knew what God had said,
By faith he saw the victory ahead.
A. David had only a shepherd’s sling and five stones: 1 Sam. 17:38-40
B. With these he met the giant Goliath alone: 1 Sam. 17:41-44
C. David trusted in the Lord to give him victory: 1 Sam. 17:45-51
III. Stanza 3 refers back to Daniel’s victory in the lions’ den
Daniel prayed unto the Lord thrice each day,
Then unto the lion’s den led the way,
Trusting in the Lord, he did not fear or dread,
By faith he saw the victory ahead.
A. Even though there was a law enacted which made it illegal, Daniel continued his custom of praying to God three times a day: Dan. 6:1-10
B. As a result, he was punished by being led to the lions’ den: Dan. 6:11-17
C. However, because he trusted in the Lord he gained the victory: Dan. 6:18-23
IV. Stanza 4 refers back to our own victory over sin
Often with the carnal mind I was tried,
Asking for deliverance oft I cried,
Trusting in the Lord, I reckoned I was dead,
By faith I saw the victory ahead.
A. When we yield to the temptations of a carnal mind, we become guilty of sin: Jas. 1:14-15
B. Then we cry out for deliverance: Rom. 7:24
C. Jesus gives us victory by making it possible for us to become dead to sin: Rom. 6:6-7
V. Stanza 5 looks forward to our final victory over death
When like those who’ve gone before to that land,
By death’s river cold and dark I shall stand.
Trusting in the Lord, I will not fear or dread,
By faith I see the victory ahead.
A. We mourn for those who’ve gone on before to that land, yet not without hope: 1 Thess. 4:13
B. And we know that someday we shall also stand by death’s cold and dark river: Heb. 9:27
C. But we also know that trusting in the Lord will give us the final victory over death: 1 Cor. 15:50-57
CONCL.: The chorus again points us forward to the ultimate victory that we can have through the blood of Christ.
Victory ahead, victory ahead,
Through the blood of Jesus, victory ahead.
Trusting in the Lord, I hear the conqueror’s tread,
By faith I see the victory ahead.
Children of God are often likened to soldiers, their lives are pictured as a warfare, and their duty is to fight the good fight of the faith. While the battles may be long and hard, if we trust in the Lord, we can see the “Victory Ahead.”
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