Elwood H. Stokes

Ellwood Haines Stokes was an influential American hymn writer and religious leader. He served as president of the Ocean Grove Campmeeting Association, a prominent center for revival meetings and Christian fellowship. Stokes contributed extensively to hymnody, authoring dozens of hymns that were widely used in American churches and revival gatherings. His works often emphasized devotion, spiritual renewal, and personal holiness, reflecting the revivalist and Methodist traditions of his era.

Stokes wrote hymns that addressed themes of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s love, and the Christian’s journey in life. Several of his hymns were translated into multiple languages, including Spanish, Tagalog, Swahili, and Chinese, which helped extend their influence beyond English-speaking congregations.

Stokes’s hymns remain recognized for their devotional depth and uplifting spiritual message, often used in camp meetings, revivals, and church services throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.