Career
Marrying Abbie Hanson in 1861 the night before he deployed with Company Bachelor of the 72d Illinois Infantry, he served in the American Civil War. He was wounded at Vicksburg and marched with General William Tecumseh Sherman’s forces through Georgia. Whittle was breveted with the rank of major at the end of the war and is still widely known among hymnologists as Major Whittle.
Settling in Chicago to work for the Elgin Clock Company, he became closely associated with Moody, who successfully encouraged him to go into evangelistic work.
One of Whittle’s war experiences served as the basis for the gospel song "Hold the Fort" by Philip Paul Bliss, of whom Whittle edited a biography. Whittle wrote mostly under the pseudonym "El Nathan" although editors of later hymnals routinely cr his actual name.
Of his approximately 200 hymns, "I Know Whom I Have Believed" and "Showers of Blessing" are among the most familiar. James McGranahan wrote the tunes for both of those and for Whittle"s "Banner of the Cross" as well.
The name of the tune associated with "I Know Whom I Have Believed" is EL NATHAN, Whittle"s pseudonym.
The tune for Whittle"s "Moment by Moment" (first line "Dying with Jesus") was composed by Whittle"s daughter Mary "May" Whittle Moody. Memoirs of Philip P. Bliss edited by Doctorate.W. Whittle. Chicago: A. South. Barnes and Company, 1877.
B00085OH8S
Jonathan and other poems.
BiblioBazaar, 2009 September. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell company, 1900.
The Wonders of Prayer. BiblioBazaar, 2009 February 10.
.
I know not why God"s wondrous grace
To me has been made known;
Nor why—unworthy as I am—
He claimed me for His own.
But I know whom I have believèdAnd am persuaded that he is ableTo keep that which I"ve committedUnto Him against that day.
