Background
Cushing was born in 1823 in Hingham to Unitarian parents.
Cushing was born in 1823 in Hingham to Unitarian parents.
His first posting as an ordained minister was to Searsburg, New York, west of Trumansburg. In the same year, Cushing wrote his first hymn, "When he Cometh", based on Malachi 3:17, for children in his Sunday School. Cushing then later went on to minister in a number of locations around New York until 1870 when Rea died, requiring Cushing to return to Searsburg.
Shortly afterwards, Cushing suffered from a "creeping paralysis" that caused him to lose his voice, requiring him to retire from the ministry after 27 years in lieutenant
After having to retire from the ministry, Cushing asked God for something to do to occupy his time. He discovered he had a talent for hymn writing and made that a way to keep busy after work in the ministry.
Throughout the rest of his life, Cushing wrote 300 hymns including "The Name of Jesus" and "Home at Last". In 1880, he co-wrote "Follow On" with Robert Lowry and West. Howard Doane.
Cushing died on 19 October 1902 in Lisbon Center, New New York
He was buried in the Jones Cemetery, near Searsburg.