William Orcutt Cushing

William Orcutt Cushing was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1823. His parents were Unitarians, but an early biographical account by Jacob Henry Hall says that after reading and studying the Bible for himself, Cushing joined the Christian Church. At eighteen he decided to enter the ministry. His first pastorate was at Searsburg, New York, and he later served congregations in Auburn, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Sparta, and other New York communities.

Cushing married Hena Proper in 1854. After her death in 1870, he returned to Searsburg. A progressive illness eventually affected his ability to speak and forced him to retire from active preaching after about twenty-seven years of ministry. He then devoted greater attention to hymn writing and produced hundreds of gospel texts. His best-known songs include “Under His Wings,” “Hiding in Thee,” “Ring the Bells of Heaven,” “When He Cometh,” and “Follow On.”

During his final years Cushing lived at Lisbon Center, New York, and became associated with the Wesleyan Methodist Church there. He died on October 19, 1902. His 1896 hymn “Under His Wings” was paired from its first publication with Ira D. Sankey’s melody, later named HINGHAM in honor of Cushing’s birthplace.