Did you see the movie "The Poseidon Adventure?" In one scene, as Red
Buttons's character asks Enerst Borgnine's character what the
survivors should do if Gene Hackman's character doesn't come back?
"Let's just break out the hymn books and sing a chorus of 'Nearer My
God To Thee,'" he suggests.
You know what happens next...if you haven't seen the movie, please
see it first.

Anyway, the hymn "Nearer My God To Thee" is usually associated with
the sinking of the Titanic, although some dispute that, saying that
it was an Anglican hymn called "Autumn" or a Methodist hymn
called "De Profoundio." The lyrics were written by a 19th. century
poet called Sarah Adams in 1841 and the music was composed by a
composer named Lowell Mason in 1856. A 6th. verse was added later by
a man named Edward J. Bicketsteth, Jr.
It's a song that has inspired millions around the world and provided
consolation and comfort, especially in times of mourning. The song
was played at both the the funerals of Presidents James Garfield and
John McKinnley, and was also heard at President Regan's funeral in
2004. Amazingly enough, just before President McKinnley died, he
told his closes aide, "Nearer My God To Thee has been a prayer all my
life."
There are disputes over the last song played before the Titanic sank,
but I'll let you guys debate it yourselves. Anyway, "Nearer My God
To Thee" was heard towards the end of both the 1953 & 1997 versions
of "Titanic," both of which were released by 20tn. Century Fox. The
1958 movie "A Night To Remember" also features the hymn, but in a
different music setting(possibly one of the aforementioned hymns).
And of course, it was heard just before the end of the 1936
movie "San Francisco," which was about the 1906 earthquake out
there. It's also sung at funerals just before the commendation of
the body to its final resting place.
Yes, there are some hymns you associate with extraordinary events in
history, and "Nearer My God To Thee" is just one of them.

The next hymn in this series will either be "How Great THou Art"
or "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," which I'm asking you to select in
a poll I'll be conducting.