One of the most influential songwriters of the early twentieth century was Charles H. Gabriel. He was born in a prairie shanty on August 18, 1856 at Wilton, Iowa. The settlers in that area would come to Gabriel’s home for singing and fellowship with Charles’s father leading the gathering. He developed a love for music when he was young and quickly his talent for composing emerged. One day he told his mother that he wanted to write a song that would make him famous to which his mother replied, “My boy, I would rather you write a song that will help somebody than for you to become President of the United States. ” Two years later he began teaching music in the surrounding schools without ever having taken a single music lesson himself. He wrote and sold many of his songs but did not receive more than two dollars and fifty cents for any one of them.
Mr. Gabriel edited many gospel song books, Sunday School song books, chorus books, children’s song books, anthems, and cantatas as well as numerous books for instruction. He was associated with the Homer Roadheaver Publishing Company from 1912 until his death in 1932. Gabriel became a famous composer and his popularity grew with the use of his songs by Roadheaver in the Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns. Gabriel usually wrote the text and music for his songs. Some of his hymns are under the pseudonym, Charlotte G. Homer.
One of his most popular hymns, “O That Will Be Glory” first appeared in a publication entitled “Make His Praise Glorious” published in 1900 by a musician friend, Ed Card, Superintendent of the Sunshine Rescue Mission of St. Louis, Missouri. Ed was a joyful believer who always radiated Christ. His smiling face earned him the nickname “Old Glory Face. ” During a sermon or prayer meeting, he would often shout out the word, “Glory! ” He would often end his own praying making reference to heaven and then would end with the phrase “and that will be glory for me! ” It is said that just before going on to be with the Lord, he sang this hymn with the feeling that his Christian life had counted for Christ. The hymn has been translated into many languages and dialects with around 100 million publications.
I own this song. It speaks my story in every way. Saved by His tender mercy and grace He lifted me from the miry clay and sinking sand of self and sin.
Loved singing it as a kid 60 years ago and love it more now after spending many prodigal years in the pig pen. God has lifted me to plains of light from drug addiction, adultery and other pig pen activities. O praise His name He lifted me!
Each of the above comments do so reflect my own love for this beloved hymn. Until I found this page, I had thought I was alone and probably the only person who had such an affinity for this hymn. It is so meaningful to me, for it tells my own story of grace so vividly. Brother Eddie George Anderson was our music director at Woolmarket Baptist Church in Biloxi, MS during part of my father's tenure as pastor of that beloved church. He probably sang this hymn as much or more as a solo prior to Dad's preaching than any other selection. I was just a young boy during that time, not long saved and in the kingdom of the Lord when I first heard Brother Eddie sing it. However, from the first time I heard him sing it, it sounded to me as though the angel Gabriel was leading a heavenly chorus of praise to our dear Lord. I thought then how much those words fit my personal testimony. Little did I know then, some forty plus years ago, just how meaningful those lyrics and that heart touching melody would be to me through every valley and mountain I would pass through. I could never sing it like Brother Eddie or any of the gifted singers who have recorded this jewel of hymns. However, one day after awhile, I will, in my broken, cracked voice, sing it with pleasure and with a most grateful heart to my Lord, face to face as I kneel in humble adoration in His presence. I have sang it countless times to Him by faith here below, but someday, face to face. I only hope my humble rendition will be a fitting sacrifice of praise to our beloved Jesus! Thank you so much for adding this precious hymn to your collection.
This is one of my favorite hymns. It expreses to me exactly what Jesus has done for me. Somehow I normally I am unable to sing through all the verses without shedding a tear. O praise His name He lifted me and made me belong to His kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:6).
I enjoyed Sabina's comments so much. Here is another song you might enjoy.
O, Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
(by George Mattheson, the blind preacher)
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.