Hymn of the Week: February 1, 2021
Hymn of the Week: O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
Hymn 738 in Glory to God
Text Washington Gladden 1879
Music Henry Percy Smith 1874
O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
O Master, let me walk with thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broad'ning way,
In peace that only thou canst give,
With thee, O Master, let me live.
In the years following the Civil War and the birth of the Industrial Revolution, the social gospel emerged. Washington Gladden (1838-1918) (minister at First Congregational Church in downtown Columbus, Ohio for 32 years) was one of the most distinguished clergymen of his era and a leader in the social gospel movement.
The hymn addresses Christ as “Master” both at the beginning of stanza one and end of stanza four. The more commonly used reference to Christ, “Lord,” indicates a relationship of a feudal noble to a vassal, while “Master” perhaps implies more reciprocal respect between a teacher and disciple.
Throughout the stanzas, the singer makes several petitions to the Master. In stanza one, we petition for the privilege of walking with Christ “in lowly paths of service.” We want to understand the “secret” of how we, as we serve Christ and others, can “bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.” In stanza two, we petition Christ for sensitivity toward “the slow of heart”—those who do not recognize the wisdom offered by the Master. We ask to be taught how to guide those with “wayward feet” along “the homeward way.” Stanza three turns inward, as we request to be taught “thy patience” so that we may dwell with Christ “in closer, dearer company.” Our labor will maintain a “faith [that is] sweet and strong” and our “trust” in the Master will help us “triumph... over wrong.” In the final stanza, we look “far down the future’s broadening way” with “hope” and therefore have “peace” that only the Master “canst give” when we dwell with him.
Educated at Owego Academy and Williams College, he was the moderator of the National Council of Congregational Churches from 1904-1907. He served as one of the editors of the Pilgrim Hymnal (1904). As editor of the Independent, he made important contributions to the cause of social justice. While a pastor in Massachusetts, Gladden began preaching about labor-management problems, encouraging cooperation between employers and employees. This theme aroused opposition from those who felt the role of a minister was “to save souls, not to regulate business.” Furthermore, he challenged the idea that the Bible was inerrant in matters of science and history.
Perhaps this hymn is a paradox. Few singers realize that behind the relatively peaceful words of Gladden’s poem, sung to a placid Victorian melody, one can find the witness of a champion for social justice.
The information gleaned about Washington Gladden can be found on many websites. I encourage you to read more about this fascinating preacher who made quite an impact in mid-Ohio while pastoring at First Congregational Church.
