By Faith Macomber
Charles Hutchison Gabriel, was born in a shanty on a prairie in Iowa on August 18, 1856. He died in California on September 15, 1932. He spent the first seventeen years of his life on an Iowa farm. When he was very young, the settlers would gather at the Gabriel shanty to sing hymns, with his father leading the singing. Because of this, he showed interest in hymn writing as a lad. When his family got an organ, he taught himself to play.
At sixteen he became a music teacher, without the benefit of every receiving a formal music lesson himself. His fame as a composer and teacher became well known. From 1890-1892, he was music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in California. After that, he settled in Chicago.
From 1895-1912, he published a lot of collections. In 1912, he met with “Homer Rodeheaver” publishing firm, and became their music editor. He maintained a relation until his death.
His musical talent put out eight “Sunday School” songbooks, seven books of men’s chorus, six for ladies’ voices, thirty-five gospel songbooks, ten children’s songbooks, nineteen collections of anthems, and twenty-three cantatas. He wrote the music for and estimated 8,000 gospel songs, often putting the words to his own music.
Most of his texts are signed with his pen name “Charlotte G. Homer”, the initials of which are the same as his own name the G and H are reversed.
Some of the songs he wrote are:
- “My Saviors Love”
- “He Lifted Me”
- “Higher Ground”
- “More Like the Master”
- “Send the Light”
- “Oh, It Is Wonderful!”
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean.
For me it was in the garden He prayed, “Not My will, but Thine;” He had no tears for His own griefs but sweat drops of blood for mine.
In pity angels beheld Him, and came from the world of light to comfort Him in the sorrows He bore for my soul that night.
He took my sins and my sorrows; He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calv’ry and suffered and died alone.
When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, ’twill be my joy thru the ages to sing of His love for me.
Chorus: How marvelous! how wonderful! and my song shall ever be: How marvelous! how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!
Sources:
K. W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990). Page 54.
The photo of Gabriel can be found at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org
William J. Reynolds, Baptist hymnal: (Boardman Press, 1976). Page 312 & 113
Forrest M. McCann, Hymns & History: A.C.U Press, 1997. Page 404
