O MASTER, LET ME WALK WITH THEE

Walking with Jesus may mean worn-out sandals...

 A monthly series on hymns of the faith.

Our faith, believed newspaperman-turned-clergyman Washington Gladden, should impact social justice issues. And this was more than a hundred years ago, after the American Civil War, when the country was in the throes of the industrial revolution. The opening line of his hymn said, “O Master, let me walk with Thee/In lowly paths of service free.” And he lived it out in his ministry and more.

Born in 1836 in Pennsylvania, and named for the first president, he was ordained to ministry in the Congregational Church after graduation from college. In his first eleven years in ministry, he fought corrupt political groups like the Tweed Ring, infamous for buying votes, encouraging judicial corruption, and extracting millions of dollars from New York City contracts. After that he was called to the pastorate of First Congregational Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he'd serve for the next thirty-two years. From its pulpit he continued to advocate for social, political and economic reforms. He also gained prominence for his negotiator skills with strikes by telegraph workers and coal miners.

His bias against big business brought criticism from his denomination, especially after he attacked John D. Rockefeller Sr. for gifting $100,000 to the church's foreign missions board. He considered the money “tainted” because of monopolistic practices of Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company.

Not surprisingly, Gladden had his critics within the church. One serious disagreement was Gladden's view of the Bible as just a book of religion, not necessarily divinely inspired. He embraced evolution and opposed the outreach efforts of evangelists like Billy Sunday. An earlier version of this hymn had two verses that criticized his critics!

First published just as a poem in 1879, it was noticed by Dr. Charles Richards, a publisher of hymns. Matched to a tune by an Anglican minister, it was included in Richards' hymnal “Christian Praise,” which more than a century later is still being reprinted and sold.

TRUST AND PEACE

The four stanzas that remain in many hymnals have none of Gladden's controversial ideas. Instead, they emphasize a prayerful walk of trust and peace with God that also incorporates “lowly paths of service free” and “trust that triumphs over wrong.” Most people would agree that knowing and serving Jesus must extend to meeting the human needs around us. With its quiet, meditative lyrics—a contrast to the fiery political issues that stirred Gladden's sense of justice—it rightly reminds us that the only real peace comes from walking with Jesus.

As Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” And Matthew 20:28 reminds us that Jesus gave us an example of serving our world: “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Gladden would die in 1918 in his 82^nd year. His political involvements are noted in a few history books. But this hymn continues to remind us of what it means to walk with Jesus “in lowly paths of service free”:

*Helping the “slow of heart” and “wayward.”

*Learning patience.

*Finding hope and peace in Jesus alone--”with Thee, O Master, let me live.”

This video site has a traditional organ/choir performance:

Gradual Hymn: O Master Let Me Walk With Thee - Bing video