O Master Let Me Walk with Thee Lyrics
Author: Washington Gladden
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
Below are more hymns’ stories and lyrics
Faith of Our Fathers Living Still
O Master Let Me Walk with Thee History
O Master Let Me Walk with Thee was written in 1879 by Washington Gladden. William was a proponent of the social gospel movement.
This is a movement within Protestantism that works to apply Christian principles and solutions to everyday social problems such as poverty, crime inequality, poor schools etc.
It is the modern equivalent of the modern progressive movement
It is different from those that advocate that Christians should not involve themselves directly in social issues as they say that God’s kingdom is not of this world but of heaven.
They therefore are not directly involved in politics and other groupings working towards solving social problems.
But people like the author of this hymn believe that Christians should actively work to solve social problems.
That is why the author supported trade unions and opposed racial segregation.
Washington Gladden was born in 1836. He was a minister in the First Congregational Church in Columbus Ohio.
The emphasis in his preaching was on applying the gospel to solve everyday problems.
In his case it meant involvement in trade union activities and fighting segregation. His was practical Christianity.
