I stand amazed in the presence

In many hymns we sing of Nazareth (as in 406 or 508) and in a few of ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, but this is almost unique in announcing its subject as ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ (Nazaraios from the enigmatic reference in Matthew 2:23). In its style, date and content, Charles Homer Gabriel’s composition qualifies as a classic N American ‘Gospel Song’, with its personal testimony, exclamatory mood, and concluding hope. For the questioning wonder of its opening, cf 740; the distinctively vivid 2nd and 3rd stzs require thoughtful treatment before the joyful refrain takes over. It was published in Edwin O Excell’s Praises in Chicago, 1905, with the author’s tune MY SAVIOUR’S LOVE (traditionally in the key of A flat) which Linda Mawson has newly arranged for the present book. If Pentecostal and Salvationist editors, reflecting the style of their congregations, have done most to maintain that tradition in Britain, this hymn has also been welcomed in CH, GH and MP. It has been used regularly at gospel ‘crusades’ and evangelistic missions, and is the most enduring of the author’s many thousands of compositions. The only significant change comes at 2.2, from ‘he prayed—“Not my will, but thine

b Wilton, Iowa, USA 1856, d Los Angeles, California 1932. He spent his first 17 years working on the family farm, but also writing verse and teaching himself to play the newly-acquired small reed organ at home. By the time he was 16 he was teaching others too. In 1890 he became Music Director of Grace Methodist Episcopal Ch, San Francisco, then moving to Chicago. During these years he published many books including several song collections. In 1912 he began work with the new Homer Rodeheaver Publications, where he stayed for the remaining 20 years of his life. His most famous composition was ‘the Glory Song’: When all my labours and trials are o’er. Published in 1900, this was associated with the gospel singer Charles M Alexander who sang it to vast meetings in the USA in the early 20th c. In The Baptist Hymnal (for the American Southern Baptists, 1991) there are 6 hymns by Gabriel (text and tune) and 4 more of his tunes to other hymns. He also published under the name ‘Charlotte G Homer’. No.729.