“O to Be Like Thee”

[Nelson Bradford]

. . . to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. ~ Romans 8:29

In 1882, Dr. H.C. Morrison, well-known Methodist evangelist, preached a revival in Franklin, Kentucky. Sixteen-year-old school teacher, Thomas O. Chisholm was converted in one of the services. Thomas had been born in a log cabin and was only a self-educated Kentucky boy. But Morrison was so impressed with him that 14 years later he offered him the position of office editor, and eventually General Manager, of the holiness magazine, Pentecostal Herald, based in Louisville. Job pressures caused his health to fail and he resigned. In 1903 he was ordained as a Methodist evangelist and also got married. Sadly, his poor health forced him to quit preaching. After a while he became an insurance and real estate agent.

Poor health, new wife, and no money, but still he trusted in God. He had a talent for writing. Early in his career Fanny Crosby gave him encouragement and he went on to write 1200+ poems. Many were set to music, such as “I Want to Be Like Jesus,” “Living For Jesus,” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which for years was the theme song of the Moody Bible Institute.

It was 1893, when he was 27 years old, that he read Hannah Whitehall Smith’s classic book, “A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.” It created a desire for a deeper religious experience and inspired a poem of his thoughts. Thomas sent it to William Kirkpatrick, the most well-known hymn and songbook editor of the 19th century Holiness Movement. He composed a melody and published the new hymn in 1897. It was Chisholm’s first song to be widely used.

God sustained and blessed Thomas as he wrote words that greatly influenced the burgeoning 20th century Holiness church. He died at 94 years of age and had lived these words God gave him 67 years earlier. . .

O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer -
This is my constant longing and prayer.
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness.
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

- Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Copied from Sing to the Lord © 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Company

Hymn commentary courtesy J. D. Sherrow

[Jim Franklin]

One of my all time favorites, thanks again, Nelson. These posts are an inspiration and blessing.

[Hans Deventer]

These posts are an inspiration and blessing.

Totally agree, Jim! Nelson, you may not always get that response, but it is very uplifting to read the background to songs. They gain a lot of depth through understanding the situation out of which they arose.

[Nelson Bradford]

It’s been suggested by some that perhaps I should consider the lyrics of some of the newer praise choruses rather than the old "dusty" hymns of the church.

I would but "A Charge to Keep I Have" and therefore "I Have Decided" that "In Times like These" someone, "Day by Day," and "Moment by Moment" needs to "Tell the Blessed Story of the Cross."

Now, "I Don’t Know about Tomorrow" but for today, "I Have Settled the Question" and since "I Love to Tell the Story" I am going to "Trust and Obey" "All the Way Along" to the best of my ability

Please do not be frustrated because I’m avoiding those newer songs.

"Holy, Holy, Holy" mackerel!

Take "All Your Anxiety" "Near to the Heart of God" then "Give of Your Best to the Master" and maybe He’ll give you the "Glorious Freedom" to "Brighten the Corner Where You Are."

Has there ever been a day when I’ve been "Almost Persuaded" to use those newer choruses?

"No Not One."

"I Am Resolved" to continue on, to the best of my ability and be "Satisfied." For while working on these hymns I have this "Blessed Assurance" that I should continue to be thankful "For the Beauty of the Earth" (stay with me folks, this is hard work!) and do my best to encourage you to "Count Your Blessings."

I know I need to do that more often, I do, I do!

I suppose that "When We All Get to Heaven" we’ll be singing some of "your" songs. But for the time being, I plan on keeping on keeping on.

Any questions?

I’m outta here.

Nelson

ps - Isn’t God good?!

[Jim Franklin]

It’s been suggested by some that perhaps I should consider the lyrics of some of the newer praise choruses rather than the old "dusty" hymns of the church.

I would but "A Charge to Keep I Have" and therefore "I Have Decided" that "In Times like These" someone, "Day by Day," and "Moment by Moment" needs to "Tell the Blessed Story of the Cross."

Now, "I Don’t Know about Tomorrow" but for today, "I Have Settled the Question" and since "I Love to Tell the Story" I am going to "Trust and Obey" "All the Way Along" to the best of my ability

Please do not be frustrated because I’m avoiding those newer songs.

"Holy, Holy, Holy" mackerel!

Take "All Your Anxiety" "Near to the Heart of God" then "Give of Your Best to the Master" and maybe He’ll give you the "Glorious Freedom" to "Brighten the Corner Where You Are."

Has there ever been a day when I’ve been "Almost Persuaded" to use those newer choruses?

"No Not One."

"I Am Resolved" to continue on, to the best of my ability and be "Satisfied." For while working on these hymns I have this "Blessed Assurance" that I should continue to be thankful "For the Beauty of the Earth" (stay with me folks, this is hard work!) and do my best to encourage you to "Count Your Blessings."

I know I need to do that more often, I do, I do!

I suppose that "When We All Get to Heaven" we’ll be singing some of "your" songs. But for the time being, I plan on keeping on keeping on.

Any questions?

I’m outta here.

Nelson

ps - Isn’t God good?!

Thank you, Nelson, for presenting those types of hymns that you and I grew up with. Perehaps the younger folks need to be reminded of and honor their heritage. Wow! I never tried that before.