Send the Light
As a child, I remember singing this beautiful hymn often. Now, as an adult, my love for missions came from many different areas of learning and serving in my home church; however, there is no doubt, this song was part of that foundation. Without any doubt, the meaning of this song is as real and significant as ever.
Below you will find the lyrics, read a bit about the theology of the hymn, the story of the author, and be able to hear several renditions of this old, beautiful hymn. Sing along, if you like, as you remember the importance of Sending the Light.
Send the Light Lyrics
1 There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave, “Send the light! Send the light”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light!
Send the light!
Chorus:
Send the light, the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!
2 We have heard the Macedonian call today,”Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light!
Send the light!
[Chorus]
3 Let us pray that grace may ev’rywhere abound, “Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christ-like spirit ev’rywhere be found,
Send the light!
Send the light!
[Chorus]
4 Let us not grow weary in the work of love, “Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light!
Send the light!
[Chorus]
The Theology
This old hymn reminds us of the importance and the necessity of sharing the Gospel with the world. People around the world live without the message and influence of the Gospel in their lives. Those same individuals need people like us to share that beautiful message with them. There are souls to rescue – there are souls to save!
Jesus taught:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
As this songwriter reminded us, we can’t grow weary! God’s grace needs to be magnified in the world through the Gospel message!
The Author
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, author
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (b. Wilton, IA, 1856; d. Los Angeles, CA, 1932) lived on an Iowa farm, where friends and neighbors often gathered to sing. Gabriel accompanied them on the family reed organ he had taught himself to play. At the age of sixteen he began teaching singing in schools (following in his father’s footsteps) and soon was acclaimed as a fine teacher and composer. He moved to California in 1887 and served as Sunday school music director at the Grace Methodist Church in San Francisco. After moving to Chicago in 1892, Gabriel edited numerous collections of anthems, cantatas, and a large number of songbooks for the Homer Rodeheaver, Hope, and E. O. Excell publishing companies. He composed hundreds of tunes and texts, at times using pseudonyms such as Charlotte G. Homer, C. D. Emerson, S. B. Jackson, A. W. Lawrence, and Jennie Ree. The total number of his compositions is estimated at about seven thousand. Gabriel’s gospel songs became widely circulated through the Billy Sunday-Homer Rodeheaver urban crusades. [2]
Enjoy This Media
Some groups singing the song from YouTube:
You will love this acapella version of this song.
Here’s a fast-paced and fun version from Legacy Five.
Classic congregational singing of all verses.
Here is the earliest published copy of the song from The Standard Church Hymal, song #313 from 1888 [4]:
Here is a more modern version from my childhood hymnbook Favorite Hymns of Praise #517 [6]:
