Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)

Subject: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 12:23 AM

Well, here I am again. A friend of mine wants to learn this gospel song, and I remember only scraps of the lyrics.

The chorus goes:

"Oh, the glory gates are ever open wide
Inviting the world to come
Oh, the glory gates are ever open wide
To welcome the weary home."

The first verse starts out with something like 'I'm looking for the city built of God' and then later with, 'I'm walking now the path that Jesus trod and his face I soon shall see', etc, etc.

Does anybody out there know this song? Jerry? WYSI?

Thanks, muchly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 01:33 PM

Freshen up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Ferrara
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 03:33 PM

Sounds neat. I hope you find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 09:31 PM

I found the song "Oh, the Glory Gates are ever open wide" mentioned in a 1921 Mennonite obituary -- Click here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:02 PM

From the page Jim Dixon linked to:

Gingerich.-Ella Mae Blanche, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben G. Gingerich, died at her home near Kalona, Iowa, Dec. 2, 1921; aged 1 m. 2 d. Death was caused by acute spinal meningitis. She was sick only about 5 days, but suffered intensely especially the last day of her life. She leaves father, mother, a brother, and a sister. Funeral services were conducted at the East Union Church Dec. 4 by A. C. Swartzendruber and G. A. Yoder in German and Joe Brenneman in English. Text, Mark 10:13, 14. Interment in the cemetery near the church.
"The golden gates were opened wide
A gentle voice said come
And angels from the other side
Welcomed our loved one home."

Subject: Lyr Add: GLORY GATES (G. F. Horr, 1899 )
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:42 PM

Thanks, guys. I have the lyrics now- one of my sisters mailed them to me. A brother and another sister scoured hymn books galore and didn't find the song. Trust this one sister to remember the words- I should've thought of her first.

GLORY GATES

I'm looking for the city built of God
Where the many mansions be
I am walking now the path that Jesus trod
And his face I soon shall see

Chorus:
Oh the glory gates are ever open wide
Inviting the world to come
Oh the glory gates are ever open wide
To welcome the weary home

Through the valley of the shadow I may go
But his grace shall be my stay
Though the path be dark and dangerous, I know
He will guide me all the way

'Tis the glory now that fills and thrills my soul
As I walk the narrow way
I am looking for the heavenly light to dawn
That shall rise in endless day

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:46 PM

Any idea of source??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:18 AM

Wow. No idea. Up until I was about 14, every Sunday night my father would get out the stack of hymn and gospel songbooks and we'd sit around the big library table and sing lustily for a couple of hours. (One of my brothers said that it was his favorite memory of childhood) That song was in those books, along with others like 'Love Lifted Me', 'I am Thine, O Lord', 'Softly and Tenderly', 'Sweet Hour of Prayer', and a horde of others.

Oops. I just took a look at the sheet music my sister sent me. It says "Reverend G. F. Horr. Copyright 1899 by the The Ruebush Kieffer Company"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:39 AM

The quote above was wrong. This is it.

Gerig.-Victor Orie, son of Jacob and Anna Gerig, was born in Henry Co., Iowa, Sept. 16, 1899; died at his home near Wayland, Iowa, Nov. 22, 1921; aged 22 y. 2 m. 6 d. He leaves father, mother, two brothers, one sister, an aged grandfather and grandmother and a host of relatives and friends. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior in early youth, united with the Sugar Creek Church and remained faithful until death claimed him. He was an obedient son, had a kind and loving disposition, always willing to lend a helping hand to both young and old. During his sickness at different times, he would sing the hymns, "Oh, the Glory Gates are ever open wide," "I long to meet my Savior first of all," and "I'm pressing on the upward way." Our loss will be his eternal gain. The funeral was held Thanksgiving morning from the Sugar Creek Church. Bro. C. A. Hartzler of Tiskilwa, Ill., delivered the funeral oration in English, Bro. Dan Graber spoke in German.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:11 AM

The hymn is not mentioned, but there's an article on The Ruebush-Kieffer Company (Dayton, VA).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 07:51 AM

I figured that Masato would get this one, Ebbie. I haven't heard it.
Many years ago, I was on the Board of Directors of a wonderful festival.. The Adirondack Folk/Gospel Festival. What astonished me was that from the time that people started arriving Friday afternoon until we all went our separate ways Sunday evening, there was always singing going on, until the early morning hours, and I never heard a song repeated. The next year, it seemed like most of the songs that were sung hadn't been sung the previous year. And because like most festivals, it was basically white, the whole rich mother-lode of black gospel was mostly absent, other than the Gospel In Black And White workshops I did, with the one black group or musician who was booked for that year.

Glad you got the lyrics....

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:26 PM

A detailed study of the publications of the Ruebush-Kieffer Company and its antecedents and offshoots is badly needed- (or has it been written about already?).
The Harmonia Sacra, published by them, is still available in its 25th edition (1995). I don't know how much it differs from the original.
Many hymns were published by people connected at one time ot another with this Virginia group.

The original is online (probably posted before), Univ. North Carolina website:
Harmonia Sacra
A review of the 25th ed.: Harmonia Sacra 25

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:30 PM

The NC site was: www.lib.unc.edu/music/eam/os63/os63.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 08:39 PM

Some info on Kieffer (with his photo) and Ruebush is given in George Pullen Jackson's White Spirituals in the Southern Uplands. "Oh, the Glory Gates" is not found in Harmonia Sacra (25th ed.).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 08:55 PM

Masato, the title is given on the sheet music as 'Glory Gates'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, the Glory Gates (?)
From: GUEST,teresa
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 04:29 PM

Here is your lyric for this:

1. I am looking for the city built of God,
Where the many mansions be:
I am walking now the path that Jesus trod
And his face I soon shall see.

CHORUS: Oh, the glory gates are ever open wide,
Inviting the world to come!
Oh, the glory gates are ever open wide,
To welcome the weary home.

2. Thr' the valley of the shadow I may go,
Cut his grace shall be my say,
Tho' the path be dark and dangerous, I know
He will guide me all the way. CHORUS

3. 'Tis the glory now that fills and thrills my soul,
As I walk the narrow way:
I am looking for the heavenly light to dawn
That shall rise in endless day. CHORUS