GHS 4 - Leave it There

Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was one of the eminent preachers of Methodism at the turn of the twentieth century. Hymnologist James Abbington has called Tindley a “pastor, orator, poet, writer, theologian, social activist, ‘father of African American Hymnody,’ ‘progenitor of African American gospel music’ and ‘prince of preachers.’” Dr. Abbington places Tindley’s hymns alongside those of Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1983), often called the “father of gospel music,” who in the first quarter of the twentieth century represented a new kind of African American sound influenced by the blues and jazz. “Precious Lord, take my hand” (The UM Hymnal, No. 474) was the most famous of Dorsey’s gospel hymns. Dorsey built on the earlier gospel song tradition of Charles Tindley. On the surface, many of Tindley’s hymns seemed to differ little from the gospel songs composed by his white counterparts from the same era, including William B. Bradbury (1816-1868), Robert Lowry (1826-1899), and William Howard Doane (1832-1915). Indeed, in the hymn cited above, the theme of “taking all burdens to the Lord” is common. For example, Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929) wrote in 1894, #joy_hymns #joy_songs #madenn10 #joy_hymns #joy_songs #madenn10