1 All the world was lost in the night of sin,
For the downward path we had traveled in;
But when Jesus came all our hearts to win,
‘Twas a great, glad day!
Refrain:
‘Twas a great day and a glad day
To the world in patience waiting for His name;
Yes, a great day, and a glad day
Was the day that Jesus came.
2 We had wandered far from the truth and right,
And were sinners all in the Father’s sight;
But when Jesus came, bringing love and light,
‘Twas a great, glad day! [Refrain]
3 We had lost the guides of the ages past,
And our sinful souls were despairing fast;
But when Jesus came to redeem, at last,
‘Twas a great, glad day! [Refrain]
Source: Progressive Sunday School Songs #56
Pseudonym: James S. Apple.
James Rowe was born in England in 1865. He served four years in the Government Survey Office, Dublin Ireland as a young man. He came to America in 1890 where he worked for ten years for the New York Central & Hudson R.R. Co., then served for twelve years as superintendent of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. He began writing songs and hymns about 1896 and was a prolific writer of gospel verse with more than 9,000 published hymns, poems, recitations, and other works.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
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