This is one of those hymns I kept forgetting whether or
not I had an arrangement. Now that I'm working on the
William H. Doane collection, I looked it up and found
out I hadn't. Since it's one of my favorites, I
quickly corrected this oversight. Hope you enjoy!
This sheet music is part of the collection of crosby3145 :
You know, I really should
have gotten around to
arranging the William H. Doane
collection a lot sooner.
After all, “To God Be the
Glory” is one of my favorite
hymns as much for the music as
for the timeless truth that
glory should go to God, and
Doane is the one responsible
for the music. I’ve known
that for years. What I never
realized about Doane until the
other day was that he did
quite a lot besides writing
music. An American
Renaissance Man would be a
good nickname for this busy
man of God!
Doane was born February 3,
1832, in Preston,
Connecticut—the fifth oldest
out of eight! He was musical
from a very early age,
becoming proficient in
instruments such as the flute,
the violin, and the double
bass (much to the delight of
all my bass-playing friends).
Doane’s father was a
businessman who ran the Doane
and Treat cotton manufacturing
company, and this connection
led to Doane’s first job,
accountant for the company.
It led to a much more
important connection for
Doane, as in 1857, he married
Frances Mary Treat—daughter
of (you guessed it) the second
half of Doane and Treat.
From Doane and Treat, Doane
moved on to J.A. Fay &
Company, woodworkers. He
travelled around for J.A. Fay,
moving steadily until, at the
age of 34, he became president
of the company, moving to
Cincinnati where the
company’s headquarters were.
The Company was responsible
for many woodworking
inventions, and Doane had over
seventy filed in his name!
And the Fay Company was one of
many he would be involved
with. He became a director of
the Barney and Smith Car
Company in Dayton, a railcar
manufacturer. Also, he was
president of the Central Trust
and Safe Deposit Company, and
he was granted fellow status
on a number of professional
organizations. Doane was
among the wealthiest men in
Cincinnati, and in 1879, he
purchased the massive
Sunnyside Mansion in
Cincinnati’s Mt. Auburn
district (a house which still
stands today).
But in addition to being a
businessman, Doane was also a
strongly committed Christian.
Though his father was
Presbyterian, his mother was
Baptist, and Doane became one
himself while in secondary
school. He would be deeply
involved in Baptist churches
for the rest of his life,
often leading the choir.
Doane became a collaborator
with Fanny J. Crosby, the
famed blind songwriter, and
“To God Be the Glory” is
just one of about 1,500 hymns
of hers which Doane wrote the
music to. Doane wrote other
compositions besides hymns as
well, including two cantatas
on the legend of Santa Claus.
Though these have fallen into
obscurity, though, many of his
hymns remain famous, such as
“Pass Me Not, O Gentle
Savior,” “Near the
Cross,” “More Love to
Thee,” and “Tell Me the
Old, Old Story.”
In addition to his talents,
Doane also used his money for
the Lord. He generously
supported many Baptist
churches and educational
institutions. Most notably,
he helped support the
Granville Academy, a prep
school for boys affiliated
with Denison University in
Granville, Ohio. In
recognition of his
contributions, the school
renamed itself the Doane
Academy in 1895. Doane also
provided financial
contributions to the Moody
Bible Institute, the YMCA, and
the Fanny Doane Home for
Missionary Children in
Granville, among others. The
music building at the Moody
Bible Institute is still named
today in his honor.
Having researched Doane, I
find it a shame that I was
never able to meet him (though
I’m sure our paths will
cross one day in Heaven). His
life of Christian service is
an inspiring testimony to us
all, however. It’s always
wonderful to see that the man
behind the tunes we love to
sing live had a testimony that
glorified the God his music
praises. One of my favorite
composers for his musical
ability, Doane is the rare
example of a composer I’d
strive to emulate in other
areas of my life as well. I
hope you enjoy these
pieces!
Note: To God Be the Glory is
linked in Praise Him! Praise
Him! and Nine Other Hymns by
Fanny J. Crosby.
Note: Will Jesus Find Us
Watching? is also linked in
Praise Him! Praise Him! and
Nine Other Hymns by Fanny J.
Crosby.