ONE DAY

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 1908


📜 Origins and Author


Text Written by: Dr. John Wilbur Chapman (1859–1918), an influential American Presbyterian minister and evangelist.


Music Composed by: Charles Howard Marsh (1886–1956), a church organist, choir director, and composer.


Dr. Chapman wrote the words around 1908 or 1909 while serving at Bible conferences — most notably at the Stony Brook Assembly on Long Island, New York. Chapman then gave the text to his pianist and music director, Charles Marsh, who set it to the tune we know today.


📖 First Publication


The hymn was published in 1910 (copyrighted then and appearing in early hymn collections shortly afterward).


There is some historical detail about early publication rights: Marsh originally copyrighted the music along with the text; later arrangements involving Chapman’s associates (like Parley Zartmann and Charles M. Alexander) led to multiple publishers printing it in various hymnbooks of the early 20th century.


🎼 Content and Structure


“One Day” is a gospel hymn recounting major events in Christ’s life and future return, laid out in five stanzas:


Incarnation — Jesus born of a virgin.


Crucifixion — His suffering and death on Calvary.


Burial — Christ laid in the tomb.


Resurrection — His victory over death.


Second Coming — The anticipated return of Christ.


The refrain (“Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me… One day He’s coming — O glorious day!”) succinctly captures the central Christian gospel message of Christ’s love, sacrifice, resurrection, and future hope.


📚 Legacy and Use


“One Day” has been included in many Christian hymnals over the past century and remains popular in worship, especially around Easter and evangelistic services.


Its clear presentation of the gospel narrative has made it a favorite for both congregational singing and personal devotion.


🎶 Modern References


The hymn inspired the contemporary Christian song “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)” by Casting Crowns, which lifts the original text into a modern worship context while preserving Chapman’s message.

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