WE'LL WALK IN THE LIGHT

Composer (attributed to): Geo. D. Elderkin

Almost nothing is known about George D. Elderkin (b. 1845; d. 1928). There was a George D. Elderkin Publishing Company in Chicago which published four collections of gospel hymns entitled The Finest of the Wheat. Book Three (1904) includes 259 songs, including music by both George D. and George W. Elderkin, “for prayer and evangelistic meetings, church and missionary services, Sunday schools and young people’s societies,” and was edited by Geo. D. Elderkin, C. C. McCabe, Wm. J. Kirkpatrick, H. L. Gilmour, G. W. Elderikn, and F. A. Hardon.” It was hardbound, and sold for 30 cents per copy, postpaid. Emily Brink Go to person page >

In his publications, Elderkin claimed only to be the arranger of the tune. Some scholars, such as Carl Daw (Glory to God: A Companion, 2019), have noted possible evidence of Elderkin merely publishing a traditional camp-meeting tune for the first time. The text of the refrain is an alteration of Fanny Crosby's song "Shining in darkness by faith we behold."