Nothing brings more shouts at a camp meeting than . . .

A great old invitation hymn, He Included Me, written by New Jersey preacher Jonathan Oatman in 1909, goes,

1. I am so happy in Christ today,
   That I go singing along my way;
   Yes, I’m so happy to know and say,
   “Jesus included me, too.”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus included me, yes, He included me,
     When the Lord said, “Whosoever,” He included me;
     Jesus included me, yes, He included me,
     When the Lord said, “Whosoever,” He included me.
2. Gladly I read, “Whosoever may
   Come to the fountain of life today”;
   But when I read it I always say,
   “Jesus included me, too.”
3. Ever God’s Spirit is saying, “Come!”
   Hear the Bride saying, “No longer roam”;
   But I am sure while they’re calling home,
   Jesus included me, too.
4. “Freely come drink,” words the soul to thrill!
   Oh, with what joy they my heart do fill!
   For when He said, “Whosoever will,”
   Jesus included me, too.

When Oatman (born in 1856) was a child growing up in Medford, N.J., he delighted to sit alongside his father and hear him sing hymns. At 21 years old, he was granted a license to preach the gospel by the Methodist Episcopal Church and was later ordained.

For  many years he worked with his father in the mercantile business under the firm name Johnson Oatman & Son. After his father's death, he went into the life insurance business.

According to a tribute profile written by J.H. Hall during Oatman's career, "Mr. Oatman is at the zenith of his years, and at this time he is one of the most prolific and popular gospel hymn writers in the world. He has written over 3,000 hymns, and no gospel song book is considered as being complete unless it contains some of his hymns.

"He wrote his first song in 1892, which was brought before the people in 1893 by the late Prof. J.R. Sweney, and entitled 'I Am Walking with My Saviour.' From that time on Mr. Oatman has written and sent forth to bless the world an average of over two hundred songs each year. In a book published in Boston in the early part of his career as a song-writer, he made the following dedication:

Let others sing of rights or wrongs,
Sing anything that pleases;
But while they’re singing other songs,
I’ll sing a song for Jesus.

"In 1894, Professor Sweney wrote the music to one of Mr. Oatman’s songs which at once gave him a place in the front ranks among American hymn writers. It is called 'When Our Ships Come Sailing Home.' It was sung at the great Ocean Grove, N.J., camp-meeting, and the people there went wild over it. The late Bishop C.C. McCabe sang it all over the United States.

"About the same time Prof. W.J. Kirkpatrick introduced Mr. Oatman’s 'Deeper Yet.' This song made a way for itself into the hearts of all true worshippers. There is a peculiar depth to it found in very few gospel songs.

Deeper yet, deeper yet, into the crimson flood;
Deeper yet, deeper yet, under the precious blood.

"Then followed 'Holy, holy, is what the angels sing,' brought out by Dr. H.L. Gilmour. This song has only to be heard and its place is sure. But in 1895 appeared the song that has carried the name of Oatman to every clime and land on earth. The late Prof. Geo. C. Hugg wrote the music to 'No, Not One.' It went like wildfire from the start.

"Within one year it had been copied into 35 books and took a place among the immortal songs of the religious world. The late Bishop Isaac W. Joyce had the song translated into Chinese and Japanese. During the war in South Africa, the Christian Herald of New York had a full-page picture of the Boer refugees on the border of India engaged in worship, singing this popular song:

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

"Many fine songs are only appropriate for certain occasions, but 'No, Not One' can be sung at any time, place, or occasion.

"In [1898] the late Prof. J.H. Entwisle introduced Oatman's 'Higher Ground.' The music was written by Mr. Chas. H. Gabriel, author of 'The Glory Song.' This song at once took high rank among the holiness people, and secured a lasting place in American hymnology. Nothing can bring forth more shouts at a camp-meeting of 'Glory' and 'Hallelujah' than the singing of 'Higher Ground':

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on heaven’s table-land,
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

"But it remained for Prof. E.O. Excell to bring out in 1897 what, in the opinion of most critics, is said to be Mr. Oatman’s masterpiece. 'Count Your Blessings,' like 'No, Not One,' has gone all over the world. Like a beam of sunlight it has brightened up the dark places of earth.

"Perhaps no American hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in England as 'Count Your Blessings.' A London newspaper daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, said, 'Mr. Smith announced the hymn 'Count Your Blessings.' Said he, ‘Down in South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep to the tune.' During the great revival in Wales it was sung at every service.

"The foregoing are only a few of Mr. Oatman's songs that have won their way to the hearts of Christian people everywhere. 'Take Off the Old Coat,' 'O Don't Stay Away,' 'The Blood Upon the Door,' 'The Same Old Way,' 'God's Three Hundred,' 'When the Fire Fell,' 'I Know He’s Mine,' 'Almost Home,' and many others are among his best."

Here are the lyrics to No, Not One:

1. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   • Refrain:
     Jesus knows all about our struggles,
     He will guide till the day is done;
     There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
     No, not one! No, not one!
2. No friend like Him is so high and holy,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
   No, not one! No, not one!
3. There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
   No, not one! No, not one!
4. Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
   No, not one! No, not one!
   Or sinner find that He would not take him?
   No, not one! No, not one!
5. Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
   No, not one! No, not one!
   Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
   No, not one! No, not one!
6. *****

Lyrics to I Know He's Mine:

1. There’s One above all earthly friends
   Whose love all earthly love transcends,
   It is my Lord and Christ divine,
   My Lord because I know He’s mine.
   • Refrain:
     I know He’s mine, this Friend so dear,
     He lives with me, He’s ever near;
     Ten thousand charms around Him shine,
     And, best of all, I know He’s mine.
2. He’s mine because He died for me,
   He saved my soul, He set me free;
   With joy I worship at His shrine
   And cry, “Praise God, I know He’s mine.”
3. He’s mine because He’s in my heart,
   And never, never will we part;
   Just as the branch is to the vine
   I’m joined to Christ; I know He’s mine.
4. Someday upon the streets of gold
   Mine eyes His glory shall behold,
   Then, while His arms around me twine,
   I’ll cry for joy, “I know He’s mine.”