Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In Me

"Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In Me" is a song which encourages us to follow the example that Jesus left for us is "Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen" (#454 in Hymns for Worship Revised, and #230 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text of stanza 1 was written by Albert W. T. Orsborn (1886-1967). No other information is available, except that it is dated around 1916. Orsborn is identified as an early Salvation Army leader; some sources refer to him as the "6th General."  A Salvation Army collectable website lists an e-book entitled The Poet General–Albert W. T. Orsborn C. B. E., by Bernard Watson, and Kingsgate Publishing has a compact disc of Salvation Army hymns by Herbert Booth and Orsborn. The original text read as follows:

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All his wonderful passion and purity.
O thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine, Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."
The text of stanzas 2-4 was added by George L. Johnson in 1934. The tune (Bridlington) was composed by Tom M. Jones (1891-1978). It was published in 1927. The composer is identified as "Rev." Tom Jones in some books.  Older books say, "Copyright property of Rev. Tom Jones," while newer ones say, "Copyright–the estate of Tom Jones."

     Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 edited by E. L. Jorgenson, using only the original stanza 1 with an arrangement of the tune made by Edwin E. Young in 1930; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater, in a version of two stanzas with both words and music arranged by the editor.  Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard, with an arrangement made in 1971 by Ben Cumnock; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand. Hymns for Worship and Sacred Selections both have an arrangement made in 1934 by Cleavant Derricks and copyrighted by the Stamps-Baxter Music and Ptg. Co.

     The song exhorts us to live in such a way that the influence of Christ can be seen in us. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All His wonderful passion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, May I truly be Thine Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Let my wonderful Saviour be seen in me, His amazing compassion and constancy; His great love is my goal, By His Spirit’s control Till me wonderful Saviour be seen in me. Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me, Grant me grace all sufficient that I may be True and faithful each day, Ev’ry step of the way. Pointing souls to the Saviour on Calvary.