Alexcenah Thomas Grave

Hymn History: Bring Them In & Author: Alexcenah Thomas

“Sunday School workers began to recognize that music was a natural way to teach the children and provide scriptural and life lessons for them to easily remember.  This is a song which was written for Sunday School sometime in the early 1880s … Alexcenah Thomas was aware of this movement, which inspired her to pen the hymn, Bring them In.”
(Diana Leagh Matthews)

The Origin of the Hymn “Bring Them In”

Among the many gospel hymns of the late nineteenth century that stirred the hearts of believers toward evangelism and compassion for the lost, “Bring Them In” remains one of the most fervent. Written by Alexcenah Thomas and set to music by William A. Ogden, this hymn vividly portrays the Christian’s calling to seek out the wandering and guide them safely to the Good Shepherd. Its simple language, compelling imagery, and missionary spirit made it a favorite in Sunday schools, revival meetings, and missionary services across America.

The Background of the Writer

Alexcenah Thomas (1850–1917), the author of the text, was an American hymn writer and teacher active during the latter half of the nineteenth century. She lived during a period when Sunday school work and home missions were thriving across the United States, and her writings reflected that emphasis on reaching children and the unchurched. Though little biographical detail about her personal life survives, her hymns were widely printed in Sunday school collections and mission hymnals. She collaborated with several well-known composers of the era, including William A. Ogden and Robert Lowry. Her style of writing favored clear biblical imagery and direct appeals to Christian duty—traits that mark “Bring Them In” as one of her most enduring texts.

Thomas’s inspiration for this hymn grew out of the burden that many churches of her day felt for “the lost sheep” who had strayed far from the fold of faith. The late 1800s saw the rise of urbanization, westward expansion, and immigration in America—circumstances that often drew people away from traditional church life. Evangelists and hymn writers alike responded with songs calling believers to go out into the “highways and hedges” and bring others to Christ. “Bring Them In” fit perfectly into that spiritual atmosphere.

The Composer and Musical Setting

William A. Ogden (1841–1897), who composed the music for “Bring Them In,” was a major figure in American gospel music. A Civil War veteran and gifted musician, Ogden directed choirs, taught singing schools, and wrote both secular and sacred compositions. His name appears on many popular hymns, such as “Where He Leads Me” and “He Is Able to Deliver Thee.” Ogden’s music was known for its accessibility—melodies that could easily be sung by congregations and choirs alike.

When Ogden saw Thomas’s poem, he recognized its potential for congregational singing and set it to a lively, march-like tune. The melody’s alternating phrases of gentle appeal and strong chorus perfectly match the text’s theme: the believer’s call to active service. The refrain—“Bring them in, bring them in, bring them in from the fields of sin”—rises with conviction, giving every singer a sense of participation in the Great Commission.

The Message and Scriptural Basis

The text of “Bring Them In” draws heavily from Luke 15, particularly the parable of the lost sheep. The first stanza opens with a reference to the “shepherd’s voice I hear,” immediately identifying the singer with the Good Shepherd’s concern for those who have gone astray. Each verse progresses from the individual call to the collective mission of the church, urging Christians to go “out in the desert” to find the lost.

Its imagery—“wild and mountain,” “fields of sin,” and “shepherd kind”—echoes the language of rural life, familiar to both country congregations and city dwellers nostalgic for the open fields. The hymn’s message is both compassionate and urgent: it is not enough to stay within the safety of the fold; believers must go out to seek those who are wandering. This theme resonated deeply with missionaries and Sunday school teachers, who saw in the song both encouragement and marching orders.

Publication and Early Use

“Bring Them In” first appeared in Ogden’s Gospel Bells, published in 1885. The collection included hymns for evangelistic services and Sunday schools, and Thomas’s contribution quickly became one of its standout pieces. From there, it spread through countless hymnals in America and abroad. Its popularity was bolstered by the revival movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when evangelists such as D. L. Moody and others encouraged the use of gospel songs to stir hearts and prepare audiences for preaching.

The hymn became especially beloved in children’s services and missionary gatherings, where its simple but powerful refrain could be sung by all. Many early mission organizations used it as a rallying hymn for evangelistic campaigns, embodying the spirit of Christ’s command in Matthew 9:37–38: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

Legacy and Influence

Over the years, “Bring Them In” has maintained its place in hymnals of many denominations. Its message of compassionate outreach continues to challenge Christians to personal evangelism. Though Alexcenah Thomas never achieved the fame of Fanny Crosby or Frances Havergal, her hymn has endured as a classic example of the American gospel spirit—simple, sincere, and scripturally grounded.

The enduring appeal of “Bring Them In” lies in its combination of melody and mission. Each time the chorus rings out, believers are reminded of their sacred duty: to seek the lost, to share the gospel, and to rejoice when even one sinner is brought home to the Shepherd’s fold. As long as the church continues that mission, this hymn will remain a stirring anthem of Christian compassion and service.

“Go out in the desert, hear their cry,
Out on the mountains wild and high;
Hark! ’tis the Master speaks to thee,
‘Go find My sheep where’er they be.’”