As a Volunteer

W. S. Brown was an American gospel song writer and lyricist of the late-19th and early-20th centuries whose creative output was closely tied to the massive boom in Sunday school and revival music of that era. Operating during a period when gospel publishers were actively seeking upbeat, high-energy music to engage young audiences, Brown provided text that perfectly captured the spiritual zeal and missionary fervor of his generation.

While personal biographical details regarding his early life and profession remain scarce in historical registries, his name is permanently preserved across major denominational collections as the author of the widely popular martial anthem "As a Volunteer."

The Rise of the Martial Sunday School Song

During the late 1890s and early 1900s, American hymnody experienced a significant wave of "soldier-themed" songs, heavily influenced by biblical passages such as 2 Timothy 2:3, which exhorts believers to be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." Editors of Sunday school songbooks discovered that children and youth responded enthusiastically to martial imagery, rhythmic marching tempos, and clear calls to action.

Brown capitalized on this cultural movement by penning a highly structured, evocative call-to-arms for young Christians. Rather than framing faith as a passive, static experience, his verses depicted the Christian walk as a grand, noble conflict against spiritual darkness, where every individual had a duty to actively enlist.

The Partnership with Charles H. Gabriel

A writer's lyrics can only travel as far as their musical setting, and Brown's text found the ultimate vehicle when it was paired with a tune by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856–1932). Gabriel was an absolute powerhouse of gospel music production, serving as the chief musical editor for the Rodeheaver Company and composing thousands of highly successful melodies, including "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and "The Glory Song."

                    ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
                    │       THE HYMN'S CREATIVE ENGINE     │
                    └──────────────────┬──────────────────┘
                                       │
         ┌─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┐
         ▼                                                           ▼
THE TEXT BY W. S. BROWN                                    THE TUNE BY CHAS. H. GABRIEL
A stirring, direct call to service;                         A driving, upbeat marching melody
penned in 1898 during a global missionary wave.            copyrighted in 1907 to engage youth.

Gabriel took Brown's lyrics, set them to a driving, syncopated marching time, and formally copyrighted the combined piece in 1907. The resulting song, officially titled "As a Volunteer" (and known universally by its opening line, "A call for loyal soldiers comes to one and all"), became an overnight favorite in youth assemblies, tent revivals, and missionary conventions across the United States.

Landmark Masterpiece: "As a Volunteer"

The enduring popularity of Brown’s single major hymn lies in its directness. The text systematically strips away complex theological abstractions, focusing instead on a straightforward personal choice: will you step forward and serve willingly, or will you remain on the sidelines?

The Privilege of Willing Service

Unlike regular conscription, Brown's text stresses the word "volunteer," teaching singers that service to Christ must be driven by an unforced, loving devotion rather than a sense of rigid, legalistic obligation. The final stanzas successfully lift the singer's gaze from the immediate battlefield to the ultimate reward of eternity:

Hymn Excerpt: The Enlistment Call

A call for loyal soldiers

Comes to one and all;

Soldiers for the conflict,

Will you heed the call?

Will you answer quickly?

With a ready cheer?

Will you be enlisted

As a volunteer?

Refrain:

A volunteer for Jesus,

A soldier true!

Others have enlisted,

Why not you?

An International and Cross-Denominational Reach

The immense practicality of Brown's song allowed it to spread seamlessly through dozens of different songbook publishers. According to global hymnological registries, the text has been integrated into nearly one hundred major American and international hymnals, including prominent inclusion in twentieth-century classics like Special Sacred Selections and Soul-Stirring Songs and Hymns.

Furthermore, Western missionaries found the song's rhythmic energy highly useful for church-planting efforts abroad. The text was beautifully translated into foreign languages, most notably finding a permanent home in Spanish-speaking congregations under the title "Jesús está buscando voluntarios hoy" ("Jesus Is Looking for Volunteers Today").

Summary of Known Hymnological Footprint

Though the personal history of W. S. Brown remains a quiet, unwritten chapter in the archives of sacred music, his lyrical voice remains incredibly vibrant. By matching his clear, urgent call to action with the driving rhythms of his era, he provided generations of young people with an enthusiastic vocabulary to declare their loyalty, step out of the crowd, and proudly march into the service of their King.