Samuel O’Malley Cluff (sometimes spelled Clough) (1837-1910) was born in Dublin, Ireland, and educated at Trinity College, graduating with distinction in 1862. After ordination in the Church of England, he served as pastor at Torquay, Ireland. He left the established Anglican Church in 1874 and joined the Plymouth Brethren, still later joining a “holiness” sect. His songs published in a series called Timogue Leaflets; this one in 1860.

    Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908; see Biographies), in Ireland in 1874 with evangelist D. L. Moody, came across one of the above –mentioned leaflets containing Cluff’s poem “I Have a Savior, He’s Pleading in Glory.” Setting these words to music was Sankey’s second attempt at composing a hymn tune (the first was Horatius Bonar’s [see SDAH 79] “Yet There Is Room”). It became immensely popular when he used it a few weeks later in the London meetings. He included the song in his successful book Sacred Songs and Solos, which eventually grew through several editions to contain some 1,200 pieces.