The Cathedral Trio released their debut album in 1963. At the time the members were: Bobby Clark
(tenor), Glen Payne (lead), and Danny Koker (baritone/piano). By 1964 they became The Cathedral Quartet,
with the addition of bass vocalist George Younce. The quartet was in ministry through to
December 1999 in one form or another. In
1990 they put out the album CLIMBING HIGHER AND HIGHER (Homeland). On it, Payne and Younce were joined by Mark
Trammell (baritone), Ernie Haase (tenor), and Roger Bennett (piano).
First up is the title track, a contagious, cheerful Southern
Gospel song that speaks of God’s work in our lives once we open the door and
let Him in: “Once I was sinkin’ in sin, my soul was troubled within/A ladder
was sent down from Heaven/After my sins were forgiven/Started out for higher
ground/So I climbed the ladder round by round/Well, I’m climbin’ higher and
higher and I won’t come down/The first round was regeneration, the second
justification/Still climbin’/The third a happy confession and then the Holy
Ghost took possession/Still climbin’/The next round was great tribulation/That
leads your soul to glorification/Still climbin’/I’m climbin’ higher and higher
and I won’t come down”. ‘The Man I Used
to Be´ is one of two songs here written by Bill Flurry. It is a pretty Southern Gospel ballad on
which Terry McMillan provides harmonica and percussion. These lyrics draw inspiration and
encouragement from a much beloved New Testament character: “Just like Paul of
old I keep pressing toward the goal, forgetting all the things that lay
behind/But instead I’ll look ahead and I’ll go where I’m led/Toward the mark
for the prize that will be mine/And I know I’m not the man that I oughta be/Many
times I fall short of what You want in me/And I’m surely not the man I really
want to be/But thank God I’m not the man I used to be”.
Ernie Haase’s high pitched vocals really stand out on ‘I’m
Too Near Home’. It is the peppy
Southern Gospel song of one with a clear goal in mind: “I would not give up in
the race/I’ll continue here by the Lord’s grace/I’m too near that wonderful
Home beyond the blue/I’m too near home to my Lord to miss sweet Heaven’s
reward/I’m not returning to sin/I’ve made my vow/There’s nothing to go back
to/O praise God, Heaven’s in view/I’m too near Heaven, my home/To turn back
now”. William J. Gaither wrote ‘I’m
Free’ in the late 1960’s. It is a ballad
of praise: “I’m free from the fear of tomorrow/I’m free from the guilt of the
past/For I traded my shackles for a glorious song/I’m free/Praise the Lord,
free at last!.../When I met Jesus He made me complete/He forgot the foolish man
I used to be”.
Marvin P. Dalton wrote the moving inspirational classic
‘What a Savior’. Ernie shines on this
song that extols Christ: “O what a Savior, O Hallelujah!/His heart was broken
on Calvary/His hands were nail scarred/His side was riven/He gave His
life’s blood for even me”. ‘Read the Book’ has a happy gospel quartet
feel to it. It shows an appreciation for
the Holy Bible: “God made the rules and He wrote ‘em all down/And He’ll give
‘em to all mankind/You can live your way but sooner or later you’ll pay if you
try livin’ over the line/There are a lot of good books that’ll make you
anything from a lawyer to a gourmet cook/But my friend I want to tell that when
all else fails/Why don’t you try readin’ God’s Book?”
Glen Payne takes the lead on ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. It finds God calming and assuring us: “My
child fear not for you are redeemed and I have called you by My Name/Make no
mistake, evil can’t take what’s rightfully Mine/So walk through the fire, wade
through the flood/Rise up in power, washed in the blood/Keep fighting on/I’ve
already crossed your victory line”.
Albert Spaller wrote ‘Led out of Bondage’ in 1953. It is a very fast-paced Southern Gospel ditty
that reflects on the escape of the Israelites from Egypt: “God promised to lead
His children out of bondage/He said He’d free them from Pharaoh’s evil hand/He
said He’d guide and protect them on their journey and lead them to the promised
land”.
‘The Lamb Has Prevailed’ is a nicely orchestrated
inspirational song that builds in intensity.
It shows a desire to share the Good News with all people: “If I could
climb a mountaintop reaching high above the nations/I’d lift my voice in a
mighty melody/If my song could reach around the earth and get the world’s
attention/I would sing about the Lamb that set men free/Hallelujah! (2X)/Sin
has been defeated!/The enemy has failed/Hallelujah! (2X)/Redemption is
completed!/The Lamb has prevailed!” Mark
Trammell wrote the album closing ‘What Will You Do For Jesus’. It includes this touching spoken word piece
featuring George Younce: “Lord, You said ‘Greater love has no man but that He
lay down his life for a friend’/And then you call me friend and laid down Your
life/I don’t know if I understand love enough to die for a friend/But Lord,
help me to love enough to lay my life on the line for You as I live/Help me to
take risks, reach out my hand/Open up my heart for those in my life for love of
You/Give me greater love”.
It is hard to believe that here in 2015 only two of the five
group members are still with us. Glen
Payne died in 1999, George Younce in 2005, and Roger Bennett in 2007. The two remaining members have formed new
groups respectively known as Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, and The Mark
Trammell Quartet. CLIMBING HIGHER AND
HIGHER is a solid Southern Gospel album that includes a nice mix of
hand-clappers and more reflective pieces.
The vocal solos and harmonies are terrific. Thematically, this album points us to Jesus
Christ as a loving Saviour who wants an active, living relationship with each
of us as individuals, and to God’s Word for guidance. I’m rating this one 90% and recommending it
to fans of The Watchmen Quartet and The Nations Quartet. For more information visit: www.cathedralsfamilyreunion.com
or look up ‘Cathedral Quartet’ on Facebook.