Oldest and Newest Hymns

1843–1903

I am often asked, “Do you write as many hymns as ever?” Perhaps not, quite: but this is owing to the fact that I spend so much time visiting churches in dififerent parts of the country, and speaking, and reading my poems to audiences.

My relations with Christian Endeavor Societies, and Young Men’s Christian Associations, are also very intimate and friendly: and I often address them. I wear a gold badge of membership, presented me by one of the Railroad Branches of the Y. M. C. A.

I include in this chapter some of my earliest and some of my latest hymns: others can be found in various hymn-books. In one of those here published, it will be noticed, words and music are both by myself: but I have heretofore been content to write the words, and let others furnish the music. This is the only case in which I have departed from the rule.

While writing my earlier poems, I did not attempt hymns: although my mind was often drawn in that direction. I greatly admired the grand productions of Watts, Wesley, Montgomery, and others: but it did not then occur to me that I could write hymns that people would care to sing.

Everything in this world is progressive, and courage and ambition are no exception to the rule. I seem to have been led, little by little, toward my life-work.

Often, in those early days, would come over me the inclination to write hymns: but I resisted it, or, what amounted to about the same thing, let it go by default.

Still, as the sweetness and grandeur of the religion of our Saviour sank into my heart, I felt more and more like putting my feelings into rhythm. And, if my friends will pardon me for perhaps giving the matter too much importance, I will say, that the following stanzas, one of the few distinctly religious poems of my first book, constituted my first hymn:

EVENING HYMN.

Ps.IV:8 — “/ will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for thou, Lord, only, makest me to dwell in safety.”

Drawn is the curtain of the night.

Oh ’tis the sacred hour of rest; Sweet hour, I hail thee with delight,

Thrice welcome to my weary breast.

O God to thee my fervent prayer,

I offer, kneeling at thy feet; Tho’ humbly breathed, O deign to hear —

Smile on me frofn the mercy seat!

While angels round their watches keep, 134

Easter Sunday.

Whose harps thy praise unceasing swell, “I lay me down in peace and sleep”, For thou in safety mak’st me dwell.

Drawn is the curtain of the night.

Thou bid’st creation silent be.
And now, with holy calm delight,

Father, I would commune with thee.

Shepherd of Israel, deign to keep
And guard my soul from every ill;

Thus will I lay me down, and sleep.
For thou in safety mak’st me dwell.

The following is, so far as I can remember, my second hymn:

EASTER SUNDAY.

Hail, sacred morn! When from the tomb

The son of God arose;
“Captivity he captive led”.

And triumphed o’er his foes.

Rejoice! O holy church, rejoice!

Awake thy noblest strain!
Put off thy weeds of mourning, now.

The Saviour lives again.

Oh let thy loud hosannas reach

The portals of the sky. Where angels tune their gentle harps.

And heavn’ly choirs reply.

Glory to God — He ever lives

To plead our cause above;
He — He is worthy to receive

All honor, power, and love.

Hail, mighty King! — we at thy feet

Our grateful homage pay;
Accept the humble sacrifice

And wash our sins away.

Then, at the resurrection morn,
When the last trump shall sound.

May we awake to life anew,
And with thy saints be found.

Another attempt at distinctively sacred poetry, made about this same time, and which may be considered my third hymn, was as follows:

CHRISTMAS HYMN.

How tranquil, how serene the night.

When to the sleepy earth,
A heavenly host of seraphs bright,

Proclaimed a Saviour’s birth!

The shepherds on Judea’s plains,
With wonder heard their songs:

“Glory to God! to Him alone.
Our highest praise belongs!

“Glory to God!” — through Heaven’s broad arch.

The sacred chorus ran:
“Good will, and never-ending peace.

Henceforth to mortal man.

“Glory to God! let all the earth.

To Him their honors bring.
And every heart, and every tongue,

His praise responsive sing!”

Only Hymn Set to Music by Self.

The following are from some of my newest hymns, and, in relation to those given, represent an interval of perhaps sixty years — during which time I have almost constantly been busy writing hymns of varying merit:

SPRING HYMN.
Words and Music bV Fanny Cfosby.

1. The windB have ceased tL’eir ujoau ing, Tbe win - ter etorniB have pasueil;

2. The wprld iff full of bud -BLine/Tbe birds ar« on .tbe wmg,

m

E^

w ^- i I TU

- The lo4e - I;- face of Nn - tnrit In wreatfaeil in sniiltra at -From dii - taot climea tber baet eu To greet the yea -tie

ket.
apring.

The pearl - y etreama do Iod
Ibere’a mo - Bio .in the for

ger Id i - cy cbaioa are bound;
et, A mid the ’ b»ncbpeB * fair;

fclrf

m

ES*

“rf j I -”J j I fm The inounbiinB glow with ver - dnre, The liilln with joy re - Bonnd. Tbere’s mil- mo in the val - ley. And bean- ty ev - eiy where

O ihou whose Jov beholdeth
The world thy hajid hath maae.

Criaator, L«rd, Redeemer.

.■’Iq majesty arrayedl

We praise thee for the spring time.
And all.lta golden houra,

For lake and aparkllng fountain.
For BunBhlne, hlrdfl, and flowei.

And when thy voice shall call us

To yonder bllaaful shore.
Where spring abldeth ever

And winter comes no more,.
Beside theocryatal river.

Among the ransomed throng,
We’ll blend our harps triumphant

In one eternal song.

While at a meeting of the “Farther Lights”,. at the residence of Mrs. Will Carleton, the Founder of the Society, I was elected a member, and a badge of the Order was pinned upon me. This, I was proud to know, took place in the very parlor where occurred the first meeting of Farther Lights ever held.

I was inspired to write a hymn for these loved sisters in the missionary-cause; and soon sent them the following:

SPEED ON, O light!

Speed on thy glorious mission,

light of purest love.
Whose radiant beams were kindled

In Edenland above;
Speed on where those that languish

In sorrow’s dreary nights,
Shall feel the joy thou bringest.

And hail the Farther Lights!

O band of Christian workers,

With whom I oft have met,

Whose voices kind and gentle

1 hear in memory yet — In this my prayer ascending

My inmost soul unites — God bless the Christian circle
We call the Farther Lights!

God bless your heartfelt labor,
My youthful sisters dear,
The World for Christ.

And grant you strength and courage
Through grace to persevere;

Till India’s happy greeting
With Afric’s song unites;

While on the flaming watch-tower
Still shine the Farther Lights!

THE WORLD FOR CHRIST — A NEW-YEAR RALLY-ING SONG.

Air, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.”

Arise, O Christian soldiers,

And consecrate anew
Your all upon the altar.

Of Him who died for you I
Arise in faith united.

And let this year record
Your undivided service,

To Christ, our risen Lord!

Oh, rally ‘round His standard;

Defend the cross you love;
And look to Him for wisdom

And counsel from above.
Against the arch deceiver.

Against the host of sin,
March on with steady purpose

The world for Christ to win!

Be strong, O Christian soldiers,
On Jesus cast your care!

And when the conflict rages
Let ev’ry breath be prayer.

Fear not; the Lord is with you:
‘Tis He who speaks within;

March on with zeal and courage
The world for Christ to win!

Go forth, go forth rejoicing,

And in the Master’s name.
To weary souls that perish,

Eternal life proclaim!
The crowning day is coming;

The end of toil and sin;
March on through grace determined

The world for Christ to win!

CHRIST HATH RISEN.

Airs, “St. George”; “Mary to life Saviour’s Tomb.”

Still and silent as the night,
Holy angels robed in light
Came and rolled the stone away.
From the tomb where Jesus lay.
Backward, trembling, pale with dread,
Lo, the arch-deceiver fled,
When the Prince of Life arose,
Mighty Conqueror o’er His foes!

Strike your harps, ye saints on high! With your anthems fill the sky!

Hymn to Summer.

Ye who sang “a Saviour born”.
Hail His resurrection morn!
Jesus lives the world to save:
Where thy triumph, boasting grave?
Death is vanquished, bound in chains;
Christ, our Lord, forever reigns!

On this bright and glorious day,
When the faithful meet to pray.
Bring the Easter lilies fair,
Nature’s gems of beauty rare.
Let the organ’s lofty strain
Thrill our raptured souls again;
Christ hath risen from the tomb,
Clothed in Heav’n’s immortal bloom!

HYMN TO SUMMER.

O summer, lovely summer.

We hail thy golden hours.
And welcome back the sunshine

That wakes thy dewy flowers;
The queenly rose and lily

Adorn each rural spot.
And greet their gentle sister.

The sweet forget-me-not.

The fields are white with daisies.
The hills are green and fair;

The merry birds are singing — There’s music everywhere.

The brook and sparkling fountain
Have caught the tuneful strain.

Panny Crosbys Life-Story.

While echoes from the forest
Ring out their glad refrain.

O summer, lovely summer,

In all thy bright array.
New hopes and joys unfolding

With each returning day 1
The promised tune of harvest

Thy coming soon will bring;
And o’er the sheaves he gathers.

The reaper’s heart will sing!

HARVEST HYMN.

Air, “I Shall See the King in His Beauty.”

All hail to the days that are coming.

How lovely the blue ether sky; The fields in their beauty are smiling.

The harvest already is nigh. The voice of the brook and the fountain.

The song of the bird and the bee.
Their carol in harmony blending.

Are happy as happy can be.

Lo, yonder the queen of the harvest

Comes forth as the toilers appear.
And waving her chaplet of lilies

She greets them with mirth and good cheer. Now thrust in your sickles, ye reapers.

And gather the ripe golden grain;
The Lord has rewarded your labor,

And crowned it with plenty again.

Ode to Thanksgiving.

The seed that you scattered in springtime

Grew up with the fruits and the flowers, Refreshed with the joy-laden zephyrs

The sunshine, the dew, and the showers. And oh, when the sheaves you have garnered.

Be mindful His love to recall, And praise with your highest devotion

The bountiful giver of all!

O land, by the God of our fathers,

Protected, exalted, and blest,
O nation, where Freedom has planted

The banner of peace and of rest.
Give thanks for a plentiful harvest,

His name and His mercy revere.
Who prospers the hand of the toiler,

And crowns with his goodness the year

ODE TO THANKSGIVING.

Air, “America.”

Anthems to God above.
Source of eternal love.

Now let us sing!
Praise our Creator’s name.
Come as our Fathers came:
Hail and with loud acclaim

Our Lord and King!

Thanks for our favored land.
By His Almighty hand
Guarded from ill!

Thanks for the dew and rain,
Broad field and sunny plain
Where stores of fruit and grain
Our garners fill!

Thanks for our banner bright,
Spangled with starry light,

Boast of the free — Signal to those oppressed.
Honored, revered, and blest.
Waving its noble crest

O’er land and sea!

Lord, from thy throne on high
Bend thy approving eye

O’er us, we pray!
This be our one desire:
Faith, love, and zeal inspire;
Light with devotion’s fire

Our souls today!

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Air, “Portuguese Hymn.”

Fulfilled is the promise, a Saviour is born: With loud acclamation we hallow the morn! To God in the highest all glory we sing, And welcome the advent of Jesus, our King!

We come like the shepherds who knelt at His feet;

Evening Time.

We come like the wise men our monarch to

greet. Our faith-star unclouded shines bright on our

way, And leads to the manger where cradled He lay.

Good-will from our Father and peace unto

men: Oh, wonderful chorus! we hear it again. In grandeur and beauty still rolling along; While valley and mountain break forth into

song!

O blessed Redeemer, by prophets foretold! We herald the story that never grows old. Our heart’s adoration before Him we bring, And joyful hosannas to Jesus, our King!

We come with the faithful who gather today In grateful devotion our tribute to pay; We come with the children our carols to sing, And shout hallelujah to Jesus, our King!

EVENING TIME.

Melody, “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”

At evening time, sweet evening time.
When memory-bells in tuneful chime
Awake the joys to which we clung.
When days were bright and life was young,
‘Tis then the voice of one we love,
Whose spirit dwells in realms above,
In thought repeats from yonder clime
The prayers she taught at evening time.

‘Tis wafted on the fragrant breeze,

That simple prayer whose words were these:

“And now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”

A mother’s form, a mother’s face,

Her tender look and gentle grace,

With memory-bells that softly chime.

Come back to us at evening time.

They come like balm and lull to rest
The aching brow and throbbing breast;
We feel her arms around us thrown.
And how her love is still our own.
Ah, soon we’ll gladly clasp her hand
Amid the flowers of Eden land.
Where memory-bells forever chime
Beyond the shades of evening time!

FROM STAR TO STAR.

Melody, “Autumn.”

There are voices — happy voices — And our hearts with joy they fill,

When our faith is looking upward,
And the busy world is still:

How we listen to their music
From our Father’s home afar.

Tricsting.

Where on Love’s eternal mission,
We shall roam from staF*to star!

There are voices — gentle voices —

And we hear them in a dream,
Like the carol of a birdling

Or the murmur of a stream:
And they draw our spirits nearer

To the pearly gates afar.
Where among the just made perfect,

We shall roam from star to star!

There are voices — kindred voices —

And they call from yonder shore
Where our golden harps will waken

Songs we never knew before:
Oh, the rapture that awaits us

In the glory-land afar
Where together and forever

We shall roam from star to star!

TRUSTING.

Ait, “Day and Night thy Lambs Are Crying.”

I am trusting, O my Saviour!

I am trusting only thee;
I have proved thy gracious promise —

As my day my strength shall be.
I am trusting, O my Saviour!

Though my path I may not know;
When thou callest, I will answer;

Where thou leadest, I will go.

I am trusting, O my Saviour!

And my hand is firm in thine; Though the clouds may sometimes gather,

Still I see thy glory shine.
And I look beyond the shadows

To the sunny fields of rest.
And I catch the glad hosannas

Of the faithful and the blest.

I am trusting, O my Saviour!

I am trusting day by day;
Holy angels guard my footsteps,

And I cannot lose my way.
For thy spirit hovers o’er me,

Like a pure and gentle dove;,
And in all my cares and sorrows,

I can hear His voice of love.

Like the early dews of morning.

How thy precious gifts descend!
And I know that thou art with me

And will keep me to the end.
In thy secret place abiding.

Oh the joy thy presence brings!
I am covered with thy feathers —

I am safe beneath thy wings!

TO THE RESCUE.

Air, “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me.’’

Oh, the sad and troubled faces

That we meet from day to day.
And the hearts that break in silence
God’s Light of Promise.

As they plod their dreary way!
Can we pass them by unheeded;

Can we leave them still alone,
When ’tis ours to scatter roses

Where relentless thorns are strown?

With an earnest prayerful spirit,

In the name of Christ our Lord,
Let us ask if we are living

As He taught us in His word. Have we fed the poor and clothed them

As the Saviour gave command?
To reclaim an erring brother

Have we lent a helping hand?

Oh, the homes that we may comfort.

Homes where want and sorrow dwell!
If unfaithful to the Master,

Can we say with us ’tis well?
To the rescue let us hasten.

Ere the warning sun goes down:
Lest our work be left unfinished.

And another take our crown!

GOD S LIGHT OF PROMISE.

Air, “Webb.”

Rejoice, rejoice, O pilgrim!

Lift up thine eyes and see
Above the mist and shadows

A light that shines for thee! ‘Tis God’s own light of Promise-His smile of perfect peace:

And soon with Him forever
Thy weary march will cease.

Rejoice, rejoice, O pilgrim.

And hail the blessed light.
Whose radiant beams are leading

Beyond the veil of night!
Let love thy soul inspiring

Thy faith and hope increase
Till safe among the ransomed

Thy weary march shall cease!

Rejoice, rejoice, O pilgrim:

The Master’s work fulfil!
The light that cheers thy pathway

Is growing brighter still!
Press onward, O press onward

To realms of perfect peace.
When in thy Father’s kingdom

Thy weary march shall cease!

THERE ARE MOMENTS.

Tune, “Shall We Know Each Other There?”

There are moments — blessed moments —

That in spirit we recall;
There are seasons of refreshing —

Oh how precious to us all!
When we feel the sacred presence

Of our great High Priest and King,
And as if by inspiration

Of His wondrous love we sing!

ISO

There Are Moments.

There are moments — blessed moments-When a radiance from the skies Seems to burst in all its glory

On our faith-illumined eyes;
And we hear a voice proclaiming,

While in song our voices blend,
“I am Alpha and Omega,

The beginning and the end.”

There are moments — blessed moments-When such perfect joy we see. That we stand upon the threshold

Of a life that soon shall be;
And again the Master speaketh

While in silent prayer we blend:
He again confirms the promise,

“I am with you to the end!”