eep."
And the angels echoed around the Throne,
"Rejoice! for the Lord brings back His own."
"HOLD THE FORT!"
This is named also from its chorus. The historic foundation of the hymn
was the flag-signal waved to Gen. G.M. Corse by Gen. Sherman's order
from Kenesaw Mountain to Altoona during the "March through Georgia," in
October, 1863. The flag is still in the possession of A.D. Frankenberry,
one of the Federal Signal-Corps whose message to the besieged General
said, "Hold the fort! We are coming!" A visit to the scene of the
incident inspired P.P. Bliss to write both the words and the music.
Ho! my comrades, see the signal
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing,
Victory is nigh.
"Hold the fort, for I am coming!"
Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven,
"By Thy grace we will!"
The popularity of the song (it has been translated into several
languages), made it the author's chief memento in many localities. On
his monument in Rome, Pennsylvania, is inscribed "P.P. Bliss--author of
'Hold the Fort.'"
"RESCUE THE PERISHING."
Few hymns, ancient or modern, have been more useful, or more variously
used, than this little sermon in song from Luke 14:23, by the blind
poet, Fanny J. Crosby, (Mrs. Van Alstyne). It is sung not only in the
church prayer-meetings with its spiritual meaning and application, but
in Salvation Army camps and marches, in mission-school devotions, in
social settlement services, in King's Daughters and Sons of Temperance
Meetings, and in the rallies of every reform organization that seeks the
lost and fallen.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o'er the erring ones, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the Mighty to Save.
* * * * *
Down in the human heart crushed by the Tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore.
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
The tune is by W.H. Doane, Mus.D., composed in 1870.
"WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS."
The author was a pious gentleman of Dublin, Ireland, who came to Canada
when he was twenty-five. His name was Joseph Scriven, born in Dublin,
1820, and graduated at Trinity College. The accidental death by drowning
of his intended bride on the eve of their wedding day, led him to
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