Scripture Verse

At midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! Matthew 25:6

Introduction

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William C. Dix (1837–1898)

Words: Will­iam C. Dix, A Vi­sion of All Saints, and Oth­er Po­ems (Lon­don: John Hodg­es, 1871), pag­es 40–41.

Music: Jo­se­phine Er­nest R. Kroe­ger, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Dix,

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Ernest R. Kroeger (1862–1934)

Lyrics

Dark fall the hours this win­ter-tide,
Strange si­lence reigns on ev­ery side,
And day seems wrapped in gloom,
Save few short hours, which, all too brief,
Light up bare tree and fall­en leaf,
Then fade in hap­less doom.

Now let each lamp be burn­ing bright,
Lest, un­aware, the sud­den night
Enshroud us in the dark,
And we in vain, through snow and cold,
With wa­ver­ing feet, seek out the fold,
And Love’s all shel­ter­ing ark.

O si­lent hours of win­try days,
From sum­mer’s joy and gold­en rays,
From au­tumn’s har­vest song,
We turn to you, for ye re­veal
The wait­ing bride, and make us feel,
The Bride­groom comes ere long.