Scripture Verse

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19–20

Introduction

portrait
Vachel Lindsay (1879–1930)

Words: Va­chel Lind­say, Ge­ne­ral Will­iam Booth En­ters in­to Hea­ven and Oth­er Po­ems 1913.

Music: Lan­ca­shire Hen­ry T. Smart, 1836 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Lyrics

An end­less line of splen­dor,
These troops with Heav’n for home,
With creeds they go from Scot­land,
With in­cense go from Rome.
These, in the name of Je­sus,
Against the dark gods stand,
They gird the earth with va­lor,
They heed their king’s com­mand.

Onward the line ad­vanc­es,
Shaking the hills with pow­er,
Slaying the hid­den demons,
The li­ons that de­vour.
No blood­shed in the wrest­ling—
But souls new born arise—
The na­tions grow­ing kind­er,
The child-hearts grow­ing wise.

What is the fi­nal end­ing?
The is­sue, can we know?
Will Christ out­live Mo­ham­med?
Will Ka­li’s al­tar go?
This is our faith tre­men­dous—
Our wild hope, who shall scorn—
That in the name of Je­sus
The world shall be re­born!