Scripture Verse

Store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

Introduction

Words: Will­iam Wat­son, 1910. Pub­lished in his The Muse in Ex­ile (New York: John Lane, 1913).

Music: St. George’s Wind­sor George J. El­vey, 1858 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wat­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George Elvey (1816–1893)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Great and fair is she, our land,
High of heart and strong of hand;
Dawn is on her forehead still,
In her veins youth’s ar­rowy thrill.
Hers are riches, might and fame;
All the earth resounds her name;
In her road­steads navies ride:
Hath she need of aught beside?

Power unseen, before whose eyes
Nations fall and nations rise,
Grant she climb not to her goal
All-forgetful of the soul!
Firm in honor be she found,
Justice-armed and mercy-crowned,
Blest in labor, blest in ease,
Blest in noiseless charities.

Unenslaved by things that must
Yield full soon to moth and rust,
Let her hold a light on high
Men unborn may travel by.
Mightier still she then shall stand,
Molded by Thy secret hand,
Power eter­nal, at whose call
Nations rise and nations fall.