Scripture Verse

It is the jubilee. Leviticus 25:12

Introduction

Words: R. C. Fraim, in Gems of Praise, by John Swe­ney (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Book Room, 1876), pag­es 10–11.

Music: John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Fraim’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Lyrics

Welcome, wel­come, glad­ly wel­come,
To the child­ren’s Ju­bi­lee;
Here we meet, with joy to greet you,
Happy meet­ing may it be;
May our hearts be ov­er­flow­ing,
Full of joy­ous me­lo­dy;
Each to each our love be show­ing,
’Tis the child­ren’s Ju­bi­lee.

Refrain

Welcome, wel­come,
Welcome, yes, wel­come,
Happy wel­come to all, yes to all;
Welcome, wel­come,
Welcome, yes, wel­come,
Happy wel­come to all, yes to all.

Welcome, wel­come, sweet­ly wel­come!
Songs of joy, and beams of light;
Gild the gold­en ties of friend­ship,
Blending all our hearts to­night;
Sweetly may the strains of mu­sic,
Fill our minds with thoughts sub­lime;
Lift us high­er, make us pur­er,
All our hearts in love com­bine.

Refrain

Welcome, wel­come! Par­ents, teach­ers,
Freely join our songs of glee,
Banish ev­ery thought of sad­ness,
’Tis the child­ren’s Ju­bi­lee.
Who may sing, if not the child­ren?
Let us join their mer­ry song;
Youthful hearts may ut­ter prais­es,
Glad’ning ev­en the an­gel throng.

Refrain

Welcome! wel­come! sing­ing wel­come!
Thanks we raise, O Lord, to Thee!
Thou hast kind­ly, gent­ly led us,
Brought us to our Ju­bi­lee.
When we come to Jor­dan’s ri­ver,
Gazing on the oth­er shore,
May we find a hear­ty wel­come,
Welcome where we’ll part no more.

Refrain