Scripture Verse

You will not fear the terror of night. Psalm 91:4–5

Introduction

portrait
James T. Lightwood
1856–1944

Words: An­nie Ma­the­son, in The School Hym­nal, by Will­iam R. Ste­ven­son, 1889.

Music: Ly­tham (Light­wood) James T. Light­wood (1850–1944) (🔊 pdf nwc). Light­wood com­posed this tune while or­gan­ist at the Drive Me­tho­dist Church, St. Annes, Eng­land. He said the tune came to him while on a bi­cy­cle tour in the Lake Dis­trict. It was first brought in­to use at the Drive Wes­ley­an Church in 1900.

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ma­the­son (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

Lord, when we have not any light,
And mothers are asleep;
Then through the stillness of the night,
Thy little children keep.

When shadows haunt the quiet room,
Help us to understand
That Thou art with us through the gloom,
To hold us by the hand.

And though we do not always see
The holy angels near,
O may we trust ourselves to Thee,
Nor have one foolish fear.

So in the morning may we wake,
When wakes the kindly sun,
More loving for our Father’s sake
To each unloving one.